The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) announced that Ninoy Aquino International Airport – Terminal 3 will experience warmer temperatures from 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, to 9 a.m. the following day due to the installation of six new cooling towers.
The airport management expects around 27,000 arriving and departing passengers on 117 flights may experience discomfort due to reduced air circulation during the 12-hour interruption.
During the installation activity, the new cooling tower piping will be connected to the main piping lines of the chiller plant.
The MIAA is in the final steps of installing new cooling towers to resolve issues of inadequate cooling at the terminal.
Earlier this year, MIAA acquired the new cooling towers that will be strategically installed to optimize piping infrastructure, thereby upgrading and significantly improving the overall system efficiency of the air conditioning system in Terminal 3.
“To accomplish this, the centralized cooling system will be temporarily shut down to facilitate the works,” said MIAA general manager Eric Ines.
Ines added that during the installation period, only the fans and blowers of the air conditioning units will operate to enable air circulation in various areas.
The felt temperature may not reach optimal comfort levels during this time. To mitigate this, stand-alone air conditioning units will be deployed in various areas of the terminal for spot cooling as backup.
Once the new cooling towers are fully integrated into the chilled water system, it is expected that normal and more efficient operation of the air conditioning units will be gradually restored.
During the 12-hour downtime, the following areas will be affected: check-in counters, immigration departure, final security checks for domestic and international flights, baggage carousels for international and domestic arrivals, and the arrival lobby.
Ines assured that MIAA’s medical team will be on high alert and ready to respond to any medical emergency.
The airport chief seeks understanding and cooperation from all airport users during the temporary shutdown.
“Please bear with us. The upgrades are intended to bolster the terminal’s capability to maintain ideal temperatures efficiently, thereby ensuring a more pleasant experience for all airport users,” he said.
