Grab Philippines said it is banking on strategic partnership and carpooling services like Grab Group Rides to mitigate the supply crunch driven by the sharp increase in demand.
The ride-hailing app’s data showed that current traffic congestion is prolonging the completion of ride-hailing trips by an average of 20 percent to 25 percent during peak hours, affecting the number of trips a TNVS driver can complete daily.
This congestion, compounded by a projected 36 percent spike in fourth-quarter demand for ride-hailing services, is placing strain on the overall supply of TNVS vehicles on the road.
To address these pressures, Grab is working with New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC)—the private consortium operating Ninoy Aquino International Airport—to ease pick-up bottlenecks at key terminals as airports remain a demand hotspot amid surging arrivals; while also coordinating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB to ensure the availability of ride-hailing options this season.
“This holiday season will be a challenge, as in previous years. We are facing a slew of macroeconomic factors, from an uptick in holiday demand that challenges the supply of vehicles to the traffic conditions of the metro,” Ronaldo Roda, Grab Philippines managing director, said.
“There will be moments when getting a ride feels harder than usual, but we promise to do our absolute best to be better than last year. We have been preparing since the start of the year to ensure our services remain accessible enough to help every Filipino make their holiday celebration complete,” he added.
With year-to-date data showing a jump of more than 30 percent in ride-hailing demand at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Grab is stepping in to directly manage foot traffic and decongest the arrivals population in the airport.
The leading superapp will deploy free airport shuttle rides during critical windows when travelers are finding it difficult to book a GrabCar, specifically between 4 p.m. and 1 a.m. Operating across three key holiday weekends—Dec. 5-8, 12-16 and 19-22—the shuttles will run from Fridays to Mondays, and Tuesday for the second week, moving passengers from NAIA Terminal 3 to the One Ayala public transport terminal. This ensures that even when most ride-hailing drivers are fully utilized, passengers can still access the city’s mass transit network.
NNIC general manager Angelito Alvarez highlighted the importance of the shuttle initiative with Grab.
“We have been working to make airport operations more efficient, especially now that the holidays bring in so many travelers. That’s why we appreciate Grab stepping in to help further strengthen our transport options,” Alvarez said.
“The rush can make it harder to get a ride, so having more reliable choices really helps. Little things like this make a big difference when the airport is at its busiest,” he added.
Grab also recently improved its 24-hour concierge at NAIA Terminal 3 to accommodate more passengers in need of assistance in booking a GrabCar.
