By Apipa Bagumbaran
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)—Laguindingan International Airport has implemented a series of operational and infrastructure improvements since Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) assumed management in April.
In a media briefing held on September 3, AIC outlined the changes made during the first 100 days of its oversight. The initiatives addressed core operational functions, passenger services, and safety requirements.
Christine Villanueva, AIC Airport head of Strategy and Communications, said the initial phase prioritized essential systems to maintain continuous operations.
“We started first with improvements on the critical areas—the must-haves or fundamentals for airport operations,” she said. This included repairs to the elevator and baggage carousel, along with upgrades to the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to reduce power-related disruptions.
Safety-related work included repainting of the runway and pedestrian lanes to maintain visibility. Regular inspection schedules were also instituted to reduce the risk of disruptions. The airport’s fire detection and alarm system was upgraded, and new apron markings were applied to support ground coordination.
AIC also adjusted passenger handling resources, increasing the number of baggage trolleys from 86 to 231. “I hope you notice that there are more trolleys now compared to before,” Villanueva said.
She added that mobility support was expanded, particularly through additional wheelchairs. “We’re making sure it’s PWD-friendly, that’s very important for us,” she noted.
Currently, the airport is served by Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia on four domestic routes. Villanueva stressed plans to restore pre-pandemic connections, particularly flights to Clark and Tagbilaran, Bohol.
“That is something that we are actually working out on. I’d say the priority right now is the establishment or reinstatement of domestic flights that we used to have pre-pandemic,” she said.
She added that the airport is also preparing for future route development, including international options.
Villanueva underscored the airport’s function within Mindanao’s transport network. “If you look at its catchment, primarily, it’s considered the gateway to Northern Mindanao. But at the same time, it has the opportunity to go beyond that, especially if we make the airport more efficient, more customer-centric, and if we bring in more flights, additional routes to cater to the passenger needs,” she said.
Laguindingan Airport is one of three airports managed by AIC, alongside Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Bohol-Panglao International Airport. Combined, the three airports serve approximately 16 million passengers annually.
Villanueva also stressed the importance of staff development in delivering quality service. She shared ongoing training programs for frontline employees to ensure alignment with the company’s values and the culture of hospitality that the airport seeks to provide.
“What’s exciting is the clear improvements that we can already see at Laguindingan International Airport. These are the things that we can already say have happened just within the first 100 days since we took over,” Villanueva said.
AIC Corporate Communications and Branding Manager Franz Jonathan de la Fuente added that over the past decade, the company has aimed to support enterprise development and community engagement through its projects. He emphasized that regardless of location—whether in economic estates, water services, or especially in airports—the company remains committed to enabling other enterprises and uplifting communities. (APB/PIA-10)
