Moving Between Manila's NAIA Terminals
NAIA's terminals aren't connected by walkways, trains, or airside corridors, so moving between them means stepping outside and taking ground transport.
Jump to
- International-to-international transfers: No airside connection between terminals. Clear immigration and customs before heading to your next one.
- Free NAIA Inter-Terminal Shuttle Bus: Free for passengers with an onward boarding pass or ticket. Hourly departures from the Arrivals level.
- UBE Express NAIA Loop: Open to non-passengers too. Operates 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
- Outside UBE Express operating hours: Taxis, ride-hailing, and other ground transport when the Loop is not running.
- For Philippine Airlines passengers: PAL's dedicated transfer buses for domestic–international connections.
- Which option should you use?: A quick decision guide.
Each terminal acts like a separate airport building. Two bus options cover most of the gap between them: the free NAIA Inter-Terminal Shuttle Bus for passengers with an onward flight, and the UBE Express NAIA Loop, open to passengers and non-passengers alike.
If you're connecting between two international flights
If both legs of your trip are international, you can't treat the terminal transfer as just a bus ride. NAIA's terminals have no airside link, so you can't stay inside the secure area and walk to your next gate. You have to exit through arrivals, then start the departure process again at your next terminal, like any other passenger flying out of NAIA.
That means:
- Clear immigration on arrival
- Claim your checked baggage, if any
- Clear customs
- Take the shuttle bus, UBE Express Loop, or other ground transport to your next terminal
- Check in for your onward flight, if you have not already
- Clear security and outbound immigration again before your next flight
Option 1: Free NAIA Inter-Terminal Shuttle Bus
- Who can ride
- Passengers with an onward boarding pass or ticket
- Operator
- New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation
- Cost
- Free
The New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation runs the NAIA Inter-Terminal Shuttle Bus, a free service for passengers transferring between terminals.
To ride, show proof of your next flight, such as an onward boarding pass or ticket. The shuttle serves passengers transferring to another terminal for a flight, not the general public.
Look for pickup points at the Arrivals level of every terminal, then follow signs for terminal transfer, transfer bus, or shuttle bus.
The shuttle departs every hour, so allow extra time. If you miss one, you may wait a while for the next departure. It runs landside, on public roads outside the terminals, so traffic around the airport can slow it down.
If you are arriving from an international flight
You must complete the normal arrival process before riding the shuttle:
- Clear immigration
- Claim your baggage, if needed
- Clear customs
- Exit to the Arrivals level
- Go to the marked shuttle pickup point
Because the shuttle is landside, you can only access it after immigration and customs.
Option 2: UBE Express NAIA Loop
- Who can ride
- Anyone, including visitors and people without an onward boarding pass
- Operating hours
- 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM
The UBE Express NAIA Loop connects the terminals too, but unlike the free shuttle, it's open to non-passengers. People meeting passengers, airport visitors, or anyone transferring between NAIA terminals can ride it.
It's useful if you don't have an onward boarding pass, or you're moving between terminals for another reason.
The Loop also runs on public roads, so travel time depends on traffic around the airport. Check how the roads into NAIA are moving before you count on a quick hop between terminals.
Outside UBE Express operating hours
The UBE Express NAIA Loop operates only from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Outside those hours, use taxis, ride-hailing, or other ground transport instead.
See our full guide to getting to and from NAIA for taxi, Grab, and bus options.
For Philippine Airlines passengers
- Who can ride
- Passengers connecting to an onward Philippine Airlines flight
- Best for
- PAL passengers connecting between domestic and international flights
Philippine Airlines passengers connecting between domestic and international flights may have access to PAL's dedicated transfer buses.
This applies to:
- Domestic to international connections
- International to domestic connections
Upon arrival, approach Philippine Airlines ground crew or the transfer desk. They can direct you to the correct bus or transfer process.
Which option should you use?
Use the free NAIA Inter-Terminal Shuttle Bus if you are a passenger with an onward flight and you have a boarding pass or ticket.
Use the UBE Express NAIA Loop if you need to move between terminals but do not have an onward boarding pass, or if you are not a passenger.
Spot something out of date or off?
Prices, schedules, and routes at NAIA change without much warning. If you've travelled recently and something here no longer matches what you saw, please write in. Same if you'd like to help with a guide of your own.