Turnover Of Laguindingan Airport To Aboitiz Infracapital On Apr 26

The government will officially turn over to concessionaire Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC) the Laguindingan International Airport on April 26, according to transport undersecretary for aviation and airports Jim Sydiongco.

The Bohol-Panglao International Airport will also be turned over to AIC by June 2025, Sydiongco told media in a recent chance interview.

AIC bagged the P12.748 billion contract for the Laguindingan International Airport project last September, and the P4.526 billion Bohol-Panglao International Airport project in November last year.

READ: Laguindingan airport concession agreement signed

In a statement on April 8, AIC said it is coordinating the phased handover of facilities, buildings, and land at Laguindingan International Airport, aligning with its long-term vision for the airport’s growth and modernization ahead of its official takeover this month.

AIC said this aligns with its long-term vision to enhance and modernize Laguindingan International Airport – the country’s sixth-busiest airport and Mindanao’s second-busiest after Davao City’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport – reinforcing its role as a vital gateway for Mindanao’s socio-economic and tourism growth and uplifting the lives of local residents in the process.

“We are committed to delivering an efficient and well-managed transition process that paves the way for the modernization of Laguindingan International Airport. Our goal is to enhance the gateway’s infrastructure and services to meet the growing demands of travelers and businesses,” said AIC president and chief executive officer Cosette Canilao.

AIC vice president Rafael Aboitiz, for his part, said: “Our vision for Laguindingan International Airport is to create a world-class gateway that will drive economic progress and connectivity for Mindanao. This project is a key milestone in our goal of elevating Philippine aviation standards and delivering an exceptional Filipino brand of hospitality and service.”

AIC in October 2024 signed the concession agreement to undertake the development and modernization of Laguindingan International Airport over a 30-year period after the official turnover this month.

At present, main facilities operating at Laguindingan International Airport, which commenced operations in 2013, include the 7,184-square meter (sqm) passenger terminal building and 350 sqm cargo terminal.

Other core facilities include the air traffic control building, car park, aircraft rescue and firefighting building, administration building, maintenance building, and other utilities such as the airport’s power supply system, water supply network, sewerage network, and storm water drain network.

AIC said the phased handover process from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is designed to minimize disruptions while ensuring operational continuity.

AIC said it is closely working with local stakeholders to facilitate the transition, implementing strategic planning and coordination measures to support future progress not just for Laguindingan, but also for surrounding areas and Misamis Oriental as a whole.

AIC earlier announced various plans for Laguindingan International Airport, including renovating and expanding the passenger terminal, installing modern equipment, and enhancing airside and landside facilities. These improvements aim to significantly enhance passenger experience, boost operational efficiency, and elevate safety and security standards at the airport.

Expansion plans will be undertaken in two phases, increasing Laguindingan International Airport’s design capacity from the current 1.6 million passengers per annum (mppa) to 3.9 mppa for the first phase and up to 6.3 mppa for the second phase, depending on traffic demand.

Aside from the Laguindingan International Airport, AIC will manage the concession to upgrade, operate, and maintain Bohol-Panglao International Airport, the country’s ninth-busiest gateway, with official takeover scheduled for June 2025.

The project involves expanding the passenger terminal building, installing essential equipment, and modernizing airside and landside facilities within a 30-year concession period.

Aside from the two airports, AIC is also operating Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). In October last year, AIC officially assumed full ownership of Aboitiz GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., the developer and operator of MCIA, after acquiring the stocks of partners Megawide Construction Corp. and GMR Airports International B.V.