Airport operator New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has officially inked an Airport Use Agreement (AUA) with flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), marking a key operational step in the ongoing overhaul of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The partnership establishes a formalized framework governing PAL’s use of airport facilities, setting clear operational standards to bolster service efficiency, strengthen accountability, and streamline the overall passenger experience.
NNIC President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Ang highlighted the necessity of a structured operational protocol in driving meaningful airport upgrades.
“This agreement gives us a clearer framework for setting expectations, measuring performance, and working together to maintain consistent service standards,” Ang said. “That is important to making airport operations more efficient and dependable.”
Echoing the sentiment, PAL Holdings President and Chief Operating Officer Lucio Tan III noted that the agreement benefits both the carrier and traveling public.
“This is a positive development for both PAL and NNIC, and ultimately for our passengers,” Tan said. “It supports the continuing modernization of NAIA and our collective goal of delivering a better airport experience.”
A central feature of the AUA is its focus on synchronized performance across complex airport chains. Because a single flight relies on the seamless execution of check-in, boarding, baggage handling, ramp servicing, and aircraft turnaround, a delay in one area can disrupt downstream flights and overall terminal flow.
Under the new framework, specific service levels are established as part of PAL’s contractual obligations, backed by formal mechanisms to address persistent operational failures. Clear accountability measures will enable NNIC to actively track service metrics, pinpoint bottleneck causes and require swift corrective action when performance drops below agreed standards.
The agreement with PAL reflects a broader strategy by NNIC, which is applying similar performance-based protocols to ground handling companies and other key service providers operating within NAIA. All agreements are structured in accordance with existing government regulations and NNIC’s obligations under its airport concession agreement.
Since assuming operational management of NAIA in September 2024, NNIC has focused on upgrading terminal facilities, replacing aging system technologies, improving airfield infrastructure and addressing long-standing capacity limits. The rollout of these new operating frameworks extends that physical modernization into everyday airline and ground operations.