NAIA, built in 1982 and designed to accommodate 4.5 million passengers a year, is now taking in an average of 8 million passengers. To ease congestion at the airport, a new terminal, called NAIA-II was constructed, and started operating in August last year. Its domestic operations wing can accommodate 6.5 million passengers a year, its international wing, 2.5 million. The P5.3-billion facility was reportedly designed to relieve travel stress. The various areas of the new terminal are separated by gardens and assorted greenery.
Passengers cross through the greenery on elevated walkways leading to several docking areas.
NAIA-II was designed by the French firm Aeroports de Paris, which also designed the famous airports of Paris, Jakarta, Kansai and Shanghai. Philippine Airlines has exclusive use of the new airport s domestic and international terminals under a deal forged with the Manila International Airport Authority. The terminal was designed by American architectural firm Skidmore Owings Merill. According to the consortium, the structure will have a roof shaped like the wings of a bird in flight, suggesting a country on the verge of taking off. A terminal fee of P550 should be paid at the Airport Tax Counter after check in.