Manila International Airport introduces biometric eGates to speed up passenger immigration processing

Credit: Amadeus

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is transforming the passenger immigration experience with the rollout of 78 biometric eGates as part of the airport’s $3 billion modernisation. Serving more than 50 million passengers annually, NAIA is the main hub airport in the Philippines and is operated by New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC), a subsidiary of The San Miguel Group.

The new biometric process enables passengers to complete immigration in less than 20 seconds. Combining identity validation, document authentication and real-time monitoring, the system ensures only fully verified travellers can proceed. The solution integrates with the country’s border authority backend systems to enhance security while reducing congestion.

“Delivering a better NAIA starts with investing in technology that removes long‑standing bottlenecks. Leveraging Amadeus’ state‑of‑the‑art technology, we are proud to have put in place a biometric immigration process that clears travellers in seconds and raises both efficiency and security,” said Ramon S. Ang, President of NNIC.

The rollout has been phased to coincide with terminal refurbishment. The first 24 biometric eGates became operational in December 2025, with the remaining 54 eGates set to open in early 2026. Once fully deployed, the system will significantly reduce wait times at immigration and improve passenger flow through the terminal.

“This project is a great example of an airport operator, border authority and technology partner working closely together to reimagine a modern and secure immigration process built around the passenger. We are very excited to be working with NNIC to support its bold vision for Manila’s hub airport,” said Jonathan Tong, Senior Vice President, Airport & Border Authorities, Asia Pacific, Amadeus.

The biometric upgrade is a central part of NAIA’s wider modernisation plan, which aims to make the airport a world-class gateway. With faster processing, improved security and a more seamless experience, the airport is better equipped to handle growing passenger volumes and future international traffic.