Construction Starts on Metro Manila Subway’s NAIA Terminal 3 Station
Last Updated on September 18, 2026 by Martina Ericka Berania
The Metro Manila Subway NAIA Terminal 3 station moved into its next stage after a groundbreaking ceremony on September 16, 2026. The planned underground station will sit beneath the terminal’s open parking area in Pasay, creating the airport’s first direct mass-transit connection once the subway opens.
The ceremony covered Contract Package 109, a 2.413-kilometer section connecting Taguig and Pasay. Actual construction is targeted to begin in October 2026. For travelers, the news is significant, but it does not mean rail service to NAIA is available yet; the station remains part of a major project with full completion targeted for the third quarter of 2031.
Courtesy of DOTr
Where the NAIA Terminal 3 Subway Station Will Be Built
The station is planned beneath the open parking lot at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. Its location is intended to bring the Metro Manila Subway directly into the airport complex, giving passengers an alternative to cars, taxis, buses, and app-based rides.
PortCalls reported that the station will have a gross floor area of 19,179.50 square meters. The same contract package includes connecting tunnels and engineering work near existing NAIA Expressway piers. Coordination with road and expressway stakeholders will be necessary because subway construction must proceed around infrastructure already serving the terminal.
What the Groundbreaking Means
A groundbreaking marks the formal start of a construction phase, not the opening of a station. The package moved through bid publication in 2023, a notice of award in March 2026, and contract signing in May. Right-of-way for the station area has been fully secured, while the tunnel portion was reported at 51 percent complete.
Construction methods will include tunnel boring for the underground railway and cut-and-cover work for the station. One of the key technical tasks is supporting existing NAIA Expressway piers while work continues below and around them. These details help explain why the airport link requires a long build period despite the visible ceremony.
Key Metro Manila Subway NAIA Details
- Station location: beneath the open parking area of NAIA Terminal 3
- Contract section: 2.413 kilometers between Taguig and Pasay
- Targeted construction start: October 2026
- Full subway completion target: third quarter of 2031
- Projected Valenzuela-to-NAIA travel time: about 41 minutes once operational
What This Could Change for Airport Trips
The wider subway project is designed to shorten the trip between Valenzuela City and NAIA Terminal 3 to about 41 minutes, compared with more than 90 minutes under current road conditions. That estimate applies to the completed system and should not be presented as a travel option available today.
A direct airport rail link could make flight planning more predictable for residents and visitors, especially during congested hours. It could also connect Terminal 3 with communities and business districts along the subway corridor. Transfers between NAIA terminals will still need separate guidance unless airport operators announce an integrated connection plan.
What Travelers Should Know Now
Current airport transport arrangements remain in place while construction proceeds. Passengers should continue checking their airline’s terminal notice, official airport advisories, road conditions, and available public transport before leaving for NAIA. Construction may also lead to localized traffic or parking changes around Terminal 3, so travelers should allow extra time when advisories are active.
The station is a future transport upgrade, not an immediate fix. The most useful updates to watch are construction milestones, temporary access changes, and any revision to the 2031 completion target.
How would a subway link change your trips to NAIA? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow @OverHereManila for more Manila transport and travel updates.
References
- Philippine News Agency — DOTr: NAIA T3 Subway Station to Give Airport First Mass Transit Link
- PortCalls Asia — Marcos Leads Groundbreaking of Metro Manila Subway’s NAIA Link
