With the ongoing fuel crisis, it’s getting more expensive to have someone to drive you to and from the airport or book ride-hailing services these days. But we all know how taking public transport with multiple transfers can be a challenge, especially if you’re carrying heavy luggage. Thankfully, there’s a more accessible, affordable, and reliable option with the Premium P2P bus service to and from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The point-to-point bus operated by UBE Express offers direct and affordable rides between NAIA and different parts of Metro Manila and beyond, including Victory Liner Pasay, PITX in Parañaque, Araneta City Cubao in Quezon City, and Robinsons Santa Rosa in Laguna.
For this guide, we’ll focus on the UBE Express P2P bus from NAIA to Cubao, Quezon City, including its schedules, fares, and frequently asked questions. We’ll also share some travel tips based on our firsthand experience in March 2026.
While frequent travelers may already know this route, it can help those unfamiliar with public transport in the metro, including local and international tourists, OFWs visiting after years away, or provincial tourists wanting to save on transport costs.
From Cubao, you can get on various provincial buses to Northern Luzon, or switch to the LRT or the MRT for quick city transfers.
Disclaimer: Trip schedules may change without prior notice, so be sure to check out UBE Express’ Facebook page for the latest updates.
What is the premium P2P airport bus?
The premium P2P airport bus service is run by UBE Express, a modern bus service operated by Airfreight 2100 Inc. It provides safe, comfortable, and direct transport between NAIA terminals and major hubs in Metro Manila and nearby provinces like Laguna. The service uses air-conditioned, low-floor, PWD-friendly buses with lots of luggage space for big bags. It’s the same type of bus that provides tarmac shuttle service for various airlines in transporting passengers within the airport facility.
Where does the bus pick up passengers in NAIA?
Coming from the arrival area of NAIA Terminal 3, the booth and P2P bus pickup point are located at Bay 12, outer lane.
While the bus drops off passengers at Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3, passengers arriving at NAIA T1 and T2 will need to transfer to NAIA T3 to board this P2P bus. These P2P buses leave on a fixed schedule, so if you miss the trip and need to get somewhere in a hurry, it’s better to use other available transport options.
Where is the bus terminal in Cubao located?
The P2P bus drops off and picks up passengers at the Araneta City Bus Port in the Manhattan Heights Building, Tower D, Ground Level, General Romulo Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City. The terminal faces the back of Ali Mall. The bus waiting area is located in Bay 5.
What’s the schedule for NAIA-Cubao bus trips?
As of February 1, 2026, there are nine trips to and from NAIA Terminal 3 to Araneta City, Cubao, throughout the day.
NAIA Terminal 3 to Araneta City, Cubao
- 5:30am
- 7:30am
- 8:45am
- 11am
- 1:45pm
- 2:30pm
- 4:45pm
- 6:30pm
- 8:30pm
Araneta City Cubao to NAIA Terminals 1, 2, 3
- 6am
- 7am
- 9am
- 11am
- 12:30pm
- 3pm
- 4:30pm
- 6:30pm
- 8pm
Again, if you miss a trip, are in a hurry, or have an early-morning or late-night flight, it’s best to use other available transport options.
Can you dismount anywhere in between the route?
No. Since this is a point-to-point service, the bus only stops at designated, authorized loading and unloading bays. The bus will not stop to drop off or pick up passengers anywhere else along its route, so make sure you’re on the right route before hopping on.
Where can passengers buy tickets?
Simply proceed to the bus stop or the boarding platform and pay your fare to the conductor/driver who comes around to collect payment.
How much is the fare, and what are the modes of payment?
As of March 2026, the fare from NAIA Terminal 3 to Cubao, Quezon City, is P200 for regular passengers. This is payable by cash on the bus.
However, passengers can also opt to book tickets online to make use of cashless payments. You can buy tickets online through the UBE Express official website (payable via GCash or PayPal) or from Klook (payable by various online payment methods). If you’re using Klook, the voucher will only be valid for the date specified, but you can use it at any time within the day. You can also avail of senior discounts (P180 instead of P200).
Firsthand experience and tips
After arriving from a flight in March 2026, I tried to book a ride-hailing service to get home, but was shocked to see that the estimated fare from NAIA to Quezon City had surged to over P1,000 from the typical P600-P800 range. So, I decided to take the bus from NAIA Terminal 3 to Cubao and switch to a ride-hailing service from there.
The booth and bus could be easily spotted outside the airport from the arrival bays. Getting to the bus didn’t involve a long walk and was easy enough, even with two suitcases.
There’s no need to make reservations or buy tickets beforehand to ride this bus, depending on your flight arrival or departure time. You can easily walk in. Before riding, I booked a ticket via Klook, and the bus conductor just scanned my QR code when I boarded.
The bus wasn’t too crowded. I was able to sit comfortably, and there was plenty of space for luggage. According to the bus operators, the vehicle is stroller- and wheelchair-accessible.
Our bus left NAIA T3 promptly at 8:30pm and got to the Cubao terminal at 9:19pm, for a travel time of only 49 minutes. This was on a weekday, and the bus used the dedicated bus lane, so it could skip traffic. By rideshare, this trip normally takes me 1.5 to two hours, depending on the traffic.
The total cost was P350, including P200 for the P2P bus and P150 for the ride-hailing service from Cubao to my home. Compared to the estimated P1000+, I managed to save P650 versus taking a rideshare the entire way. Not bad.
Overall, I’ll probably use this more for return trips after flights, especially if I’m traveling alone or if I’m not in a rush. If there are two or more of you in a travel party, it’s still more convenient to book a rideshare to minimize transfers, but for solo travel and easier access to Cubao, this bus offers a more affordable option.
