Flag carrier Philippine airlines said Wednesday its proposal to build a P20-billion passenger terminal at the former Nayong Pilipino complex has to “take a back seat” after a “super consortium” submitted an unsolicited bid to rehabilitate and expand Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“We are still in discussion, but I think when the consortium takes over, they will have work with Pagcor [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.]. So, it will be in the back seat at the moment,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said.
Pagcor owns the former Nayong Pilipino complex which is being eyed by PAL as the expansion site of Terminal 2. PAL exclusively uses Terminal 2 for its passengers.
PAL earlier submitted a proposal to the government to build a new passenger terminal, which could handle 12 million to 15 million passengers per year and would have aerobridges capable of serving 12 to 17 wide-body and single aisle jets.
The proposed annex building will rise on a 16-hectare area adjacent to Naia Terminal 2, comprising of the now-defunct Philippine Village Hotel at the former Nayong Pilipino complex.
PAL said earlier it was expecting to start construction of the new terminal by December 2020 and begin its operation by July 2021.
PAL’s move to defer the planned new passenger terminal came after the Naia Consortium submitted a P350-billion rehabilitation and expansion proposal for the country’s main airport.
The consortium’s members are Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., AEDC, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
The proposal involves expanding and interconnecting the existing terminals of Naia, upgrading airside facilities and developing commercial facilities to increase airline and airport efficiencies, enhancing passenger comfort and experience and improving public perception of Naia as the country’s premier international gateway.
The project is divided into two phases. Phase 1 includes improvement and expansion of terminals in the current Naia land area, while Phase 2 involves the development of an additional runway, taxiways, passenger terminals and associated support infrastructure. The group proposed a 35-year concession period.
The consortium said it would spend P100 billon for Phase 1 and P250 billion for Phase 2.