A consortium comprising six major Filipino conglomerates and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has submitted an unsolicited proposal worth over P100bn ($2bn) to the Philippine government for upgrading the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
Aboitiz InfraCapital, AC Infrastructure, Alliance Global-Infracorp Development, Asia’s Emerging Dragon, Filinvest Development and JG Summit Infrastructure have joined forces with GIP, a leading infrastructure investor and airport operator, to transform NAIA into a world-class airport with new facilities and technology.
The proposal includes a significant upfront payment to the government, aimed at improving air traffic demand by setting the country’s airport infrastructure up for success. The consortium believes that with this significant capital investment and the implementation of its proposed operational and technological improvements, NAIA will have the ability to serve up to 62.5 million passengers per annum (MPPA) efficiently by 2028—more than double its currently constrained design capacity, which stands at only 31 MPPA.
The consortium aims to make passing through the country’s international gateway a seamless experience, in line with the government’s “Build, Better, More” program. The modernization and long-term sustainability of NAIA is a critical development priority for both the country’s public and private sectors. The consortium believes that additional financial resources, as well as operating process and technology improvements, can help to achieve the vision of a world-class airport befitting the beauty of the Philippines.
The consortium has the expertise, proven solutions and extensive capital to deliver best-in-class solutions for the transformation of NAIA, which could become a key to unlocking economic growth and taking the country to upper middle-income status. The consortium aims to work hand in glove with the government to operate an efficient and future-ready international gateway in and out of a more prosperous Philippines.
Airports previously owned or operated by members of the Consortium include Mactan-Cebu, Clark, London Gatwick, Edinburgh, London City and Sydney airports, giving the group unparalleled scale, track record, resources, and expertise to deliver on this project. The consortium believes that the rehabilitation and upgrading of NAIA are vital to meeting growing air traffic demand in the country. The pre-pandemic passenger traffic had already reached 48 MPPA in 2019, underscoring the urgent need for the airport’s upgrade.
The consortium’s proposal includes a significant upfront payment to the government and committed investments in new facilities and technology to transform NAIA into a world-class airport. The proposal aims to ensure that the first thing that locals and foreigners alike see when they arrive in the Philippines is a source of pride for all Filipinos, as they pass through a modernized and sustainable NAIA. With its proposed operational and technological improvements, the consortium aims to help NAIA achieve its vision of a truly world-class airport, where congestion, reliability issues and unpleasant passenger experiences are things of the past.
