NAIA to launch biometric eGates for faster immigration processing

New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) is set to begin streamlining international passenger processing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) next month by activating new biometric immigration eGates in phases, the company said over the weekend.

The automated border-control system, powered by global travel-technology provider Amadeus and operated by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), uses passport-scanning and facial-recognition technology to reduce wait times and improve passenger throughput.

The eGates will be deployed in Terminals 1 and 3, NAIA’s international terminals where immigration checks are required.

The first phase is scheduled to go live in December 2025, with full deployment expected early next year. The project is funded by NNIC and utilizes BI-provided operational components, allowing the eGates to be introduced alongside NAIA’s ongoing upgrades.

“Our goal is to make each part of the airport experience more comfortable for passengers,” said NNIC president Ramon Ang.

“These eGates will help reduce bottlenecks at immigration and support the broader improvements we have been introducing across NAIA,” said Ang.

Once activated, the system will work with the biometric passenger touchpoints that NNIC has been rolling out across check-in, security screening and boarding.

The move comes as NAIA, which processed over 50 million passengers last year, continues to operate above its original design capacity. The introduction of automated systems is a key step in supporting efficient passenger flow as travel volumes continue to increase.

Since taking over NAIA operations in September 2024, NNIC has focused on improving efficiency and passenger experience. To accommodate more travelers, NAIA is building a new Terminal 5 to boost capacity to 62 million annually, increasing air traffic movements from 40 to 42 to 48 per hour, and expanding food, retail and lounge offerings across all terminals.

NNIC has also cleared abandoned aircraft from the airside, freeing up parking space and improving aircraft turnaround and ground movement. Work has also begun on upgrading check-in and baggage handling equipment to speed up the process for travelers.