19-7-2023 (MANILA) On Wednesday (July 19), a Philippine inter-agency panel chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr rejected a 267 billion peso (US$4.9 billion) unsolicited offer from a local consortium to operate and upgrade the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the country’s main international airport. The panel stated that it preferred to invite bids for the airport modernisation project, estimated to cost 170.6 billion pesos, and that the consortium was welcome to participate.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport has been ranked among the world’s worst international gateways due to chronic flight delays, congestion, and poor facilities. Previous attempts to modernise the airport have failed due to disputes between authorities and contractors.
The government-approved project aims to increase the airport’s annual capacity to at least 62 million passengers from the current 35 million and increase air traffic movement to 48 aircraft per hour from 40, which is similar to the consortium’s goals for upgrading the facility.
The consortium, comprising six of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates, did not immediately comment on whether it would participate in the bidding process but stated that the airport’s modernisation required a long-term and comprehensive solution.
The importance of modernising the airport was highlighted in January and May when power outages disrupted over 300 flights, affecting more than 65,000 passengers.
