DOMESTIC PASSENGER traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) surged to 3.17 million in the first three months of the year as travel restrictions were dialed back, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).
Domestic passenger traffic — arrivals as well as departures — were significantly higher than the year-earlier total of more than one million passengers, according to an operations report posted on MIAA’s website. Domestic traffic was still running well behind the total of 4.48 million posted in the first quarter of 2020, which included the two months before the declaration of the state of emergency.
International passenger traffic at NAIA increased to 1.03 million in the first quarter of 2022 from 503,331 a year earlier. In the first three months of 2020, international passengers at NAIA were at 4.35 million.
Fully vaccinated foreign nationals from 157 countries, who enjoy visa-free entry, were once again admitted starting Feb. 10, as coronavirus cases in the Philippines continued to decline, leading the government to ease travel restrictions in a bid to stimulate the economy.
The Tourism department in March reported 47,000 visitor arrivals since the reopening of the borders.
Of the total, 45% or 21,409 were balikbayans or returning Filipinos, and 55% or 26,306 were foreign tourists.
Americans topped the list, followed by nationals from Canada, the UK, South Korea, Australia, Vietnam, and Germany.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that international travel in 2022 will recover to 44% of pre-crisis (2019) levels. In 2021, the estimate for international air travel was 22% of pre-crisis levels.
Domestic travel in 2022 is expected to hit 93% of pre-crisis levels, compared to 73% for 2021, it said in a statement.
“These projections were made before the onset of the Omicron variant, which could have an impact particularly of international travel,” IATA said. — Arjay L. Balinbin
