Arriving at Manila Airport (NAIA) in 2026: terminals, traffic and night landings
See your price →International flights land at NAIA Terminal 1 or Terminal 3 — several airlines switched terminals on 29 March 2026, so check your ticket. Makati and BGC are 30–60 minutes away off-peak and 90+ minutes at rush hour. Grab costs about ₱300–600; a private car with a name sign is $30 per car, same price at night. Prices checked .
- Terminals: international: T1 and T3; NAIA Loop shuttle links all four terminals (₱50)
- Rush hour: weekdays about 7–9 am and 5–8 pm
- To Makati / BGC: 30–60 min off-peak, 60–90+ min at rush hour
- Private car: from $30 per car, meet & greet, 60 min free waiting
Which NAIA terminal will I land at?
Look at the terminal on your e-ticket, not at an old blog post. On 29 March 2026 Air China, China Eastern, Vietnam Airlines, Royal Brunei and Shenzhen Airlines moved from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, while Philippines AirAsia international flights and AirAsia Berhad moved from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1. Japan Airlines moved from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 on 1 April 2026 (PortCalls Asia, citing the New NAIA Infra Corp.).
The terminals are separate buildings. If you land at one and leave from another, the NAIA Loop shuttle bus links all four terminals for ₱50 (travellers’ reports, July 2026). Our driver meets you at the terminal you land at — just send the flight number.
NAIA terminal changes in 2026
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| 29 March 2026 | Air China, China Eastern, Vietnam Airlines, Royal Brunei, Shenzhen Airlines: T1 → T3 |
| 29 March 2026 | Philippines AirAsia international flights and AirAsia Berhad: T3 → T1 |
| 1 April 2026 | Japan Airlines: T1 → T3 |
| 27 October 2026 | Our check: no newer change found in the source; confirm on your ticket |
Source: PortCalls Asia, 24 February 2026, citing the New NAIA Infra Corp. advisory.
How long does it take from NAIA to Makati, BGC or Manila?
About 30–60 minutes off-peak and 60–90 minutes or more at rush hour, roughly 7–9 am and 5–8 pm on weekdays; Quezon City is usually 45–90+ minutes (travellers’ reports, July 2026). Late at night traffic is lighter and trips land at the shorter end.
Going further — Tagaytay, the Batangas pier for Puerto Galera, Subic or Baguio — there is no train from the airport, and buses leave from city terminals, so with luggage most people go straight by car.
Grab, coupon taxi, bus or private car?
| Way | Time to Makati | Price | What matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab | 30–90+ min | ₱300–500 (Makati), ₱300–600 (BGC) | Wait at the terminal's Grab pick-up zone; surge at peak |
| Coupon taxi | 30–90+ min | ₱450–800 to Makati / Pasay | Fixed fare at the official counter in arrivals |
| UBE Express / P2P bus | longer, fixed stops | ₱150–200 per person | Boards at Terminal 3 only |
| PhpRide private car | 30–90+ min | $30 per car | Name sign, 60 min free waiting from actual landing, child seats, same price at night |
Grab, taxi and bus fares: travellers’ reports, checked 27 October 2026. Our price: per car, fixed at booking.
What if I land at night or my flight is late?
The price is the same at 2 am as at noon. We track the flight number, so the 60 minutes of free waiting start when the plane actually lands, not at the scheduled time. travellers’ reports advise a pre-booked car for late-night landings and for travel with small children.
Avoid people offering rides outside arrivals, even if they say they are accredited — use the official counters, the Grab zone or a driver who has your name on a sign.
Do I need eTravel before landing in Manila?
Yes — arriving passengers register on the official eTravel site (etravel.gov.ph), which is free. Entry rules and visas depend on your passport: check the Bureau of Immigration site before you fly. We do not fill eTravel for you.
Where are you going from NAIA? The easiest way
| Destination | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Makati, BGC, Manila hotels | Grab or a pre-booked car | Short trip; a car is worth it at night, with children or lots of bags |
| Entertainment City (Okada, Solaire, City of Dreams) | Pre-booked car to the tower | About 6 km; the resort drop-off points are far apart |
| Tagaytay | Car from the terminal | No train; buses leave from city terminals |
| Puerto Galera | Car to the Batangas pier + ferry | Last listed ferries leave around 15:30–16:30 |
| Subic, Baguio, La Union | Car from the terminal (or fly into Clark) | 3–5 hours by road, no direct airport bus |
How much is a private car from NAIA?
| Route | Sedan | 7-seat SUV / MPV | Van (up to 10) | Premium van |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manila Airport (NAIA) to Makati and BGC one way | $30 | $35 | $60 | $60 |
| NAIA to Entertainment City (Okada, Solaire) one way | $30 | $35 | $60 | $60 |
| Manila Airport (NAIA) to Tagaytay one way | $75 | $90 | $110 | $145 |
| Manila Airport (NAIA) to Batangas Port one way | $120 | $135 | $170 | $220 |
| Manila Airport (NAIA) to Nasugbu resorts one way | $110 | $125 | $160 | $200 |
| Manila Airport (NAIA) to Subic Bay one way | $145 | $165 | $210 | $265 |
| Manila to Baguio by private car one way | $195 | $225 | $280 | $360 |
You may also need
- Manila to Tagaytay: how to get there, how long it takes, what it costs (2026)
- Manila to Puerto Galera via Batangas pier: road, ferries and last boats (2026)
- Arriving at Clark Airport (CRK): Clark hotels, Subic Bay, Manila and Baguio
- Manila to Baguio and La Union: buses, the mountain road and a private car (2026)
- Arriving at Mactan-Cebu Airport (CEB) in 2026: terminals, taxis and night landings
- Makati and BGC to Manila Airport (NAIA) — from $30
Sources and checks
Fares, timetables and travel times marked «travellers’ reports» come from recent traveller reports we read on 27 October 2026; no official page publishes them — check on the day. Official sources:
- NAIA adjusts international airline terminal assignments starting March 29 — PortCalls Asia (citing the New NAIA Infra Corp. advisory) · 24 February 2026 · checked 27 October 2026
- eTravel — arrival and departure registration — Government of the Philippines — eTravel (official) · checked 27 October 2026
- Entry requirements and visas — Bureau of Immigration, Philippines (official) · checked 27 October 2026
Checked by the PhpRide team on · GG Services Limited (Hong Kong)
Questions
Which terminal is international at NAIA?
Terminals 1 and 3 handle international flights. Several airlines swapped between them on 29 March and 1 April 2026, so the terminal on your e-ticket is the one to trust.
How much is Grab from NAIA to Makati?
About ₱300–500 to Makati and ₱300–600 to BGC or Ortigas by travellers’ reports (July 2026); prices rise with surge at peak times.
How much is a private car from NAIA to Makati or BGC?
$30 for a sedan, $35 for a 7-seater and $60 for a van — per car, same price at night.
Is there a train from NAIA to the city?
No. LRT and MRT lines do not connect directly to the terminals; the UBE Express / P2P bus leaves from Terminal 3 only.
What if my flight is delayed?
We track the flight. Free waiting is 60 minutes from the actual landing time, so a delay does not cost extra.
Can you take us from NAIA straight to Tagaytay, Batangas pier or Baguio?
Yes — Tagaytay from $75, the Batangas pier from $120, Baguio from $195 per car, directly from the terminal.
How do I find the driver?
The driver waits at the arrivals exit of your terminal with a name sign; you get the driver's WhatsApp before the flight.