Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Cebu Pacific (CEB), in a joint effort, will upgrade and expand the Manila Domestic Terminal (MDT) to improve its facilities for its increasing number of passengers.

The project will start by February 15, 2008, and should be completed by April 15, 2008.

The improvements will include:

• The opening of a new arrival area with five baggage conveyors instead of the three conveyors today.
• A 66% increase in seating capacity of the pre-departure area with the addition of more than 500 seats.
• The expansion of the flight check-in lobby and security check areas.
• The construction and addition of boarding gates, holding areas, and restrooms which will double the capacity of these structures from present.
• The construction of a covered walkway to the aircraft parking bays at the ramp.

Candice Iyog, CEB spokesperson said, "We have definitely outgrown the MDT and we are looking forward to its expansion. We recognize how important the airport experience is to our guests so we are happy about this joint effort with the MIAA."

The airline will relocate its cargo receiving section to pave way for the new arrival area.

MIAA will spend for the amenities upgrade in the arrival area and the construction and upgrading of the pre-departure lounge and departure areas.

CEB expects to carry more than 7 million passengers in 2008, 70 percent of whom will be domestic travelers. The airline carried more than 5 million passengers last year.

CEB has the youngest fleet of aircraft in the Philippines. CEB flies to 12, soon to be 14 international destinations, with the addition of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi this April. CEB also operates flights to 21 domestic destinations with the addition of Boracay (Caticlan) beginning February 29, 2008.