It's often joked that the most depressing part of any international trip is stepping back onto Philippine soil.
And for many travelers, that heartbreak starts with a reality check at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)—especially Terminal 1, where the arrivals bay has long felt less than welcoming.
Read: VIP lounge for OFWs in NAIA Terminal 1 now open
But it looks like the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) was listening: that area has just undergone a major facelift.
Here's what to look forward to the next time you arrive at NAIA Terminal 1.
NAIA Terminal 1's upgrade
As the oldest operating airport terminal in Metro Manila, NAIA Terminal 1 has long been overdue for an upgrade.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimized by its steep ramps, dimly lit walkways, or the sheer chaos of the pick-up bays.
Thankfully, those long-standing pain points may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a fresh round of much-needed improvements.
First up is an improvement on the ramp leading to the pick-up area—you know, the steep one that'll have you gripping on your luggage and carts for dear life.
Good news: the slope has been reduced and has been fitted with anti-slip rubber mat flooring.
No more white-knuckling your bags or fighting intrusive thoughts about runaway carts and wheelchairs. The revamped space is now noticeably safer and more accessible for arriving passengers.
Next, the arrival pick-up area has been improved with more efficient wayfinding signage and organized with a centralized taxi and ride-hailing hub for better traffic flow.
Under the new scheme, yellow metered taxis, coupon taxis, and ride-hailing services each have designated pick-up bays.
This means no more scrambling to contact your driver to inform them of where you are. Simply wait in the designated area, and they'll come to you.
Lastly, if your trip home got you feeling hungry or if you opted out of airplane food, now there are a bunch of fast food restaurants like Chowking, Kenny Rogers, and a lot more opening soon, so you can grab a bite before another arduous journey braving Metro Manila traffic.
While it may still sting to go back to real life after a vacation abroad, here's hoping these new improvements soften the blow just enough to get you home in a good mood.
For more information, visit NAIA's Facebook page.
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the PEP.ph editors.
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