In a significant step towards the revitalization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), bid documents from four (04) prominent private consortia were submitted on Wednesday, paving the way for a transformative overhaul.
The Manila International Airport Consortium, Asian Airport Consortium, GMR Airports Consortium, and SMC SAP & Co. Consortium are among the mega consortia vying for the opportunity to lead the NAIA modernization project.
Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista highlighted that leveraging private sector expertise in this initiative is poised to augment NAIA’s capacity to accommodate a staggering 60 million passengers annually. Despite having a current maximum capacity of 32 million passengers, the airport already handles around 50 million passengers annually.
During the recent Christmas rush, NAIA faced a substantial challenge, grappling with a daily influx of 145,000 passengers, significantly surpassing its operational limits.
Wednesday’s bidding marks the initial phase, wherein the qualifications of each consortium will be scrutinized. Subsequent steps involve a thorough technical and financial review to assess the feasibility and sustainability of the proposed plans.
The Manila International Airport Consortium comprises conglomerates such as US-based Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and local enterprises Aboitiz Infracapital, AC Infrastructure Holding, Alliance Global Infracorp Development, Asia’s Emerging Dragon, Filinvest Development, and JG Summit Infrastructure Holdings.
The Asian Airport Consortium is a collaboration involving Asian Infrastructure and Management Corp., Cosco Capital Inc., Philippine Skylanders, Inc., and PT Angkasa Pura II.
Participating in the bidding process are also GMR Airports International B.V., Cavitex Holdings, Inc., and House of Investments, Inc., representing the GMR Airports Consortium. In addition, the SMC SAP Company Consortium consists of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics, Inc., RLW Aviation Development, Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp.
The outcome of this competitive bidding process is eagerly awaited, as it signifies a crucial step towards the realization of a modernized and more efficient Ninoy Aquino International Airport.