PAL to increase jet services from Naia starting March

NEW MOVEMENTS Philippine Airlines will complete the transfer of its turboprop operations from Naia in March. —Photo from Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines (PAL) will ramp up domestic jet services from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) starting in March, as the flag carrier completes the withdrawal of all turboprop operations from the country’s main gateway.

In an advisory on Monday, PAL said it would discontinue turboprop flights at Naia by March 29, with affected routes set to be transferred to its alternative hubs in Cebu, Clark and Iloilo.

This move is in line with a government-mandated gradual phaseout of turboprop operations at Naia that began in late 2024, aimed at easing congestion and improving air traffic flow at the airport.

As part of the final phase, Clark will take over flights to Busuanga (Coron) and Siargao. Cebu will handle Catarman services, while the Antique route will be operated via Iloilo.

PAL said slots freed up by the turboprop exit would be reassigned to jet aircraft servicing “high-demand routes.”

Revised schedule

Under its revised schedule beginning March, the airline will increase its weekly jet flights to as many as 76 between Manila and Cebu, 42 to Iloilo, 28 to Tacloban, 21 to Dumaguete and 14 to Roxas.

Passengers affected by the transfers will receive updated itineraries and may choose to rebook, reroute or request refunds, the airline said.

Rebooking may be done within 60 days from the original travel date. Tickets may also be converted into travel credits valid for two years, with a 5-percent bonus value offered to affected passengers.

Earlier, low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific also announced it would complete the transfer of its turboprop operations out of Naia by March 29, freeing up slots for both domestic and international services.

Airlines’ turboprop exit follows a July 2025 directive from the Manila Slot Coordination Committee, which ordered the gradual removal of the smaller aircraft from the Manila airport.

Naia recorded its busiest year on record in 2025, with passenger traffic reaching 52.02 million. In December alone, the airport handled 4.86 million passengers, the highest monthly total in its history.