...the PH world class gateway

Philippines prepares for world-class airport

Ai Ballesteros
ASEAN Economist
30 November 2019

The Philippines is set to get its own world-class gateway after the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Friday cleared the consortium’s proposal to revamp the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The NEDA’s green light was the last approval that needed to be obtained by the consortium, after which it will undergo a competitive bidding or Swiss challenge, where the government will invite more private companies to top the proposal.

The consortium is composed of Ayala Corp., Aboitiz Group’s Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc.,  Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group Inc., Lucio Tan-led Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., the Gotianuns’ Filinvest Development Corp., the Gokongwei Group’s JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

Should there be no bidder within the given time frame, the NAIA consortium will be paved the way for the construction so long as it secures the Department of Transportation’s notice to proceed. The consortium will be given a 15-year concession period.

“This will mainly for the enhancement of the passenger experience, improving the movement of people in the terminal buildings as well as the movement of planes,” NEDA chief Ernesto Pernia told the Philippine media.

In September this year, a high official from NEDA who declined to be named said Swiss challenge is likely to happen within the end of the year.

In July this year, NEDA returned the consortium’s offer to rehabilitate NAIA and required another round of revision.

The consortium was told to follow the operations and maintenance template of the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

Prior to NEDA, the Department of Transportation already gave its go-signal saying the offer “was acceptable.”

The rehabilitation of NAIA was one of the Duterte administration’s priorities after suffering from worsening congestion in the past few years. It is servicing 40 percent more than its designed capacity.

Last year, listed construction firm Megawide Construction Corp. expressed its interest in participating in the Swiss challenge for NAIA rehabilitation.

Megawide, in partnership with Bangalore-based GMR, developed and currently operates the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

...the Asia's best airports

Iloilo, Cebu airports among Asia's best - poll


Recto Mercene
Business Mirror
31 October 2019

A web site devoted to grading airports that offers the most accommodating spots, especially for the backpackers, has included two of the Philippines’s airports as among the best in Asia this year.

Making it in the sleepinginairports.net’s list of best airports in Asia for 2019 are the Iloilo International Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). Topping the list is Singapore’s Changi Airport.

Iloilo airport, at 18th spot, is operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, while MCIA at the 16th spot, is operated by a private conglomerate.

Completing the Best Airport in Asia for 2019 list are Seoul Incheon Airport, Tokyo Narita Airport, Osaka Kansai Airport, Taipei Taoyuan Airport, Hong Kong Airport, Kuala Lumpur Airport, New Delhi Airport, Jakarta Airport, Tokyo Haneda Airport, Mumbai Airport, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangalore Airport, Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport, Hyderabad Airport, Da Nang Airport, Islamabad Airport and Kunming Airport.

Changi Airport also topped the overall Best Airport list, followed by Seoul Incheon Airport, Helsinki Airport, Tokyo Narita International Airport, Osaka Kansai International Airport, Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Munich International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Making it in the worst airport’s list are Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (Saudi Arabia), New York City LaGuardia Airport (United States), London Stansted Airport (England), Juba International Airport (Sudan), Santorini International Airport (Greece), Cairo International Airport (Egypt), Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (Ethiopia), Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Bangladesh), Murtala Muhammed (Lagos) International Airport (Nigeria) and London Luton Airport (England).

The web site, founded in 1996 ranks the best and worst airports from an annual survey and airport reviews submitted by readers rating their airport experiences.

In the annual survey, travelers are asked to rate their airport experiences based on factors, such as comfort, services, facilities and things to do, food options, immigration/security, customer service, navigation and ease of transit, cleanliness  and “sleepability.”