SAN MIGUEL-LED New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) is set to demolish the Philippine Village Hotel for its planned construction of a new terminal to accommodate the growing passenger volume at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“By April 21, we will demolish the Philippine Village Hotel for the construction of Terminal 5. It will be finished maybe within two to three years’ time,” NNIC General Manager Angelito A. Alvarez said in a media briefing on Thursday.
NNIC is composed of SMC; RMM Asian Logistics, Inc.; RLW Aviation Development, Inc.; and Incheon International Airport Corp., the operator of South Korea’s main international airport.
In 2024, NNIC said it is coordinating with the Transportation department, the local government of Pasay, and Manila International Airport Authority to resolve all issues to demolish the abandoned Philippine Village Hotel.
NNIC has earlier announced its plan to build a new terminal building as part of its commitment to decongest the airport.
Mr. Alvarez said the NAIA’s private operator is now preparing and has outlined its plan for the expected increased passenger volume this year.
“The airport’s capacity is designed for about 32 million and 34 million passengers per annum. In 2024, we carried about 51 million passengers, this year our target is 54 million,” Mr. Alvarez said. “Just imagine the congestion in our terminals.”
The NNIC has also shelved its planned renovation of the NAIA’s Terminal 4 due to hazard issues, Mr. Alvarez said, adding that the private operator will instead pursue its plan to build Terminal 5.
“For our Terminal 4, the old terminal, we will not be pursuing the plan anymore due to hazards and obstacles… It was just demolished, and we will not be constructing an additional structure, instead we will build Terminal 4’s replacement in the [location of] the previous International Cargo Terminal,” he said.
To recall, NNIC has closed Terminal 4 of NAIA since Nov. 6 last year to improve the terminal’s overall infrastructure and passenger flow.
“So, in the next three months, we will be coordinating with government agencies, cargo and bonded warehouse operators and relocate them in a new temporary facility to convert the new terminal,” Mr. Alvarez said, adding that it is hoping to relocate the domestic flights of AirAsia Philippines’ and some of Cebu Pacific flights in the replacement site of Terminal 4.
In October last year, NNIC said it will reopen Terminal 4 in February 2025. It has relocated all airlines operating from Terminal 4 to Terminal 2. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
