NAIA Terminal 1 is one of the four passenger terminals at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila. As the oldest terminal in the NAIA airport complex, Terminal 1 mainly handles international flights operated by full-service airlines and several foreign carriers. Despite its age, the terminal has undergone multiple renovations to improve comfort and passenger flow.

NAIA terminal 1 is located in between Pasay City and Paranaque City. It’s about 7.7 kilometers from tha Makati Central Business District and 12 kilometers from Manila.

Passengers can access the terminal through:

T1 is used primarily for outbound and inbound international passengers, making it one of the busiest terminals during peak season.

Although it’s the oldest terminal, recent improvements include:

NAIA Terminal 1 offers:

T1 is smaller than Terminal 3, which makes walking distances shorter but can also lead to crowding during peak hours.

The Departure Hall is where you head to if you’re flying out, it’s located in the upper level of the NAIA terminal 1.

Make sure to have your passport and ticket ready to show the guard at the entrance. Choose the entrance labeled with your airline or the one with the shortest line, and be prepared to lift your bag up to the x-ray. There will be porters to help you with your luggage but keep in mind that you’ll have to tip them P50 afterwards.

Travel tax for those traveling outside of the country: PHP1,620 Before checking in, make sure to settle your travel tax payment. If you haven’t settled your payment beforehand, There are TIEZA counters available right by the check-in counters. Present your passport and boarding pass, and prepare the payment. Don’t forget to keep the receipt as proof of payment.

Line up in your designated check-in counter where you’ll have to present your passport, travel tax receipt, and ticket. If you have baggage to check-in, this is where you’ll drop it. Once done, you will be given a boarding pass which will contain your gate number and boarding time. Don’t lose this!

Before lining up for immigration, you will have to fill up a departure form. Once done, proceed to the Bureau of Immigration window with your passport, departure card, and boarding pass. The officer will ask you questions such as: “Where are you going?”, “How long are you staying?”, “Who are you traveling with?”. Answer these questions honestly and politely, and wait for them to stamp your passport.

Similar to the one at the entrance, your hand-carry will be going through an x-ray and metal detector. Once cleared, collect your things and head towards your gate by following the signs.

Sit by the correct gate and wait for your boarding time. All Philippine airports will announce boardings, change of gates, and delays over the PA system but it’s always good to take note of this by looking at the screens by the gate. Listen to the announcement regarding the boarding process, passengers seated at the back are usually allowed to enter first. Have your boarding pass and passport ready to present to the attendant.

Before landing in Manila, airline crew will hand out customs forms which you will have to fill out. If you’re arriving from a leisure trip, you will usually have nothing to declare. If you’re a foreign passport holder visiting the Philippines, you will be given an arrival card.

This will be one of the longest waiting times. Line up in front of the the designated counter (for Philippine passport holders, OFW, or foreign passport holders) and wait for your turn. Assuming you’re just returning from a trip, no questions will be asked. Simply present your passport and customs form.

The baggage carousels are found just after immigration. Position yourself in front of the conveyor belt labeled with your flight number and wait for your bag to come out.

After collecting your bag, walk towards customs and submit your form. More often than not (if you have nothing to declare), your bag won’t be inspected.

Finally, you can head over to the exit. Again, porters will be ready to help you with your luggage for P50. Cross the street and head towards the passenger waiting area. Coordinate with your fetcher to look for you in the correct spot (areas are assigned different letters).

Here are some popular cafés and beverage spots in Terminal 1: