Manila’s NAIA Ranks 7th Globally for Airport Dining, UK Study Finds

MANILA — Ninoy Aquino International Airport has been ranked the seventh best airport in the world for layover dining, according to a 2026 study by UK-based travel services firm Airport Parking & Hotels (APH), a recognition that the airport’s operator says reflects ongoing efforts to overhaul the passenger experience.

APH evaluated the world’s 50 busiest airports on the strength of their dining offerings, food prices, lounge facilities, and overall passenger experience. NAIA scored highly for the diversity of its food scene, which the New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC) — the private consortium that took over airport operations in late 2024 — has credited in part to new food halls and dining concepts introduced since it assumed management of the facility.

“It’s great to see NAIA earning international recognition alongside major global hubs just over a year into NNIC’s tenure as operator,” the corporation said in a statement, adding that additional food options were in the pipeline across terminals.

The ranking places NAIA alongside major international transit hubs in a category where Asian airports have historically performed well. Singapore’s Changi Airport, a perennial top finisher in global airport rankings, has long set the benchmark for in-terminal dining in the region.

NAIA, which serves Metro Manila and handles the bulk of the Philippines’ international and domestic air traffic, has long struggled with congestion, aging infrastructure, and a poor reputation among travelers. The handover to NNIC under a 15-billion-peso concession agreement marked one of the most significant privatization moves in Philippine aviation history, with the consortium pledging sweeping improvements to terminals, facilities, and services.

The APH study’s findings suggest that at least on the dining front, the airport’s rehabilitation is beginning to draw notice beyond the Philippines.