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ABOITIZ InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC) has started the phased turnover of facilities, buildings, and land at Laguindingan International Airport in preparation for its official assumption of operations this April.
The move signals the beginning of AIC's 30-year concession to upgrade and manage one of the country's busiest regional airports.
Located in Misamis Oriental, Laguindingan serves as a critical hub for Northern Mindanao and ranks as the sixth-busiest airport in the Philippines.
AIC President and CEO Cosette Canilao said the transition is being carefully coordinated to maintain smooth operations while setting the groundwork for future improvements.
"We are committed to delivering an efficient and well-managed transition process that paves the way for the modernization of Laguindingan International Airport," she said.
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The facility is the first airport project awarded through an unsolicited public-private partnership under the current administration.
The concession agreement, signed in October 2024 by AIC, the Department of Transportation, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), is valued at P12.75 billion.
AIC plans to expand and renovate the airport's passenger terminal, install updated equipment, and improve both airside and landside facilities.
The company aims to raise Laguindingan's design capacity from 1.6 million passengers per year to 3.9 million in the first phase of expansion, and eventually to 6.3 million depending on demand.
Rafael Aboitiz, AIC Vice President for Airports Business, said the project aligns with the company's vision of building world-class gateways that strengthen economic activity and connectivity across the country.
The 2013-built airport currently operates with a 7,184-square meter passenger terminal and a 350-square meter cargo terminal.
Other core infrastructure includes an air traffic control tower, firefighting and rescue building, car parks, maintenance facilities, and utility networks.
AIC said it is working with local stakeholders to ensure continuity of operations while gradually assuming control of airport functions from CAAP.
The company emphasized that minimizing disruptions and maintaining passenger service during the transition are key priorities.
The Laguindingan project is part of AIC's broader strategy to modernize regional airports.
In June 2025, it is scheduled to take over the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, the country's ninth-busiest, under a separate P4.53-billion concession.
AIC also manages the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City, where its Terminal 2 has received international recognition with a 4-star rating from Skytrax.
Aboitiz InfraCapital is the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group and is involved in various projects across transport, water, digital infrastructure, and economic estates.
