The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is bracing for a massive holiday influx, with projections indicating that over 2.8 million passengers will pass through its terminals between December 20, 2025 and January 4, 2026.

In an exclusive interview on dzRH's Damdaming Bayan, NAIA General Manager Eric Ines reported that daily passenger volumes have already reached around 156,000, with international arrivals averaging 41,000 passengers per day.

Domestic arrivals are slightly lower, while international departures average about 38,000 daily.

“‘Yung projection na ginawa ng NNIC nagtulong-tulong kami, two weeks ago pa dumagasa ang mga pasahero. Umaabot na ng 156,000 ang pasahero kada-araw in or out [the country],” Ines said.

The airport has implemented several measures to ease passenger flow, including private passenger profiling before immigration checks and the use of electronic gates for international arrivals.

However, Ines advised travelers to allow extra time for their journey due to congestion on routes leading to the airport and longer processing times inside the terminals.

Ongoing preparations for ASEAN 2026 activities have also contributed to slower processing times, further emphasizing the need for patience.

Ines specifically urged passengers, particularly those traveling to the provinces, to plan ahead and remain patient amid the holiday rush, as long queues and delays are expected.

According to projections from the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) in coordination with airport authorities, the daily surge is expected to continue throughout the peak holiday period, with passenger traffic potentially reaching record highs.