Pasay city: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. unveiled Tuesday the newly installed electronic (e)-gates, dignitaries' lounge, and modern food halls at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in a bid to modernize the country's primary gateway. During the launching ceremony, Marcos toured the e-gates, the Dignitaries Lounge, and the Mezzanine and Tambayan food halls.
According to Philippines News Agency, the e-gates, funded by the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), are powered by global travel technology company Amadeus. The system enables eligible passengers to complete immigration clearance in about 20 seconds, easing congestion during peak travel periods by using biometric identity verification and document authentication to streamline processing while meeting security requirements.
"Today's launch of the new immigration e-gates builds on that progress. Passengers can now clear in as little as 20 seconds, not 20 minutes, 20 seconds, with further improvements expected as the system continues to learn and begins to stabilize," Marcos said. There is a total of 78 biometric Immigration e-Gates across NAIA under a phased rollout, with systems already operational at Terminals 1 and 3, where international flights operate.
Marcos inaugurated the 200-square-meter Dignitaries Lounge at Terminal 3, which is designed to accommodate up to 61 distinguished guests. He said the launch of the new lounge "reflects the best of what we are as Filipinos - warm, respectful, and welcoming." The lounge aims to provide a more appropriate and welcoming setting for official engagements, reflecting Filipino hospitality while supporting NAIA's role as the country's primary international gateway.
Marcos also led the opening of two new food halls aimed at increasing dining capacity and choice for passengers. "Beyond immigration, we are also launching the All-Filipino Food Hall, Mezzanine Food Hall, which offers travelers better spaces to rest, to dine, and to reconnect," he said. The All-Filipino food hall called 'Tambayan' is a 6,200-square-meter dining space that can accommodate up to 2,000 guests. It features 17 homegrown brands, showcasing regional flavors and local products from across the Philippines.
Marcos visited the 6,801-square-meter Mezzanine Food Hall, which can accommodate up to 600 guests, offering 22 stand-alone restaurants and caf©s. The two new food halls reflect NNIC's efforts to improve comfort and choice for passengers, as well as make dining a more integral part of the Terminal 3 experience.
The NNIC is also set to launch a new Food Village (airside) to expand dining options for departing passengers after security clearance. The project will feature a mix of well-known local and international brands, including Bebang Halo-Halo, The Cozy Kitchen, Lechon Diva, Bo's Coffee, Mamak, Pho Hoa, Aristocrat, Cinnabon, and Potato Corner. Additional outlets will open as preparations are completed. Similar facilities and system improvements are also being developed in other terminals to improve operational flow and consistency across the airport.
