New Manila International Airport (NMIA) in Bulacan

[Dave Hounddriver]

Google says the construction of the passenger terminal is scheduled to start in Jan 2026 with the first flights in and out in 2028.  Wow.  They are closer than I thought.  This video suggests there are a lot of challenges to overcome.  I will follow this airport construction with interest.  At least they have Dutch contractors working on it.  Is there anyone in the world who knows more about reclaiming the land from the sea?

 

[craftbeerlover]

article with the video is a good read

https://www.theb1m.com/video/the-philippines-15bn-gamble-on-a-sinking-airport

 

[Lee]

Hope that this airport works out---Kansai Airport isn't doing too well.

Airport built on water in Japan is sinking into sea. All about the woes of Kansai International Airport

Japan's Kansai International Airport was touted to be the most unique airport in the world when it was built 30 years ago, but it is sinking at an alarming rate. Experts have expressed apprehension that it may sink one day. The airport that serves Japan's second largest metropolitan city Osaka, has already sunk more than 38ft. Some engineers have predicted that sections of the two artificial islands may sink another 13ft, to sea level, by 2056.

Hub of airlines

It is an enormous airport, that occupies two artificial islands in Osaka Bay. It serves as a hub for All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and Nippon Cargo Airlines. But the £ 15 billion- Kansai International Airport is sinking quickly and moving further and further away from the city. The minimum elevation needed to prevent flooding in case of a breach in the encircling seawall is 13 ft. But engineers have that predicted that Kansai's islands would evenly settle over 50 years.

 

Airport on water

The land reclaimed from the sea was like a wet sponge and was transformed into a dry and dense foundation before it could support the weight of airport buildings. Construction crews laid sand five feet deep atop the clay seabed and installed 2.2 million vertical pipes, each nearly 16 inches in diameter. Afterward, these pipes were pounded into the clay and filled with sand, soil was used to create a stiffer floor.
 

Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/japan-airport-built-on-water-is-sinking-into-sea-all-about-kansai-internationl-airport-engineering-marvel/articleshow/106644731.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppstRead

 

Edited December 7, 2025 by Lee

[JJReyes]

Completion by 2028 is very optimistic.  Sounds terrific for the press release.  More likely 2030 at the earliest.  

[JJReyes]

Does anyone know if the current plans include retaining NAIA as a domestic airport while moving international flights to the new one?  Or will the current NAIA site close and thereafter become a new city real estate development?  

[Dave Hounddriver]

46 minutes ago, JJReyes said:

Does anyone know if the current plans include retaining NAIA as a domestic airport while moving international flights to the new one?  Or will the current NAIA site close and thereafter become a new city real estate development?  

I do not "know", but after watching the video it appears like all International and Domestic flights, including freight-only flights, will be housed at the new terminal.  Here is an article that says San Miguel Corp are operating NAIA and the way they are spending money it does not look like they will be mothballing it.  https://insiderph.com/san-miguels-naia-revamp-delivers-p52b-to-govt-big-upgrades-for-flyers

[Lee]

AI has a few ideas on this subject---mostly speculative it would seem.

After the new Bulacan airport (New Manila International Airport - NMIA) becomes fully operational (expected around 2027), NAIA will likely transition to a smaller role, potentially focusing on domestic or regional flights, or even be redeveloped for other uses like a business district, as NMIA takes over as the main gateway, with current plans seeing San Miguel Corporation (SMC) managing both, enhancing NAIA while building the new hub to ease Manila's congestion.  

 

Key Developments & Future for NAIA:

• NAIA's Role: 

  Instead of closing, NAIA is being modernized and might specialize, perhaps for domestic flights, low-cost carriers (like AirAsia), or specific airlines like Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific, as part of the congestion relief plan. 

   

• NMIA as Main Hub: 

  The Bulacan airport (NMIA) will serve as the primary international gateway, designed to handle massive passenger volumes (up to 100m/year) and integrate with new transport links, replacing NAIA's dominance. 

   

• Redevelopment Potential: 

  Once NMIA fully replaces NAIA's core functions, the valuable land in Metro Manila could be redeveloped into new business districts or parks, transforming a congested area. 

   

• Timeline: 

  NMIA construction is progressing, with operations expected to start around 2027, while SMC's NAIA modernization runs under a long-term contract, allowing for a gradual transition. 

   

• SMC's Dual Role: 

  San Miguel Corporation, which operates NAIA (since late 2024) and is building NMIA, plans to use both airports in a "multi-airport strategy". 

   

In essence, NAIA won't disappear overnight but will transform and complement the new Bulacan airport, shifting traffic and roles to create a more efficient aviation system for the region, says this report from GMA News.