Philippines

Market overview

The Philippines had a record 62.3 million air passengers in 2025, up 4%: 33.2 million domestic and 29.1 million international. International traffic is still about 5% below its 2019 peak, so there is room to recover. Cebu Pacific dominates the domestic market with about 55%. Foreign airlines carry about half of international passengers, and Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific carry about 6.5 million each. Manila's main airport, NAIA, handled a record 52 million passengers in 2025, its first full year under private operator New NAIA Infra Corp (led by San Miguel). Under a ₱170.6 billion concession, capacity is to rise from 35 million to 62 million passengers a year. The airlines are ordering. Cebu Pacific signed a US$24 billion purchase in 2024 for up to 152 Airbus aircraft, and Philippine Airlines has nine A350-1000s and 13 A321neos to come. For suppliers, the main openings are terminal and airside upgrades at NAIA, new-type MRO, and training, where the country's large aviation workforce is an advantage.

Key facts

• 62.34 million air passengers in 2025, up 4%: 33.24 million domestic and 29.1 million international (Feb 2026).
• Cebu Pacific carried 18.25 million domestic passengers, about 55% of the market, in 2025 (Feb 2026).
• NAIA handled a record 52.02 million passengers in 2025 under private operator NNIC (Jan 2026).
• NAIA capacity is to rise from 35 million to 62 million passengers a year under a ₱170.6 billion concession (signed Sep 2024).
• Orders: Cebu Pacific up to 152 Airbus aircraft (US$24 billion, 2024); Philippine Airlines nine A350-1000s and 13 A321neos (Oct 2025).

Key figures

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).

Did you know

Filipino engineers and technicians work in MROs around the world.