Changi eyed as Partner in Improving NAIA

In a bid to improve operational efficiencies at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), a consortium made up of some of the largest Filipino firms is considering whether to partner with Changi Airports International, the group behind Skytrax's top 1 airport in 2017.  

Changi Airport in 2014
Image by hybridace101

The consortium is comprised of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Ayala Corp., Alliance Global Inc, Lucio Tan Group, Filinvest Land Inc, JG Summit Holdings Inc, and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.  It is expected to submit its bid within the first quarter of 2018.

However, in a letter to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Mr Jose Almendras, head of Ayala Corporation's Public Affairs Group clarifiedz that it is also in discussion with other potential airport operators to see who is the best to partner with in order to provide the best airport as soon as possible.

Under arrangements, the prospective consortium plans to work with foreign partners to improve the experience across the entire airport and expects that NAIA will continue to act as a main hub for Philippine carriers for 'many more years'.  It aims to expand the airport's capacity by 11 million to accommodate almost 50 million passengers per year and permit up to 48 take-offs and landings per day, up from the current 40.

Another unsolicited bid for NAIA has been put forward by a Megawide-led group.  Megawide has partnered with GMR Infrastructure Limited to develop of Cebu-Mactan International Airport and plans do so again in its bid to improve NAIA.  Changi Airports International was also seen as a prospective partner for the Cebu-Mactain International Airport but lost out to the Megawide-GMR consortium in 2014.  

Source: PhilStar, SGX

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