The long-anticipated rehabilitation of Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental is officially underway, as Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC) formally assumed control of the airport’s operations and maintenance on 26 April.

The turnover signals the start of a major airport development push for AIC, which continues to expand its regional infrastructure footprint amid a resurgence in domestic and international travel.

Under Phase 1, passenger capacity will more than double—from 1.6 million to 3.9 million travelers per year. Should demand increase, Phase 2 will further raise the airport’s annual capacity to 6.3 million.

The project is covered under a 30-year, ₱12.75-billion concession agreement signed in October 2023, allowing AIC to modernize the airport's infrastructure while managing day-to-day operations.

Before the formal takeover, AIC had already been coordinating with government agencies to ensure a seamless transition of facilities, including the passenger terminal, cargo terminal, and essential buildings such as air traffic control, rescue and firefighting centers, and maintenance areas.

Laguindingan Airport ranks as the sixth-busiest in the country and the second-busiest in Mindanao, playing a key role in regional connectivity and economic growth.

Next on AIC’s radar is the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, which the company is set to take over by June. Its current capacity of 2 million passengers annually is projected to rise to 3.9 million by 2030. This is part of a separate ₱4.53-billion, 30-year concession awarded to AIC last year.

These new acquisitions build on AIC’s 2022 investment in the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which the company acquired through a ₱25-billion agreement with Megawide Construction Corp. and GMR Airports International BV.

Through these strategic airport developments, Aboitiz InfraCapital positions itself as a major player in the Philippine aviation sector, supporting both tourism and regional growth.