MANILA, Philippines – Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) has won the P12.75 billion contract to operate the Laguindingan Airport in Northern Mindanao.
In a disclosure on Thursday, October 3, the company said it already received the notice of award from the Department of Transportation and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) last September 30.
“We are excited to take on revitalizing Laguindingan Airport and collaborating with stakeholders to create a world-class facility that serves the travelers and the community alike,” AIC president and chief executive officer Cosette Canilao said.
The concession agreement, which expands the company’s airport portfolio to Mindanao, will be signed by the tailend of October.
The airport is considered the second busiest airport in the Mindanao islands following the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City.
AIC also operates the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which has bagged awards for the airport’s environment-friendly programs and features. It was also named by Routes Asia as the best airport in the Asian continent under the below five million passenger category in 2023.
“Building on our experience at the award-winning Mactan-Cebu International Airport, we are excited to bring our home-grown Filipino brand of airport operations to Misamis Oriental,” Canilao said.
“We are confident Laguindingan Airport will drive socio-economic progress in the region as airports are a force multiplier in driving socio-economic progress through job creation, tourism development, and expanded connectivity,” she added.
The airport will undergo an “extensive development,” which includes some renovations, installation of new equipment, and with some facilities undergoing expansion over the 30-year concession period.
Laguindingan Airport recently saw the expansion of its new passenger terminal building, which increased its pre-departure area capacity to 860 from previously only being able to host 500 passengers.
AIC said the airport’s passenger terminal will also be among those it plans to develop in the future, aside from installing the required equipment as well as airside and landslide facility enhancement and development. – Rappler.com