Mactan-Cebu International Airport sets standard for PPP models in the country
Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group and the country’s largest airport operator outside Manila, is shaping the future of Philippine aviation by demonstrating the success of the public-private partnership (PPP) model through its airport portfolio.
Anchored on the performance of Mactan–Cebu International Airport (MCIA), one of the country’s most successful airport PPP projects, AIC Airports is setting industry benchmarks in innovation, operational efficiency, and customer-centric service.
As a trailblazer in Philippine aviation under AIC Airports, MCIA continues to elevate passenger experience and operational standards, positioning its airports to be at par globally while reflecting distinctly Filipino hospitality.
“Mactan-Cebu International Airport has shown that the PPP model works. It proves that infrastructure development can be accelerated when the government and private sector work together. Cebu and the traveling public can be proud of what has been achieved, and our stakeholders can be confident in the value created through this partnership,” said AIC Vice President and Head of Airports Rafael M. Aboitiz.
In 2024, Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC) began operation of MCIA, the largest international aviation hub outside Manila and a leading sustainable airport in the country, following a phased acquisition that began in 2022. Under a 25-year concession, ACAC is tasked to develop, operate, and maintain MCIA under a PPP arrangement based on the Philippine Build-Operate-Transfer Law and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.
“PPPs are more than just financing. PPPs provide us structure and a way for long-term performance to align with public interest,” said AIC President and Chief Executive Officer Cosette V. Canilao.
Last January 2026, MCIA’s Customer Experience Accreditation from Airports Council International was upgraded to Level 3 from Level 2, reflecting significant refinements in customer experience by using passenger feedback, empowered staff, and expert teams to make lasting improvements.
In addition, MCIA was named Best Airport at Departures (5-15 million passengers in Asia-Pacific) for the second time at the 2025 Airports Council International Airport Service Quality Awards, underscoring MCIA’s continuous drive to position Cebu as a highly competitive and traveler-centered hub for regional travel.
Recently, Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) delegates notably experienced streamlined transit through MCIA via dedicated arrival and departure lanes. In collaboration with the Department of Tourism, AIC Airports organized cultural performances to welcome the officials, complemented by dedicated and efficient facilitation in order to promote a pleasant and rewarding airport experience.
Elevating the PH gateway experience
Beyond Cebu (envisioned as the country’s premier transit hub), AIC Airports is expanding its footprint to strengthen connectivity across the Philippines with the development and operational enhancement of two key gateways, also via PPP:
- Laguindingan International Airport (LIA), serving as the primary gateway to Northern Mindanao; and
- Bohol–Panglao International Airport (BPI), supporting tourism and economic growth in the Central Visayas region.
AIC Airports is currently undertaking the development and modernization of LIA and BPIA over the short- to medium-term beginning 2025, through a broader transformation under the multi-year concession agreements awarded by the government in 2024.
Through these airport PPPs, AIC Airports aims to improve domestic and regional connectivity, support local tourism, and contribute to economic development by enabling more efficient movement of people and commerce – connecting people, places, and possibilities.
United under a single vision, AIC Airports is developing a growing network of world-class airports across the country, each serving a distinct role in national connectivity accounting for around 16 million passengers by end-2025, or over 20% of the country’s passenger traffic.
Starting 2025 and in partnership with the Department of Transportation, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (for MCIA), AIC Airports has begun introducing more modernization projects that will elevate the passenger experience and make Philippine airports globally competitive.
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About Aboitiz InfraCapital
Founded in 2015, Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) is the Aboitiz Group’s infrastructure investment platform, developing and operating critical assets across airports, water and wastewater, and digital infrastructure.
Under AIC Water, AIC operates the country’s largest bulk water treatment facility through Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. in Davao City, delivers end-to-end water and wastewater services across Aboitiz Economic Estates nationwide, and holds a minority stake in Balibago Waterworks System, Inc., the nation’s fourth-largest water concessionaire.
Under AIC Airports, AIC also operates Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu, Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental, and Bohol-Panglao International Airport in Bohol, the country’s second-, seventh-, and tenth-busiest gateways, respectively.
Finally, under Digital Infrastructure, AIC builds and operates telecommunication towers and supporting infrastructure through Unity Digital Infrastructure, Inc., the joint venture telecommunication platform of AIC and leading global private markets firm Partners Group.
