Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Cebu Pacific (CEB), will spruce up the Manila domestic terminal to accommodate the increasing number of passengers.

Cebu Pacific said it has allotted P14 million to expand the arrival area.

The airline will relocate its present cargo receiving section to accommodate the larger 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.

The project will start Friday 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 percent increase in seating capacity in the pre-departure area with the addition of more than 500 seats.

The flight check-in lobby and security check areas will be expanded.

New boarding gates, holding areas, and restrooms will double the capacity of these structures from the present.

A covered walkway will be built 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 that’s why we are happy about this joint effort with the MIAA."

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.