15-year NAIA transformation takes flight
MANILA, Philippines — A minute after midnight yesterday, San Miguel Corp. chairman and CEO Ramon Ang received from Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eric Ines the symbolic key to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), officially jumpstarting a 15-year facelift for the premier gateway to the country, once considered one of the worst in the region.
SMC, through New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), intends to turn the airport into a world-class facility that can lure more tourists and travelers, create jobs and help propel the country to sustainable progress.
“A world-class airport means more jobs, more tourists and a much stronger and more prosperous Philippines,” said Ang, who also chairs the NNIC, at the turnover ceremony at NAIA Terminal 3.
NNIC general manager Angelito Alvarez and Transportation Undersecretary Robert Lim witnessed the turnover.
“With continued support and cooperation from the government, airlines, passengers and airport staff, we can achieve all our targets and transform NAIA into an airport every Filipino can be proud of,” Ang said.
“The baton has been passed and now it is our turn in NNIC to carry it forward to the finish line,” Alvarez, for his part, said.
“Today, we celebrate the competitive spirit of the winning consortium, which brings financial muscle, management expertise and the technical operations strength and experience of Incheon Airport,” Lim said, referring to project partner Incheon International Airport Corp., the operator of South Korea’s main airport.
The NNIC is tasked to raise NAIA’s passenger capacity to 62 million per annum, from 35 million currently. The concessionaire is also mandated to increase aircraft movement on its runway to 48 per hour, from just 40, in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
Furthermore, the government expects the rehabilitation to generate at least 58,000 jobs, catering to the labor needs of expanding and improving the airport.
Likewise, the government should receive a sum of P911.11 billion from the mix of payments that NNIC would make as operator, comprising the 82.16 percent share in revenues and the annuity fee of P2
