New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) plans to close down the operation of the Terminal 4 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after the completion of Terminal 2’s expansion, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
NNIC – composed of conglomerates San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc. and Incheon International Airport Corp. – is set to take over the operation of NAIA by September 14 which also marks the start of the expansion of Terminal 2.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, in his speech delivered by assistant secretary Hector Villacorta at the EJAP seminar over the weekend, said NNIC plans to expand two of the existing four passenger terminals.
“The north wing of Terminal 2 will be expanded towards the Philippine Village Hotel and Nayong Pilipino area. The south wing will be extended towards Terminal 1 after the International Cargo Complex and fuel farm are relocated,” Bautista said.
NAIA Terminal 1 will be rehabilitated, while Terminal 4 will eventually be closed and it will be repurposed as a warehouse and the site of administrative offices after Terminal 2 has been expanded, said Bautista.
In addition, the north concourse of Terminal 3 will be expanded to accommodate 25 million passengers per year, from 14 million.
Also, passengers using Terminal 3 will have convenient access to the Metro Manila Subway, with the final station of the subway’s airport service to be constructed in front of the terminal.
These expansion plans will increase the passenger capacity of Terminal 2 from nine million passengers per year to 32 million and further increase it to 60 million.
A new remote apron will be designated for general aviation, while aircraft parking will increase from 61 to 104 bays.
NNIC also plans to build adjacent to the north wing of Terminal 2 a three-story Airport Express Hotel to accommodate those who missed their connecting flights and those who have early morning departures.
“Vehicle parking outside of Terminals 1 and 3 will more than double – from 5,800 to 12,400 slots. At Terminal 1, a multi-level carpark building will rise with an area of more than 62,000 square meters, while at Terminal 3, a new five-level carpark will be added to the existing carpark,” Bautista said.
Likewise, an access road will be constructed towards the north wing of Terminal 2 once the expansion is finished.
Terminal 4 currently serves domestic flights.
Meanwhile, NNIC plans to install various systems to increase NAIA’s air traffic movement from 40 movements to 48 per hour.
These include an electronic flight strip system which is part of the modernization of the communications, navigation and surveillance systems for air traffic management; an automated weather observation system; an advanced surface movement and ground control system; an automated terminal information system; and an automated weather observation system.
Last March, NNIC led by SMC signed the concession agreement with the government for the P170.6-billion NAIA modernization project initially for 15 years, subject to extension for another 10 years.
NNIC is expected to spend over P202 billion for the 25-year concession, which includes the P122.3 billion capital outlay, P30 billion upfront payment and P2 billion fixed annual payment or P50 billion, which is on top of the 82.16 percent revenue share that will also be remitted to the government yearly.
