Traveling to and from NAIA Terminal 1, 2 and 3 by public transpo

updated 25 May 2017


As a person who started traveling as a backpacker, I always believe that there is a public transportation available in every airport. (one time though, I was mistaken). In the Philippines especially in Manila, travelers usually go to the airport by taxi or private cars but what about those who don't drive or don't have a car. Of course, there are options for us too.

Terminal 2

This known as Centennial airport or Centennial 2 or Terminal 2 or PAL Airport. This airport is dedicated for Philippine Airlines domestic and international departures and arrivals. In your ticket, it is written as C2. This is my favorite airport because the ticket office of PAL is open until late in the evening where I usually pick up the tickets of my clients after office hours. From Ayala MRT or Edsa Pasay or Mall of Asia or Coastal Mall, just take the bus that has a placard that says MIA. After the car/bus inspection, you will alight @ the bus stop in Terminal 2 . It will also pass by near the ground floor of NAIA (Ninoy Aquino Intl Airport) C2, you have to take the stairs or escalator on the left side going to the departure area. If you see PAL Cargo, it means you have missed the stop already, go down and walk back. Going out of the airport to Makati or Baclaran, will be getting on the same bus. There are also jeepneys in the area, but the bus is more convenient and it is air conditioned.

You will need to present your identification card and ticket upon entering the domestic terminal. Ticket and passport are required to enter the international terminal. 

Terminal 1

Popularly known as NAIA though all our airports are NAIA, is the old international airport. In your ticket, it is written as T1, some assume that this is 11 or Terminal 2, but it is T and 1.  It caters to all international airlines except PAL, Cebu Pac, All Nippon Airways, Tiger Airways, Airasia Zest, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and PAL Express. From Ayala MRT or Edsa Pasay or Mall of Asia or Coastal Mall, just take the bus that has a placard that says MIA. It will pass by the the upper ground floor of NAIA Terminal 1. You will alight @ the bus stop after PAL Cargo. For departing passengers, take the stairs going up to the departure area. Going out of the airport to Makati or Baclaran, will be getting on the same bus. There are also jeepneys in the area, but the bus is more convenient and it is air conditioned.

Ticket and passport are required to enter the international terminal. No domestic flights here.

MIA or Terminal 4

This is the real MIA (Manila Intl Airport), used to be known as Domestic and currently referred to as Terminal 4. One of our oldest airport which is slowly getting renovated. Smaller planes usually departs here, so if your domestic flight will be using ATR planes, most likely you will be here. Passengers with mobility issues actually prefer this because there are no stairs going to the predeparture area. Especially when you get on the night flights, you can be in the pre departure in 10minutes. Going home is slightly inconvenient compared to T1 and C2. From KFC in front of Coastal Mall, walk towards the 1st stop light towards the airports. From there, take the jeep, (no bus), that goes to NICHOLS. It will stop by MIA, right after the Cebu Pacific Airport office.

You will need to present your identification card/passport and ticket upon entering the terminal. It has only one gate for both international and domestic flights.

Terminal 3.

I have to say, this is my favorite airport because of its proximity to Skyway. There are so many restaurants to choose from while waiting for your flight or waiting for relatives to arrive. This is our only airport that allows the public to go inside the airport building both departure and arrival area. For years, Filipinos has gotten used to waiting outside the building with security guards trying their best to make us leave the airport premises because it is for passengers only. Terminal 3 is home to Cebu Pacific, PAL Express, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, AirAsia for international flights and ALL Nippon Airways, both for international and domestic flights. But how do we commute? From KFC in front of Coastal Mall, walk towards the 1st stop light towards the airports. From there, take the jeep, (no bus), that goes to NICHOLS. You will just alight at Terminal 3 grounds, just after the roundabout near Resorts World Manila. It will just be a long walk to the the the airport, and take the escalator going to 3rd floor to the departure area.

From Pasay, there is also a shuttle bus going to the airport. If you are from Quezon City or Manila where you have access to the LRT/MRT, from the LRT/MRT Edsa, the shuttle bus is around 50m from the exit. 


I hope you find your way to our airports.


Cheers to safe travels!