MANILA, Philippines — How much has the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), a unit of San Miguel Corp., accomplished for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport so far?
SMC president and CEO Ramon S. Ang said the NNIC has surpassed all expectations since the company took over NAIA for the purpose of modernization and facilities upgrade a little more than a year ago.
“It is a demanding task to operate an airport the size and scale of NAIA,” Ang observed. “Thanks to the dedication of our people on the front lines and behind the scenes, the airport is now running more flights and serving more passengers, all in safety and on time,” he said.
Since the Sept. 14, 2024, takeover, NNIC has upgraded the capability of the airport.
The international gateway handled 283,771 flights that brought in 51.7 million passengers, 2.9 million more than the numbers recorded in the same period the previous year, all under the private operator’s management.
Remittance to gov’t
Over that one-year period, NNIC has remitted more than P52 billion to the government, including the P30-billion payment made upfront. It is also turning over 82 percent of the airport’s revenues to the government.
That means the government will get what it usually earns from NAIA – or even more as the operation expands and becomes more efficient – with no need to appropriate public funds to pay for the cost of the upgrade.
Of the P72 billion that NNIC commits for the modernization project, P3.5 billion has been spent for the purpose so far. But even then, Ang said NNIC has already rolled out a new facial recognition system powered by Collins Aerospace, allowing travelers to check in, drop bags, clear security and board flights using just their face.
READ: Collins Aerospace expands Philippine footprint with new IT-BPM venture
The aircraft parking stands have been reconfigured, the taxiway improved and abandoned aircraft removed to free up valuable space for smoother operations. The immediate result: the airport has been able to add new domestic and international routes with 47 airline partners.
More facilities
Inside the terminals, passengers are seeing 11,820 new chairs, 2,500 baggage trolleys, 21 new air-conditioning units and chillers, and Wi-Fi upgraded from 1G to 10G. All escalators, walkalators and elevators are now working like clockwork.
For the convenience of passengers, NNIC is renovating six restrooms, while 10 new ones are set for construction.
The San Miguel conglomerate has ordered 34 new boarding bridges. They will be installed as soon as they arrive.
The transportation system between terminals has improved with a fleet of 20 new shuttle buses, capable of serving half a million travelers. Behind the scenes, baggage handling was streamlined to process 51.3 million bags, keeping pace with the passenger surge without the long queues NAIA has been known for once.
READ: Naia transformation gets off the ground
OFW lounge
Ang takes inordinate pride in the OFW Lounge, which he ordered constructed at Terminal 3, immediately after the NNIC takeover. The well-appointed room provides departing and arriving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with food, Wi-Fi connection, shower rooms, or just a place to hang out and relax, all for free.
The OFW Lounge has so far served nearly half a million Filipino overseas workers. A second lounge is under construction at Terminal 1.
READ: OFW lounges may stop services due to Owwa budget cut
By December, 60 new immigration eGates will become operational, making departures and arrivals faster.
While hard at work within, NNIC is clearing 266,463 tons of waste and silt from surrounding waterways to protect the airport from floods.
For sustainability of the ecosystem, NNIC is introducing a Tenant Environmental Handbook, which requires ban on single-use plastics ban, water conservation, composting and energy efficiency.
Moreover, the San Miguel subsidiary has begun embracing global standards, pursuing ISO certifications in quality, environment and safety, the company statement said. /dda