NNIC remits P78B to government as NAIA modernization gains pace

Insider Spotlight

• New NAIA Infra Corp. has remitted P78 billion to the government under its public-private partnership concession while investing P6.8 billion in airport upgrades since September 2024
• Modernization efforts include expanded terminal access, automated parking, biometric passenger processing, upgraded baggage systems, and new commercial facilities
• NAIA handled a record 52.02 million passengers in 2025 despite an original design capacity of about 35 million annually
  
  
  
  

New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has remitted P78 billion to the Philippine government while investing P6.8 billion in the rehabilitation and modernization of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), underscoring the financial and operational impact of the airport's public-private partnership concession nearly two years after the company assumed operations.

The P78 billion, recorded as of Aug. 15, 2026, covers the concession's P30-billion upfront payment, the fixed P2-billion annual payment, and the government's 82.16 percent share of gross airport revenues. 

NNIC took over NAIA's operations and maintenance on Sept. 14, 2024, under a 15-year concession while the airport remains government-owned.

Why it matters

The figures highlight how the PPP arrangement is delivering both recurring government revenues and private-sector investment aimed at improving the country's busiest international gateway without interrupting airport operations.

Ramon Ang

The San Miguel chief said "significant progress" has been made at NAIA... and more improvements are on the way.

“This is what the concession was designed to do: generate substantial and continuing revenues for government that can help support public services and infrastructure, while bringing in private sector resources to improve the airport,” NNIC president Ramon Ang said in a statement on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026.

“We have made significant progress in less than two years, but there is still a lot more work ahead. Our investments will continue as we modernize NAIA while keeping the airport fully operational,” he added.

NNIC said the P6.8 billion investment has funded completed and ongoing projects, including expanded terminal curbsides, automated parking systems, upgraded baggage handling equipment, improved Wi-Fi capacity, rehabilitated power and air-conditioning systems, and flood mitigation works. 

The company has also deployed more than 2,500 baggage trolleys, 11,820 passenger seats, 20 inter-terminal shuttle buses, and 517 biometric-enabled passenger processing units across the airport.

The big picture

The operator is also replacing aging passenger boarding bridges, constructing a Ground Transportation Center at Terminal 3, expanding food and retail offerings, and installing 78 biometric immigration e-gates operated by the Bureau of Immigration. 

Additional operational changes include airline terminal reassignments and new performance agreements with airlines and ground service providers.

NNIC said the modernization program has enabled NAIA to accommodate traffic beyond its original annual design capacity of about 35 million passengers. 

The airport served a record 52.02 million passengers in 2025 while maintaining stable operations and achieved an Airport Customer Experience Accreditation from Airports Council International, alongside a passenger satisfaction score of 4.06 out of 5 under the concession's performance standards. — Daxim L. Lucas | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma