A P350-billion proposal to transform the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) into a world-class regional aviation hub comparable to the main airports of Singapore and Thailand was submitted to the government by a super-consortium backed by seven of the country’s biggest conglomerates.
Working in partnership with Changi Airport of Singapore—considered the top-notch airport operator in the region and World Airport Awards’ top-ranked airport for many years—the Naia super-consortium is seeking a 35-year airport concession in exchange for a comprehensive upgrading of Naia’s airside, landside and air navigation support.
The immediate goal is to double the capacity of the highly congested airport complex to 65 million passengers annually in 48 months for the first phase of the project.
Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., the Ayalas’ AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Andrew Tan-led Alliance Global Group Inc., Lucio Tan-led Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Gotianun’s Filinvest Development Corp., Gokongwei-led JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. are the large homegrown conglomerates that formed the Naia consortium.
“We believe that we can really hit the ground running and deliver immediate benefits to the millions of passengers that already use Naia,” consortium spokesperson Jose Emmanuel Reverente told reporters on Tuesday.
The project, submitted as an unsolicited proposal to the Duterte administration, is divided into two phases. Phase 1, estimated to cost around P100 billion, includes improvements and expansion of terminals in the current Naia land area. Phase 2 involves the development of an additional runway, taxiways, passenger terminals and associated support infrastructure.
The proposal also includes a “people mover” that will link all three terminals and connect Naia to the existing mass transport system in Metro Manila as well as an option for a third runway.
While designed to accommodate only 31 million passengers a year, Naia currently serves about 42 million passengers.