NOW that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) have formally turned over operations of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the San Miguel-led New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), hopes are high that our country’s premier airport terminals will finally be getting the makeover needed to make them at par at least with their Asian counterparts.
The takeover, which was agreed upon under the Concession Agreement signed between the government and NNIC in March 2024, is a milestone that marks a significant step forward in the government’s initiative to harness private sector expertise and mobilize private capital for infrastructure development.
Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista wished NNIC success as it took over the operations of NAIA. Present in the turnover were San Miguel Corporation President and COO Ramon S. Ang, NNIC manager Lito Alvarez, MIAA general manager Eric Ines, Bautista and DOTr Usec Robert Lim, among others.
“Today, we are finally doing what the government has wanted to do since the 1990s- to use public-private partnership (PPP) in enabling a private operator to manage the operations and maintenance of NAIA and make it truly world-class. We wish NNIC much success,” Bautista stated.
Ines, on the other hand, assured the NNIC of MIAA’s full support and cooperation as it takes over NAIA operations.
According to Alvarez, the turnover of rehabilitation, operations and further development of NAIA to NNIC is expected to boost the airport capacity to meet the growing demand by handling more flights and passengers, while improving service quality and compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
NNIC will be investing approximately P144 billion and managing NAIA under a 15-year concession, extendable by 10 years, contingent on meeting key performance targets.
Meantime, the ownership of the airport will remain with the government and at the end of the Concession Period, the NNIC will hand back to the government the operations of NAIA, together will all the airport assets.
DOTr Usec Joni Segismundo said that among the improvements in NAIA which the passengers and other stakeholders can expect include expansion of the Passenger Terminal Buildings (PTBs), additional aircraft parking bays, increase in vehicular parking slots, installation of world-class systems and technology, more food and beverage (F&B) and retail options, more convenient land transport connectivity, among others.
Furthermore, flight delays and cancellations due to issues with airport facilities are expected to be significantly reduced.
The successful turnover highlights the commitment of all parties involved to enhance NAIA’s operational standards and service quality, benefiting both domestic and international travelers.
Business tycoon RSA has vowed to work hard on rehabilitating the NAIA so that it will never again be tagged as ‘the worst airport’ in the world.
“‘Yung NAIA, ayaw na ayaw kong tawagin ng mga foreigner ‘yan na worst airport in the world kaya I want to make sure na kung pwede, ako na sana magkaroon ng pagkakataon na mag-rehabilitate nitong NAIA,” Ang stressed.
Given his reputation and status, I believe RSA. Let’s just give it some time.
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