San Miguel to propose runway, terminal in NAIA

MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Corporation (SMC) said it will propose to the next administration a plan to build a new P50-billion ($1.08-billion) runway and airport terminal within the existing Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang said in an interview Monday, September 21, that the the company will propose to construct a runway and airport terminal with 20 air bridges that will cater to low-cost or domestic travellers. He said this following the listing of the company’s P33.5 billion ($720.55 million) preferred shares at the Philippine Stock Exchange

“I’ll propose this as an unsolicited project to the next government,” Ang said.

Ang explained that the new runway will be built beside the existing main runway, so the airplanes that will make use of the new runway would no longer have to cross the main runway.

He added the proposal also involves the construction of a low-cost airport terminal near the new runway.

“Ideally the new runway should have the same length as the old one which is 3,400 square meters by 45 meters width,” Ang said.

In 2014, SMC submitted a proposal to build a modern $10-billion international airport in a 1,600 hectare reclamation area along Manila Bay. (READ: San Miguel presents $10B airport proposal to Malacañang)

The planned airport project will have 4 runways capable of handling 150 million passengers annually and can accommodate 250 take-offs and landings per hour.

Right of way

The construction of a third runway and the airport terminal may cost only about P7 billion ($150.59 million), Ang said. But the biggest component of the project is the right of way acquisition.

The project may be built in phases and will provide NAIA with another 50 take-offs and landings per hour. 

Currently, the existing runways can handle 42 take-offs and landings per hour.

Meanwhile, the proposed low-cost terminal is expected to handle 50 million passengers per year.

But Ang said even with the proposed construction of a third runway and a low-cost terminal, there is still a need for the government to build a new airport terminal. – Rappler.com

$1 = P46.48