Scheduled turboprop services will begin transferring out of Manila Ninoy Aquino International on March 30, 2025, following an edict from the Manila Slot Coordination Committee (MSCC) designed to ease congestion at the busy airport. Flights will move to secondary airports including Angeles City Clark International, and the MSCC wants to complete the process by October 26.

In the short term, the decision only applies to carriers with turboprop fleets of six or more aircraft. Smaller operators at Ninoy Aquino, such as Sunlight Air, Island Aviation, AirSWIFT, and Alphaland Aviation, can stay until 2026. Bigger carriers, however, such as PAL Express and Cebgo must shift out their turboprop flights by the close of the 2025 northern summer season. However, the MSCC notice says 30% of the affected flights must exit alreadt on or around March 30.

According to ch-aviation schedules data, PAL Express operates DHC-8-Q400 flights from Manila to Antique, Basco, Busuanga, Cagayan de Oro Laguindingan, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cauayan, Cebu, Daranga Bicol, Del Carmen (Siargao), and Iloilo. Cebgo operates ATR72-500s and ATR72-600s from Manila to Busuanga, Caticlan, Cebu, Daranga Bico, Del Carmen, Masbate, Naga, San José McGuire, and Surigao. Clark Airport, around 115 kilometres north of Manila Ninoy Aquino, is expected to be the prime beneficiary of the change.

In a statement provided to ch-aviation, a Cebu Pacific spokesperson said flights from Manila to Masbate and Del Carmen would shift to Clark on March 30. Flights from Manila to Surigao will be axed, but passengers will have the option of connecting to Surigao at Cebu.

"Cebu Pacific recognises the importance of managing airport capacity effectively, which will lead to improved passenger experience and greater public convenience," the spokesperson said.

"In line with the directive to relocate turboprop operations from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, we are currently working with the concerned authorities on the transfer details," a PAL Express spokesperson told ch-aviation  "This process may take some time. We will make more detailed announcements on route updates in due course."

The order does not cover general aviation or private planes, which are currently allocated around two slot pairs per hour. According to the Philippine Star newspaper, the MSCC would like to move these aircraft types out as well but is facing some pushback from politicians who are among the biggest private aircraft users at Ninoy Aquino. The report suggests a compromise of one slot pair per hour is the more likely outcome - a change that may wait until after the next general election scheduled for May 2025.

The MSCC says the decision to move scheduled turboprop flights out of Manila is designed to ease congestion, boost regional airports, and improve overall aviation efficiency. The change will impact around two million passengers annually. Ninoy Aquino International handled a record 50 million passengers in 2024. By moving smaller aircraft out, the airport plans to raise this to around 62 million passengers annually and increase hourly aircraft movements to 48, up from the present 30-40.