New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) will start activating new biometric immigration eGates at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in phases starting December, as part of ongoing efforts to improve passenger processing.
The eGates — powered by Amadeus, a global travel-technology provider, and to be operated by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) — form part of an automated border-control system using passport-scanning and facial-recognition technology to reduce wait times and improve throughput.
They are deployed in Terminals 1 and 3, NAIA’s international terminals, where immigration checks are required. The first phase is scheduled to go live starting December 2025, with full deployment expected early next year.
The project combines NNIC funding with BI-provided operational components, allowing the eGates to be introduced alongside NAIA’s ongoing upgrades.
Once activated, the system will work alongside the biometric passenger touchpoints that NNIC has been rolling out across check-in, security screening, and boarding.
“Our goal is to make each part of the airport experience more comfortable for passengers,” Ang said. “These eGates will help reduce bottlenecks at immigration and support the broader improvements we have been introducing across NAIA.”
NAIA processed over 50 million passengers last year, surpassing its original design capacity. The introduction of automated systems is a key step in supporting efficient passenger flow as travel volumes continue to increase.
