Government Considers Expansion of NAIA Terminal 4

The Philippine Government is considering a proposal to expand Terminal 4 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to enable it to handle more international flights.

Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG

According to Transportation Secretary, Joseph Abaya, the government must determine if it could be a project under the public-private partnership scheme. 

"We have to study that kung ano ang component nun - whether PPP ba yun or government does it," said Abaya.

Tony Fernandes, CEO of the AirAsia Group, had requested that the Philippine government expand Terminal 4 after AirAsia Philippines moved its operations there from Clark International Airport joining sister carrier AirAsia Zest last October. 

"We have requested for an expansion of Terminal 4," said Joy Caneba, Executive Vice President of AirAsia Zest. "There is a big potential for it. It used to be just a domestic terminal but it is now flying three international destinations with AirAsia Zest alone and there is a possibility to expand it." 

AirAsia Zest is planning to add flights to Japan and South Korea from Terminal 4 later this year. Meanwhile, another carrier operating from Terminal 4, Tigerair Philippines, which was recently purchased by Cebu Pacific, indicated that it planned to begin flights to Japan by the end of the second quarter of 2014.