Laguindingan Airport sees surge in flights after Aboitiz takeover

Insider spotlight:

• Laguindingan Airport now handles 337 flights weekly
• Part of Aboitiz InfraCapital’s 30-year, P12.75-B concession
• Cebu Connect and CEB+ enable seamless inter-island and international transfers
• New FIDS system installed for improved passenger information
• Bohol-Panglao airport takeover set for June 2025 under separate P4.53B project

Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) is now managing over 300 domestic flights weekly, strengthening its role as a key air gateway in Mindanao and highlighting its strategic value within the national aviation network.

Under the operation of Aboitiz InfraCapital Laguindingan Airport Corporation since May 2025, LIA has emerged as the country’s sixth-busiest airport, and the second-busiest in Mindanao after Davao City’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport, the firm said in a statement over the weekend.

Latest data from May 2025 show the airport supports 337 weekly flights to major domestic destinations including Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao.

Cebu, in particular, has become increasingly accessible through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), operated by Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation. MCIA connects to 29 domestic and 13 international destinations.

Aboitiz InfraCapital is banking on enhanced connectivity through new services such as Cebu Connect, which streamlines flight transfers within MCIA, allowing passengers from LIA to reach international destinations without having to transit through Manila.

“With Cebu Connect, passengers from LIA can now enjoy seamless connections to international destinations via MCIA, bypassing the need to transit through Manila,” the company said. “Reduced connection times make transfers faster and more convenient.”

Additionally, CEB+ facilitates a five-minute shuttle transfer from MCIA to Mactan Wharf, enabling passengers to board vessels to nearby tourist destinations in Central Visayas.

Aboitiz InfraCapital is also investing in infrastructure upgrades for LIA under a P12.75-billion, 30-year concession awarded in October 2024. Development work began in April 2025 and includes plans to accommodate international traffic. The airport has introduced a modernized flight information display system (FIDS) to improve visibility and accuracy of flight details for passengers.

Meanwhile, Aboitiz InfraCapital is preparing to assume operational control of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) in June 2025. BPIA, the country’s ninth-busiest airport, will undergo a P4.53-billion upgrade over the next 30 years under a similar concession arrangement.

These efforts form part of Aboitiz InfraCapital’s broader strategy to create seamless inter-island travel experiences and bolster the country’s tourism and economic potential.

— Edited by Daxim L. Lucas