THE Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) welcomes two new airlines.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) yesterday said Greater Bay Airlines has started flying into the country’s main gateway while Batik Air would soon follow.
Greater Bay Airlines, that provides flights between Hong Kong and Manila five days a week, started operation yesterday. Flight HB 231 arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 at 2 a.m. and flight HB 232 left the Philippines at 3 a.m.
Meanwhile, Malaysian-based Batik Air will fly daily between Kuala Lumpur and Manila from Dec. 1. Flight OD 510 will be at NAIA Terminal 3 at 2:50 a.m. while flight OD 511 will depart at 3:50 a.m.
MIAA officer-in-charge Bryan Co said the entry of the new carriers shows their commitment to providing passengers with an even broader range of travel options.
Co said this would also strengthen Manila’s position among the most internationally connected airports in the world.
NAIA recently ranked 15th in the OAG Megahub Index 2023’s top 50 global airport megahubs, sixth among the top international megahubs in the Asia Pacific region, and third among the top 25 low-cost carrier airport megahubs, the MIAA said.
The entry of Greater Bay Airlines and Batik Air brings the total number of air carriers hosted by NAIA to 48, with its 42 international carriers serving 57 destinations.
In late October, United Airlines made its maiden direct flight from San Francisco to Manila. (ABS-CBN News)
