‘Super-consortium’ formally created to bid for NAIA rehab

Ninoy Aquino International Airport. FILE PHOTO

Seven of the country’s biggest conglomerates formally agreed to create a super-consortium to rehabilitate, operate, and maintain the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) through an unsolicited proposal to be submited to the Department of Transportation.

Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., the Ayalas’ AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, tycoon Andrew Tan-led Alliance Global Group Inc., Lucio Tan group-led Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corp., Gokongwei-led JG Summit Holdings Inc., and businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. have all agreed to form the NAIA consortium, based on a disclosure by Gokongwei-led JG Summit to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday.

Given proper upgrades and strategic improvements, the super-consortium said NAIA could easily accommodate an additional 11 million passengers annually from the current 39.5 million passengers, and likewise increase its hourly aircraft movements (landing and take-off) from 40 movements per hour to 48 movements per hour.

“The consortium believes that the NAIA will continue to be a strategic gateway for our country and a key hub of airline operations for many more years. The consortium will work with foreign technical partners with proven world class track records and experiences in airport operations to improve, upgrade, and enhance the operational efficiencies of NAIA covering both landside and airside facilities,” the disclosure said.

Numerous foreign and local experts have highlighted the advantage of keeping an airport within city limits. Like other major cities in the world, experts recommend an in-city airport and another one outside the metropolis to complement it, the group said.

Megacities that benefit from a two-airport set-up include Tokyo (Haneda and Narita) and London (Gatwick and Heathrow).

“The unsolicited proposal is intended to help accelerate the government’s ‘build build build’ program. Augmenting NAIA’s capacity is the quickest way to address airport congestion while other airports are being developed outside Metro Manila. The consortium believes that this approach promotes greater economic benefit and sustainability for the whole country,” JG said.

In a separate disclosure, Ayala Corp. said the terms of the memorandum of understanding or framework of the consortium were still under negotiation.

The consortium will work with foreign technical partners with world class track records in airport operations to improve, upgrade, and enhance the operational efficiencies of NAIA, the Ayala disclosure added.