Airport flight numbers breach prepandemic level

People queue at the check-in counters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay, Metro Manila on Dec. 22, 2023, ahead of Christmas celebrations. (File photo by JAM STA ROSA / Agence France-Presse)

MANILA, Philippines — Ninoy Aquino International Airport reported its last year flight movements reached record-high numbers and returned to their prepandemic level, thanks to people going on revenge travel after COVID-19 restrictions worldwide have been relaxed.

In a statement on Saturday, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which manages Naia, recorded a total of 279,953 flights in 2023, composed of 171,605 domestic and 108,348 international flights.

This represented a 26-percent increase compared to the 221,595 flights in 2022; and 3 percent higher than the 271,535 registered in 2019 — the year before the severe impact of the pandemic on the aviation market.

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In 2023, December logged the most flights with 25,779, while July had the most passengers with 4,185,555.

Eric Jose Ines, general manager of MIAA, expressed satisfaction with the robust flight movements, particularly in domestic operations.

—DEXTER CABALZA