Finally! The long due revamp of Terminal 1 at Manila NAIA is coming…

MANILA- With its grey concrete shell, its dark-tinted windows and interminable corridors, Manila Terminal 1 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport evocates shabby old terminals built in the late seventies in the USA. Here does the similarity stop: in the USA most of these vestiges from the 70s are gone or at least totally renovated. Manila has been now waiting for 20 years to see a total overhaul of the Terminal 1 which welcomes most foreign carriers.
Talks about the necessary renovation surfaced over five years ago. But this is only last week that Philippines Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya confirmed the rehabilitation of Terminal 1.
The project has been awarded to a famous design firm Kenneth Cobonpue, Budji Layug and Royal Pineda on one hand, and the architectural firm of Leandro V. Locsin & Associates on the other. The new design is due to create larger space to allow a better fluidity of passengers’ flows, greate pockets of greenery within the building and bring light. A necessity as a few polls have named Manila Terminal 1 the “worst airport in the world”!
Conflicting interests with the architecture firm of Leandro V. Locsin & Associates – the original cabinet which designed the terminal building- delayed the start of work with the design firm Cobonpue, Budji Layug and Royal Pineda. Now, all has been settled with both firms working together. And the new terminal will probably turn into a masterwork of Filipino talent in 21st century design and an excellent example of public and private cooperation.
The project is due to require a total investment of US$ 65 million (Peso 2.8-billion) and should be completed by the end of 2015. The 30-year old terminal will then enter the 21st century with its innovative new design. A ground floor in open air will be opened. Covered by canopies with a tropical promenade, the ground floor will welcome greeters and visitors and offer commercial concessions and garden landscapes, helping to ease congestion in the upper floors of the terminal. The 3 level will then be exclusively used for departure passengers while the second floor will welcome arriving travellers.
Built in 1983 by the late National Artist Leandro Locsin, Naia is the world’s 34th busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic with 32.6 million in 2012, reaching its ultimate capacity of 35 million. Improvements at the airport will help to add capacity for another 8 to 10 million passengers annually.

Sourced: TravelDaliyNews