All clear for takeoff

A waxing gibbous moon on Saturday night marked a new beginning at the country’s main gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

It’s a fitting moon phase, perhaps the heavens’ nod to changes that are coming. A gibbous moon – one that is between half full and full – after all is a symbol of preparations, of initiating actions and of honing one’s path toward a goal.

Thus began yesterday, Sept. 14, the San Miguel Corp.-led NAIA era, heralding a historic and unprecedented start of a new chapter for our airport and for our country.

With this, NAIA joins a roster of privatized airports across the globe, which traces its roots to 1980s Britain when then prime minister Margaret Thatcher introduced the privatization of state-owned enterprises, including the airports.

Decades later, the privatization of airports not just in Britain but in many parts of the world has been considered successful because it freed governments from financial burden and translated to earnings for the operators. Passengers have also benefited.

Perhaps it’s this reason that some 20 percent of the world’s airports are already private, according to “Privatizing Infrastructure,” an article published by the US-based National Bureau of Economic Research.

Fingers crossed

Fingers crossed, the NAIA privatization would translate to a better airport for Filipinos.

Expectations are so high, considering that NAIA has been tagged as among the world’s worst airports. On the other hand, the status quo is so bad that any improvement will be considered an upgrade.

Of course, knowing tycoon Ramon S. Ang or RSA, he will make sure this works because it is a critical infrastructure project imbued with public interest. He is also very passionate about aviation and has a track record which has shown his competence in making big things happen.

Plus, he’s not coming in blind. RSA once told me that he’s been doing his homework long before his group even submitted a bid for the NAIA privatization.

He is also backed by a competent airport team led by New NAIA Infra Corp. general manager Angelito Alvarez, who is no stranger to aviation and logistics and the problems that go with these industries. I’ve known GM Lito since his Bureau of Customs days and later on during his stint at Philippine Airlines. I’ve seen him solve problems in the bureau and in PAL. He knows how to deal with people and he knows how to work in a system with so many moving and discombobulating parts.

Airfield improvements

The airport improvements won’t happen overnight for sure. Perhaps, it will take about three years to see drastic changes.

I think the most important will be the planned airfield improvements, which will cover the new taxiway and rapid exit taxiways and the apron expansions.

This will be done instead of a runway expansion, which is more difficult because NAIA’s two runways are perpendicular instead of parallel.

The taxiway expansion, combined with improved technology and other engineering solutions, is aimed at increasing the aircraft movement to 48 aircraft movements per hour from 42 at present.

There will be more changes for sure but the NNIC consortium needs time to put its plans into motion.

Secretary JJB’s legacy

Yesterday, the Department of Transportation and the Manila International Airport Authority turned over operations of NAIA to NNIC as agreed under the Concession Agreement signed between the government and NNIC in March 2024.

It is no doubt a significant milestone and credit goes to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that it is only JJB, our soft-spoken, amiable and hardworking Transport chief, who has successfully achieved what some of his predecessors weren’t able to do – privatize NAIA.

“We are finally doing what the government has wanted to do since the 1990s – to use public-private partnership in enabling a private operator to manage the operations and maintenance of NAIA and make it truly world-class. We wish NNIC much success,” he said.

What a big legacy this is. Congratulations Sec. JJB!

Higher fees

Now the real work begins. I am willing to pay higher fees for improved services. This is what privatization means after all. We’ve seen this in our water and power industries.

We don’t need our airport to transform into a theme park or a wonderland of sorts with waterfalls or dancing lights; or a giant mall like some gateways abroad.

What is more important is for our airport to be efficient, safe and orderly. I’m keeping my fingers crossed it will finally happen.

Wheels up

The consortium’s timing is impeccable and even the deities seem to be on their side. In a few days, the moon will be at its brightest, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, a major celebration a fortnight after the Hungry Ghost Month.

It’s an auspicious time, say the fortune tellers, which is good for the consortium because it needs all the luck it can get to fulfill its bold promise to the public that it would deliver a world-class airport.

It won’t be easy for sure, especially with all the money-making syndicates at the airport who are as hungry for kickbacks and rackets as the hungry ghosts themselves.

But for now, we find comfort in the fact that the NAIA privatization has taken flight. Wheels are up and they’re off the ground. Hopefully, it will be a good ride for each and every Filipino.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.