Philippine Airlines (PAL) has urged the government to establish a coordinated national airport masterplan to boost efficiency, expand capacity, and align development across the country’s gateways.
Although, the Philippines has nine designated international airports, nearly on par with regional peers such as Vietnam (12) and Thailand (10), its overall capacity remains limited. It was proposed that the masterplan focus on short-term optimisation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), while defining its long-term role alongside Clark International Airport and the new Bulacan Airport. The plan should also prioritize upgrading secondary airports through night-rating, runway expansion, and modern navigation systems to function as regional hubs.
Further, the masterplan addresses air traffic management modernisation, surface transport integration (including expressways and future rail links), and investment incentives aligned with sustainability and competitiveness goals. Fernandez stressed the need for resilience measures, such as redundant power and radar systems, to avoid nationwide disruptions.