NAIA Terminals Guide: Which Terminal, Which Airline, and the 2026 Reshuffle
Ninoy Aquino International Airport has three terminals in use and two that are not, spread over a site in Pasay and Parañaque that was never planned as one airport. The terminals are not connected, airlines have moved between them twice in three years, and the hotel that is a five-minute walk from one terminal is a 25-minute drive from another. This page is the map: what each terminal does in late 2026, which airlines use it, what changed in the March and April 2026 reshuffle, and which hotel side you should book.
Terminal 1
The original international terminal from 1981, on the Parañaque side. Under the operator New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation’s plan it is the terminal for low-cost carriers and a long list of Asian and Gulf airlines: Philippine Airlines international, Philippines AirAsia and AirAsia Malaysia (moved here from Terminal 3 on 29 March 2026), Korean Air, Asiana, China Airlines, EVA Air, Malaysia Airlines, Saudia, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, Xiamen Air, VietJet, Air India and Air Niugini. Lounges are the Mabuhay Lounge (PAL), PAGSS, marhaba, A Lounge and the free OFW Lounge, all 24 hours or close to it. The closest hotel on this site is the Nobu Hotel Manila at City of Dreams, 3 km and about 10 minutes away.
Terminal 2
The Centennial Terminal from 1998, built as Philippine Airlines’ hub, has been all-domestic since 2023: PAL domestic flights and Philippines AirAsia domestic flights, with two Mabuhay Lounges. It stands next to Terminal 1, so the same hotel logic applies: Nobu and Entertainment City are 10 minutes away, Newport 15 to 25.
Terminal 3
The largest terminal, opened in 2008 and fully operational since 2014, carries most of NAIA’s traffic: full-service international airlines and Cebu Pacific, both international and domestic. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, ANA, Japan Airlines (from 1 April 2026), KLM, Turkish Airlines, Qantas, United, Air Canada, Thai, Etihad, Gulf Air, STARLUX, Scoot, Jetstar, HK Express, Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Vietnam Airlines, Royal Brunei and Shenzhen Airlines all fly from here. It has the PAGSS and A lounges, the First Meridian Lounge for eight premium carriers, the landside OFW Lounge, the Wings Transit Hotel and, most important for this site, Runway Manila, the air-conditioned footbridge to Newport World Resorts and seven of our hotels (Runway Manila guide).
Terminal 4 and Terminal 5
Terminal 4, the small 1948 domestic terminal, closed in November 2024 when the turboprop flights it handled were moved out of Metro Manila; a replacement is under construction. Terminal 5 is planned as a domestic extension next to Terminal 2 on the former Philippine Village Hotel site. Neither takes passengers in 2026, whatever an old guidebook says.
The 2026 reshuffle
The operator’s Schedule and Terminal Assignment Rationalization programme sorts airlines by type: low-cost carriers at Terminal 1, full-service international airlines at Terminal 3, domestic flights at Terminals 2 and, later, 4 and 5. The latest moves took effect on 29 March 2026 (Air China, China Eastern, Vietnam Airlines, Royal Brunei and Shenzhen Airlines from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3; Philippines AirAsia international and AirAsia Malaysia from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1) and 1 April 2026 (Japan Airlines to Terminal 3). Airlines publish the terminal on the ticket and the booking confirmation; check it the week you fly, because a hotel booked for the wrong terminal costs a taxi each way.
Which hotel for which terminal
For Terminal 3, stay in Newport and walk: the Sheraton, Marriott, Savoy and Belmont are about five minutes, the Okura, Hilton and Holiday Inn Express about ten. For Terminals 1 and 2, the Nobu Hotel Manila is a 10-minute drive and the Newport hotels 15 to 25 minutes by Grab, or the free inter-terminal shuttle to Terminal 3 and the walk. If your ticket says CRK rather than MNL, you are flying from Clark, 80 to 100 km north; see NAIA or Clark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which terminal does Philippine Airlines use at NAIA?
Terminal 1 for international flights and Terminal 2 for domestic flights. Terminal 2, the Centennial Terminal, became all-domestic in 2023. Passengers connecting between a PAL domestic and international flight can ask for PAL's transfer bus.
Which terminal does Cebu Pacific use?
Terminal 3 for both international and domestic flights, which makes the Newport hotels across Runway Manila the practical choice for Cebu Pacific passengers.
Is Terminal 4 open?
No. The old domestic terminal closed in November 2024 when turboprop flights were moved out of Manila; a replacement is under construction. Terminal 5 is planned next to Terminal 2 as a domestic extension.
Can I walk between the terminals?
No. The terminals are separate buildings on opposite sides of the runways with no airside link or walkway. Use the free NAIA inter-terminal shuttle (with an onward boarding pass), the UBE Express NAIA Loop or a Grab.
Information last verified: October 1, 2026