Photos of ongoing airside work at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 that were recently posted on social media show only part of a broader rehabilitation program that is still underway, according to a source working on the project.

One photo showed a newly installed passenger boarding bridge (PBB) alongside an older-looking fixed bridge, with the post questioning why the existing structure had been retained and whether it was also being rehabilitated. That is not the case, the source said.

The PBB and the fixed bridge are separate structures serving different functions.

The PBB is the movable section that connects to the aircraft, while the fixed bridge connects the terminal building to the PBB.

The existing fixed bridge and its walls have been inspected by project engineers and remain structurally reinforced and serviceable, according to the source.

Rehabilitation of the fixed bridge is also ongoing, both inside and outside.

Work inside includes improvements to walls, ceilings, lighting and finishes that had deteriorated over time.

Photos taken during the rehabilitation show the changes already being made, although the interior work itself is not yet complete.

The source said the older fixed bridges were originally designed as enclosed structures with exterior panels, unlike the open glass design of the new PBBs.

Converting the existing fixed bridges to the same glass design would not be a simple replacement of the exterior panels. It would require the entire fixed bridge to be demolished and reconstructed, resulting in much longer gate closures.

That presents a particular challenge at NAIA, which remains fully operational while rehabilitation is being carried out and continues to operate under significant capacity constraints.

The operator has to balance the need to modernize aging infrastructure with the need to keep gates available and minimize disruption to airlines and passengers, the source said.

The approach at Terminal 3 is therefore to retain fixed bridges that remain structurally serviceable, rehabilitate them inside and out, and replace aging PBB equipment in phases.

The PBB shown in the social media photo is just one of a number of passenger boarding bridges that will be replaced at Terminal 3 as the rehabilitation progresses.

The exterior seen in the photo is also still undergoing work and does not represent its finished condition, the source said.

The phased approach allows rehabilitation to continue while keeping Terminal 3 operational, with individual facilities and equipment taken out of service only as needed to carry out the work.