NAIA cargo volume down 16.7% in 2023

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Air cargo containers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
  • Cargo handled by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport declined 16.7% in 2023
  • Mactan-Cebu International Airport, on the other hand, saw 2.5% more cargo last year
  • NAIA processed 485,879.38 metric tons of air cargo and MCIA, 58.011 million kilograms in 2023
  • Passenger volumes improved 46.5% for NAIA and 81% for MCIA

Cargo handled by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) declined 16.7% while it grew 2.5% at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in 2023 compared to 2022, data from the two main gateways’ regulators showed.

NAIA processed 485,879.38 metric tons (mt) of air cargo in 2023, lower than the 583,308.46 mt posted year-on-year, based on statistics published on the Manila International Airport Authority’s (MIAA) website.

International cargo, which accounted for 71% of the total, declined 13.9% to 346,832.71 mt last year from 402,732.26 mt in 2022.

Domestic cargo also dropped 23% to 139,046.67 mt from 180,576.20 in 2022.

MCIA, on the other hand, saw a 2.5% growth mainly due to the double-digit increase in domestic cargo.

MCIA handled 58.011 million kilograms (kg) in 2023, up from 56.596 million kg posted in 2022, according to data from Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority’s (MCIAA) website.

Domestic cargo, which contributed 68% to the total, rose 24% to 39.695 million kg in 2023 from 32.098 million kg in 2022.

International cargo, on another hand, fell 25% to 18.317 million kg from 24.498 million kg.

In terms of number of flights, both gateways recorded an increase in 2023, both for domestic and international flights.

NAIA serviced 270,911 flights in 2023, 27% higher than the 213,317 flights recorded in 2022.

International flights surged 60% to 102,876 last year from 64,202 in 2022, while domestic flights rose 12.7% to 168,035 from 149,115.

It must be noted that data from MIAA’s operational statistics on flight and passenger volumes uploaded in April are slightly lower than those cited by a news release in January.

Flights at MCIA likewise grew 63% to 89,712 in 2023 from 54,997 in 2022.

International flights saw a whopping 160% increase to 16,955 from just 6,527 in 2022 while domestic flights rose 50% to 72,757 from 48,470 in 2022.

For passengers, both gateways recorded double-digit growth in 2023.

NAIA handled 45.3 million passengers, up 46.5% from 30.912 million, while MCIA recorded an 81% increase to 10.050 million passengers from 5.560 million in 2022. – Roumina Pablo

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