Group taps Changi operator for airport plan

A member of the super consortium that wants to rehabilitate and redevelop the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) confirmed that they were partnering with Changi Airports International (CAI) for the project.

“The consortium has agreed that Changi would be our technical partner,” said Jose Ma. K. Lim, president and CEO of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).

MPIC is one of seven of the country’s biggest conglomerates that have decided to work together in submitting an unsolicited proposal to rehabilitate Naia, which is suffering from worsening congestion. The other companies that make up the consortium are Andrew Tan’s Alliance Globe Group Inc., Ayala Corp., Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., Gokongwei-led JG Summit Holdings Inc., Gotianun’s Filinvest Development Corp., and Lucio Tan’s LT Group.

According to its company website, CAI is a leading airport consultant, manager and investor in the global aviation market. It has an extensive portfolio in more than 20 countries and 50 airports globally, including the world-famous Singapore Changi Airport.

Lim said they only had “initial meetings” with CAI, noting that “we probably would have more to report after our next meeting.” He said he didn’t know of the tentative schedule yet.

The super consortium plans to submit its unsolicited proposal to the Department of Transportation. The project could upgrade the airport to accommodate an additional 11 million passengers annually from the current 39.5 million passengers.

Apart from the seven conglomerates, there is a separately proposed “mega-consortium” that also wants to rehabilitate and operate the highly congested main gateway to Metro Manila.

This group, in turn, is made up of construction and infrastructure conglomerate Megawide Corp. and the state-owned firm Social Security System (SSS).

The SM group, the country’s largest conglomerate, is not part of the super consortium. Instead, it is pushing for a separate proposal to build a new airport at Sangley Point in Cavite.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Corp., also not a member of the Naia group, earlier obtained an original proponent status to develop a new airport in Bulacan.