The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) may be privatized as early as the first quarter of 2024.
Roberto Lim, transportation undersecretary for aviation and airports, said NAIA’s privatization has “upsides” in terms of efficiency in passenger and flight movement, and in generating income for the government.
“There is a lot of upside when you upgrade NAIA. You introduce efficiencies. That means you can process more passengers, you can take in more flights, and more revenues (which) means larger share for the government,” Lim said.
Lim said once the privatization pushes through, the relationship between the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the private concessionaire will be that of a regulator-operator, with the concessionaire limited to operation and management of the airport.
“The MIAA will continue to operate as a body that will regulate, oversee (NAIA),” he said.
Lim said airport employees will be offered opportunity to work when the airport facilities are privatized.
Last Friday, the DOTr and MIAA submitted for approval by the National Economic Development Authority Board its proposed NAIA public private partnership project where the winning concessionaire 15 years to operate the airport and recover its investment.
