Arriving at Manila Airport
What You Need to Know
Like any metropolitan city, Manila can be confusing for first-time visitors, starting with arriving at the airport. Manila international airport, officially known as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) or Manila Airport, has four terminals, which are not connected via airport rail link. Consider this when booking your flights, as inter-airline transfers may be complicated.
However, there are now Point-to-Point (P2P) shuttle buses that you can board to transfer airports, or you can book a taxi or Grab car via the Grab App (like Uber) if you have connecting flights. You can also book rent a car in Manila services. These transport options take public roads, so allot sufficient transfer time if you plan to transit between airlines. Here's a rundown of these four airport terminals:
MANILA (MNL) Terminal 1
Terminal 1 serves all the international flights from and to Manila except for the ones operated by airlines in NAIA Terminal 2 and NAIA Terminal 3.
MANILA (MNL) Terminal 2
Terminal 2 houses the domestic and international flights of the country's flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, and its affiliate PAL express. This terminal is also known as the Centennial Terminal to commemorate the centennial declaration of Philippine independence.
MANILA (MNL) Terminal 3
Terminal 3 caters to international flights operated by Cathay Pacific Air, AirAsia, Emirates Airline, Cebu Pacific Air, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Delta Air Lines, All Nippon Air, and Singapore Airlines, as well as all domestic flights of Cebu Pacific Air. It has a transit lounge (airport hotel) and a massage place.
MANILA (MNL) Terminal 4
Terminal 4, the smallest of the four, serves domestic flights from CebGo, AirSwift, and SkyJet. Some AirAsia flights depart from here as well, so check your tickets closely.
CLARK (CRK)
A secondary international airport nearest to Manila is Clark International Airport. It takes two to three hours to travel from Manila to Clark, which is 93 kilometers away. One transport option is through the Premium point-to-point (P2P) Bus Service. This bus service has a station at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City, which is ideal if you come from the southern part of Metro Manila. If you're coming from the northern part of Metro Manila, take the P2P bus from its North EDSA MRT / Trinoma Station in Quezon City.
You can also hire a car rental service from Clark to Manila for a more comfortable and private transportation.
MACTAN CEBU (CEB)
The 2nd busiest airport in the country. Cebu airport serves some International flights and domestic flights to other destinations such as Davao, Boracay, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Clark, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban and El Nido.