Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 9) — The number of passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has increased by 158% in the first quarter of 2023, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Sunday.

“The Manila International Airport Authority, which manages NAIA, recorded a total of 10,855,332 passengers in the first three months of 2023, a 158% increase over the 4,200,575 passengers that traveled through the country’s primary gateway in the first three months of 2022,” the agency said.

The MIAA added the number of passengers was only 6% less than the pre-pandemic numbers in 2019.

“With the reopening of borders in countries such as Hong Kong and China, as well as the easing of travel restrictions, many travelers have regained confidence to fly in and out of the Philippines for both leisure and business purposes,” MIAA general manager Cesar Chiong said.

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The agency also noted that more domestic passengers — over 6.1 million — traveled in the first quarter of 2023, compared with the 5.4 million in the same period in 2019.

“Because domestic borders opened earlier than international borders, airlines are deploying a lot of flights right now to serve our local destinations. Our domestic sector is thriving, and we are seeing the results of the government’s efforts to revive tourism,” he added.

“As the aviation industry recovers from the effects of the pandemic, passenger numbers are likely to rise further in the coming months and years.”