Ground handling firm dnata Philippines, which has been serving airlines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), expressed enthusiasm for the privatization of the airport and the potential improvements that San Miguel Corporation (SMC) can bring.
"We are excited to see what SMC can bring. As for me, I've been here (NAIA) since 1991. This is an exciting time, we will see something good for the Filipino people, especially the traveling people who, at the end of the day, will become the ones who will benefit," Margaret Yu, dnata Philippines managing director, told reporters during a forum at the NAIA Terminal 1.
Yu said that they are looking forward to seeing something that is good for the Filipino people and the traveling public.
dnata Philippines provides exceptional and comprehensive services to customer airlines at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark International Airport, and Mactan International Airport (Cebu).
The firm caters to eight airlines at NAIA, where they operate an airport lounge and handle up to over 8,000 flights annually.
dnata acknowledged that there are areas within the airport that need to be enhanced, specifically noting that issues related to limited capacity and space are worrisome for ground handling operations.
Yu said that they will keep striving to ensure their clients' satisfaction and will wait for whatever directions the SMC has. "There are things that need to be changed, need to be improved."
She emphasized that a modern airport should provide passengers with a pleasant and seamless journey.
But she acknowledged there are always costs involved.
"Of course the riding public is mature, the companies working at the airport are mature enough to handle any improvements, but there are still potential costs," she stressed.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is expected to sign the agreement Monday in Malacañang, and the airport facility is expected to be turned over to SMC in September this year.
The SMC SAP Company Consortium, consisting of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp., offered the highest bid of 82.16 percent revenue share to the government.
The winning bidder will pay a P30 billion upfront cost and an annual annuity payment of P2 billion to the government.
The concessionaire will be responsible for both landside and airside operations of the NAIA, enhancing compliance, safety, security, and capacity to cater to increasing air traffic.
This involves updating the airport terminals, increasing the capacity to accommodate 62 million passengers annually, improving the quality of assets, and passenger experience, upgrading the technology systems and information infrastructure, and maintaining reliable operations during the concession period.
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