The Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) in Misamis Oriental is currently handling 337 flights per week as modernization efforts are underway, according to operator Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC). Known as the “Golden Gateway to Mindanao,” LIA, the island’s second busiest airport after Davao City’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport, serves key destinations such as Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao. Last month, AIC began coordinating the phased handover of facilities, buildings, and land from the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). Rafael M. Aboitiz, AIC vice president for airports business, emphasized their vision to transform LIA into a world-class gateway that drives economic progress and connectivity for Mindanao. LIA is the first successful airport public-private partnership project awarded via unsolicited bid under the Marcos administration. In October 2024, a P12.75-billion concession agreement was signed by AIC, DoTr, and CAAP, granting AIC a 30-year period to develop and modernize LIA, with the official turnover set for April 30, 2025. From LIA, travelers can easily access Cebu via the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), operated by Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation, which offers flights to 29 local and 13 international destinations. Recent initiatives like Cebu Connect and CEB+ have enhanced connectivity, enabling seamless transfers from LIA to international destinations via MCIA and streamlining airport-to-seaport connectivity. AIC’s modernization plans for LIA include infrastructure upgrades to support additional international connections and an improved Flight Information Display System (FIDS) for better passenger experience. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)
