Passengers arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) surged to about 61,000 per day during the recent holiday season, exceeding government projections and posting a significant increase from last year, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
In an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said daily arrivals during the peak December–January period climbed well above the agency’s forecast of 55,000 to 56,000 passengers.
“Pumalo po around 61,000 arrivals kada araw. So malaki po yan na itinaas mula noong last year,” Sandoval said, noting that arrivals during the same period last year averaged only about 52,000 to 53,000 passengers daily, or an increase of more than 10 percent.
Sandoval attributed the spike mainly to overseas Filipinos returning home for the holidays, citing the season as a traditional period for family reunions, weddings, and other events.
She said BI data show that December and January consistently record higher numbers of returning Filipino travelers compared to other months.
The BI official also reported increased use of the newly installed electronic gates, or e-gates, at NAIA. According to Sandoval, about 6,000 to 7,000 passengers use the e-gates daily, although the majority of travelers still opt for manual processing at immigration counters.
“Marami pa rin po talaga yung gusto ng stamp sa kanilang passport,” Sandoval explained, noting that e-gate users no longer receive passport stamps.
Despite this, Sandoval emphasized the efficiency of the electronic system, saying e-gates significantly reduce processing time. Manual immigration counters take an average of about 45 seconds per passenger, while e-gates process travelers in as little as five to 10 seconds.
She acknowledged that some passengers may encounter issues when using the e-gates, often due to passport scanning problems or airline connectivity to the Advanced Passenger Information System.
However, Sandoval said more than 80 percent of airlines are already connected to the system, including all local carriers.
The BI continues to encourage eligible travelers to use e-gates to ease congestion and speed up arrival processing, especially during peak travel seasons.
