MacroAsia Corp., the listed aviation-support services arm of the Lucio Tan Group, is deepening its presence at one of the country’s busiest gateways, securing more runway for growth in Cebu.
The company said a wholly owned unit, MacroAsia Properties Development Corp., has signed a long-term lease with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority for a 2.6-hectare property within the airport complex. The site will be developed for aviation-related services, reinforcing MacroAsia’s role as a key behind-the-scenes player in Philippine air travel.
Under the agreement, the lease will run for 15 years and is renewable for another 10 years, subject to mutual agreement and approval by the MCIAA board. For MacroAsia, the long tenure provides operational stability and planning visibility—critical in capital-intensive airport support businesses where scale and permanence matter.
The deal comes as air traffic continues its steady recovery and regional hubs like Cebu gain importance as alternatives and complements to Manila. Mactan-Cebu International Airport has positioned itself as a gateway for both tourism and cargo, making adjacent aviation-support facilities increasingly valuable.
MacroAsia’s portfolio is built around exactly that niche. The group operates aviation-support services at major airports, including Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila Domestic Airport, Mactan-Cebu, Kalibo, Davao, and various general aviation areas. Its businesses span in-flight catering, ground handling for passenger and cargo aircraft, and helicopter charter services. It also operates and develops the sole economic zone within NAIA, giving it a rare strategic foothold in the country’s primary airport.
The Cebu lease signals a continuation of MacroAsia’s asset-backed expansion strategy—anchoring service growth to long-term airport access. As passenger volumes normalize and cargo demand grows alongside e-commerce and tourism, control of well-located aviation real estate could prove just as important as the planes it serves.
