We recommend at least 1 hour for a comfortable connection at Ninoy Aquino International. The minimum connection time is 60 minutes for domestic flights and 90 minutes for international flights. Transit between terminals takes up to 60 minutes.

Domestic-to-Domestic: 60 min. Domestic-to-International: 120 min. International-to-Domestic: 120 min. International-to-International: 90 min. These are the shortest layovers airlines will sell at Ninoy Aquino International.

Manila's NAIA is one of the more challenging hubs in Asia for connections because its four terminals are physically separate buildings without an airside walkway or train, requiring a landside shuttle bus ride for most transfers. Passengers connecting between terminals must generally exit security, sometimes reclaim and recheck bags, and pass through security again, so tight connections are risky, especially with Manila's notorious road traffic between terminals. Free NAIA shuttle buses run between terminals on public roads outside the security perimeter, typically taking 15-30 minutes per leg but stretching much longer during Manila traffic jams. There is no airside connector, so cross-terminal passengers must clear outbound formalities, ride the shuttle, then go through check-in and security screening again at the new terminal.

Still too tight for any transfer given NAIA's lack of airside connections and frequent security queues. See full 30 min guide →

Meets the bare minimum for same-terminal domestic connections but leaves no margin for delays. See full 45 min guide →

Enough time for same-terminal domestic-domestic connections and a fast cross-terminal transfer in light traffic. See full 1 hr guide →

Reasonable for most domestic connections and a lower-risk international-to-domestic transfer within the same terminal complex. See full 1¼ hr guide →

Solid buffer for most cross-terminal domestic connections and many international-international transfers. See full 1½ hr guide →

Meets the practical minimum for international connections requiring a terminal change and full re-clearance. See full 2 hr guide →

Ample time even accounting for Manila traffic delays on the inter-terminal shuttle. See full 2½ hr guide →

Very comfortable, covering slow immigration lines, baggage recheck, and rescreening with room to spare. See full 3 hr guide →

Highly comfortable, enough for even the worst-case cross-terminal transfer with traffic delays and long queues. See full 4 hr guide →