The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is accelerating preparations to operationalize its airport, with key infrastructure projects set for bidding in the coming months as it targets the start of commercial flights by the second quarter of 2027.
APECO president and chief executive officer Gil Taway IV said the agency is close to completing corrective measures needed to address compliance and development gaps, with funding already secured.
“We are nearing completion of the corrective measures by June… and we already have a budget in place,” he said, signaling steady progress toward readiness.
The agency is set to open bids between April and May for a passenger terminal building and an air traffic control tower. The terminal carries an allocation of about P35 million, while the control tower has a P25-million budget. Both are designed to initially support turboprop aircraft, particularly 40- to 70-seater planes.
“It’s not yet designed for A321 aircraft… only for turboprops for now,” Taway said, underscoring the airport’s phased development strategy.
Commercial operations for domestic flights could begin as early as the second quarter of next year, with APECO already in talks with carriers, including Cebu Pacific, for potential routes.
For longer-term expansion, the agency is exploring partnerships with foreign investors. Taway said discussions are underway with US-based firms, including a group linked to Cerberus Capital Management, which has expressed interest in fully developing the airport.
He noted that recent policy reforms—particularly amendments to the Public Service Act—have opened the door to greater foreign participation in infrastructure projects. Still, he stressed that government leadership remains central.
“The government has to be at the forefront… of industrial strategy,” he said, adding that private sector involvement is intended to complement, not replace, state direction.
APECO is also coordinating with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to finalize technical requirements, particularly for the control tower, as it moves closer to making the airport operational.
