Aboitiz Group upgrades Laguindingan Internmational Airport

MANILA, Philippines — The Aboitiz Group has upgraded the runway in its lone airport in Mindanao, as it works on scaling up flight safety to enhance passenger experience.

Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC) announced the completion of runway upgrades for Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) to support its increasing flight traffic.

AIC vice president and head of airports Rafael Aboitiz said it is crucial to refurbish airside infrastructure to prepare LIA for future demand. The airport is the country’s seventh busiest gateway and the second busiest in Mindanao.

With the upgrades, Aboitiz said airlines can expect safer and smoother takeoffs and landings. For passengers, this means reduced chances of runway disruptions that lead to delays.

LIA, located in Misamis Oriental, is one of the most important gateways to Northern Mindanao, as it connects travelers to highly urbanized cities like Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

AIC bagged the operations and maintenance contract for LIA in 2024. The company won the concession to manage the airport, as it committed to spend P12.75 billion for capacity upgrades.

Currently, AIC handles three airports in its portfolio. The infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group is also responsible for operating and maintaining the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, which are the country’s second and 10th busiest gateways, respectively.