SMC keen on tapping UK air traffic firm

LONDON—Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. is keen on tapping NATS, the leading provider of air traffic control services in the United Kingdom, for its prospective airport projects in the Philippines.

Asif Ahmad, UK ambassador to the Philippines, told visiting reporters from Manila that NATS is interested in participating in airport projects in the Philippines.

SMC president Ramon Ang’s recent visit here provided an opportunity to talk about a prospective partnership, Ahmad said.

Ang was in London to mark the return of Philippine Airlines to Europe via Heathrow International Airport.

Ahmad said Ang was “so impressed” that he is interested in employing NATS in upcoming Philippine airport projects, such as SMC’s bid for the upgrade of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Also, SMC is the lead shareholder in a consortium that operates the Caticlan international airport, the gateway to Boracay Island. It has likewise talked about building a major international airport to serve Metro Manila.

NATS handles 2.2 million flights and 220 million passengers, all within UK’s airspace. In addition to providing services to 15 UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, it maintains a presence in more than 30 countries around the world, according to its website.

As such, Ahmad said, Ang is interested in tapping NATS’ expertise and experience in airport management.

Also, Ang said that SMC had invested in Philippine Airlines to help boost the tourism industry.

He added that the talks for a third party investor to buy out the stake held by taipan Lucio Tan in PAL had reached an advance phase.

Ang described the negotiations to be in its final stages.—Doris C. Dumlao