NAIA handles nearly 5 million passengers in January 2026 amid travel boom

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) handled nearly 5 million passengers in January 2026, marking a steady rise in travel demand. Despite the surge, operations ran smoothly thanks to better coordination and recent upgrades across the airport's systems.

Total passenger numbers at NAIA hit 4.96 million in January 2026. International travellers accounted for 2.42 million, an 8.16% increase compared to the same month in 2025. Domestic passengers reached 2.54 million, up by 3.16% from the previous year.

The busiest day saw 180,089 people passing through the airport on January 4. To manage the high volumes, airlines, government bodies, and service providers worked closely together. This collaboration helped keep queues short and flights on schedule.

Since taking over NAIA's operations in September 2024, the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has paid PHP62.7 billion to the national government. Recent improvements include terminal upgrades, biometric immigration gates, and faster passenger processing systems. These changes have helped maintain stability even as traveller numbers grow.

NAIA's passenger figures for January 2026 show a clear upward trend in both domestic and international travel. The airport's upgraded infrastructure and better coordination have so far kept operations running without major disruptions. No comparisons with the full-year 2025 data are currently available.