Bohol airport upgrade starts H2

Passengers can see initial upgrades at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) within the second half of the year as Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, formally took over the air hub on Monday.

BPIA, the country’s ninth-busiest airport, will undergo a P4.53-billion upgrade under a public-private partnership.

The company said initial planned improvements include the expansion of the passenger terminal, modernization of airside and landside facilities, and installation of new airport systems and equipment.

“We are excited to officially begin operations at Bohol-Panglao International Airport and bring our brand of operational excellence, innovation, and passenger-focused service to this important gateway,” AIC president and CEO Cosette V. Canilao said.

More than infra

“This project is about more than infrastructure; it’s about enabling tourism, empowering local economies, and creating more inclusive growth across the Visayas.”

Within the first two years, AIC aims to increase BPIA’s capacity from 2 million to 2.5 million passengers annually, with a target of 3.9 million passengers per year by 2030.

Meanwhile, AIC Vice President and Head of the Airports Business Rafael M. Aboitiz said the company will transform the airport into a “globally competitive gateway that reflects the beauty and hospitality of Bohol while helping unlock its full tourism and economic potential.”

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that Bohol posted a 6.6 percent Gross Domestic Product growth in 2023, outpacing the national average of 5.5 percent.

Key tourism-related sectors such as transportation and storage grew by 20.4 percent, while accommodation and food services expanded by 27.9 percent.

BPIA will be the latest addition to AIC’s growing aviation portfolio, which includes the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental.