New Terminal Will Look Specifically And Traditionally Filipino

Andrew Acquaah-Harrison, Chief Executive Advisor, GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, has his work cut out. Heading the expansion of the first airport in the Philippines to be privatised under the PPP model, Acquaah-Harrison vision is clear: the Mactan Cebu International Airport has to be one of the “friendliest and most efficient” airport in the Philippines and Asia. He took time out from his busy schedule during his flying trip to Delhi for the GAD Asia conference to talk to TIRTHANKAR GHOSH. Excerpts from the conversation:

- Tirthankar Ghosh

 

You have been in Cebu for two years?

Yes. Actually, coming up to 2-1/2 years.

How are you expanding the Mactan-Cebu airport?

Mactan-Cebu International Airport is in the second largest population centre in Philippines. It is also the second largest airport in the Philippines and it was the first airport in the Philippines to be privatised under the PPP model. And in this concession agreement, it is a period of 25 years. Under the concession agreement, we are required to operate, manage, develop and expand the existing airport and meet specific service level criteria that are defined in the concession agreement. There is no revenue share to the government, but there is an upfront premium and we bid the highest upfront premium which was basically $362 million dollars. So, that was the premium that we paid. The terminal was designed with a capacity of 4-1/2 million passengers per annum. When we took over, it was handling 5.9 million and now it is currently handling 8.2 million. So, we expect that will cross 9 million by early next year, quarter one of 2017.

So, what are you building now?

We are building Terminal 2, which is an international terminal that has a capacity of 8 million. So, by the time that is complete and commissioned in June 2018, we will have a combined total capacity of 12-1/2 million passengers, which will see us through further number of years going forward.

What kind of challenges are you facing there?