GOVERNMENT and industry leaders on Wednesday called for a unified approach to developing the Philippine aviation sector, emphasizing that coordinated infrastructure, regulatory, and technology investments are essential to capitalize on Asia Pacific’s projected aviation boom.
Speaking at the 2025 Philippine Aviation Summit, stakeholders emphasized the need for a strategy that recognizes aviation as a vital part of the economy, as it boosts trade, tourism, and mobility across the country.
‘A strong and growing economy like the Philippines requires a stronger and growing aviation industry as well,’ Board of Investments (BOI) Industry Development Services Executive Director Corazon Dichosa said. ‘Aviation is not just about connectivity-it’s about survival, opportunities, and prosperity.’
Aviation currently supports 1.9 million jobs in the Philippines, contributes $20.3 billion to the economy, and accounts for 4.6 percent of GDP. Passenger traffic, which reached 53 million in 2023, is expected to climb to 66 million by 2028.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Jim Sydiongco reported that the agency has completed 68 airport development projects since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office, with five finished this year alone.
According to Sydiongco, the pipeline includes 11 major airport projects, ranging from terminal expansions in Laoag and Kalibo to entirely new facilities in Bulacan, Dumaguete, and Zamboanga.
The centerpiece is the P735-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, set to begin construction in January 2026 with its first phase targeting completion by June 2028.
Other investments include a P17-billion airport in Dumaguete co-financed by Korea Eximbank, and a P15.15-billion project in Busuanga designed to handle jet operations by late 2028.
‘As we address transport infrastructure bottlenecks and gaps, we’re consistent with President Marcos’ outlook for the aviation sector by investing in mobility and connectivity across the archipelago,’ said Sydiongco.
Likewise, the government is also beefing up the pipeline of public-private partnership (PPP) projects, headlined by the modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and supported by the bundling of regional airports.
Sydiongco said the International Finance Corp. (IFC) is now working on bundling the Davao, Dumaguete, and Siargao airport deals into one, while the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is preparing the bundled deal for the Laoag, Bicol, Busuanga, Bacolod, Tacloban, and General Santos airports.
Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) sees the Philippines as well-positioned to capture a slice of Asia’s aviation boom, with the region on track to triple passenger numbers by 2043.
Iata Philippines Country Manager Samuel David said the initiatives to capitalize on this expected growth should revolve around five priorities: infrastructure, safety and operations, sustainability, advocacy, and digital transformation.
‘We think that growth will continue and will not fall back,’ David noted.
For his part, Philippine Airlines President Richard Nuttall called for the creation of a National Aviation Infrastructure Blueprint that would guide long-term planning and maximize the country’s potential as a regional hub.
He argued that effective hub operations depend less on geography than on economics and sustainability-driving better aircraft utilization, stronger network connectivity, and broader access to global markets.
‘We would like to see a national aviation infrastructure blueprint,’ Nuttall said.
Such a plan, he added, would enable more efficient scheduling, improved route profitability, and ensure that ‘more parts of the Philippines are connected to the world.’
The Philippines already has structural advantages with Dichosa listing them as: the country’s young, English-speaking workforce; strategic location in Southeast Asia; and liberalized investment rules that allow full foreign ownership of airlines and airports.
The Create More Act, she added, sweetens the deal with tax holidays, enhanced deductions, and duty exemptions for qualified investors.