Grab Philippines has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping its ride-hailing and delivery services accessible throughout the peak holiday season. With strengthened partnerships and expanded carpooling options such as Grab Group Rides, the company aims to ease the supply crunch caused by the surge in holiday demand.
Grab reports that worsening traffic congestion is extending trip completion times by 20 to 25 percent during peak hours, reducing the number of daily trips that transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers can complete. This, combined with a projected 36 percent rise in fourth-quarter ride-hailing demand, is putting added pressure on available TNVS vehicles.
To help address these challenges, Grab is working closely with New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the private operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, to minimize pick-up bottlenecks across terminals. The company is also coordinating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB to maintain service availability during the holiday rush.
Grab Philippines Managing Director Ronald Roda said the company has been preparing for the expected challenges: “This holiday season will be a challenge, as in previous years. Traffic and heightened demand will create moments when getting a ride feels harder than usual, but we promise to do our absolute best to be better than last year. We have been preparing since the start of the year to ensure our services remain accessible enough to help every Filipino make their holiday celebration complete.”
Shuttle Rides and Carpool Services Ease Holiday Traffic
With ride-hailing demand at NAIA up more than 30 percent year-to-date, Grab is deploying free airport shuttle services during the busiest periods between 4:00 PM and 1:00 AM. Operating on the weekends of December 5–8, 12–16, and 19–22, the shuttles will run from Fridays to Mondays, and on Tuesday for the second week. Shuttles will transport passengers from NAIA Terminal 3 to the One Ayala transport hub, giving them access to broader mass transit options when TNVS supply is tight.
NNIC General Manager Angelito Alvarez welcomed the initiative, saying: “The holidays bring in so many travelers, and the rush makes it harder to get a ride. That’s why we appreciate Grab stepping in to strengthen transport options. Little things like this make a big difference when the airport is at its busiest.”
Grab has also enhanced its 24/7 concierge service at Terminal 3 to assist more passengers with booking a ride.
In addition, Grab launched its “Sabay Sakay” shared-ride program with the DOTr ahead of the holiday peak. The scheduled carpooling service currently covers key business corridors including Pasig–Makati and Pasig–BGC, with on-ground concierges consolidating bookings to improve seat utilization in areas with limited ride availability.
Maximizing Vehicle Efficiency Through Technology
To further increase the productivity of the current TNVS fleet, Grab is using its Group Rides feature, which enables a host passenger to share a link with up to three riders who can enter their own pick-up or drop-off points. Grab’s mapping system then determines the most efficient route to serve all passengers in a single trip, helping drivers serve more riders despite limited supply.
For deliveries, Grab’s Party Platters feature helps simplify bulk holiday orders by automatically assigning multiple riders to large-volume deliveries. This prevents fulfillment delays and supports smoother delivery operations during peak food demand.
Driver Support at the Core of Holiday Operations
Grab emphasized its continued commitment to supporting driver-partners during the busiest season of the year. Through Grab Academy, the company is offering refresher modules focused on safety, passenger handling, and service decorum to help ensure consistent and high-quality service throughout the holidays.