The Marcos administration’s ongoing campaign to privatize regional airports in the country is supported by Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific, which emphasized that airport improvements would further strengthen the airline’s initiative to expand capacity.

Cebu Pacific aims to grow its passenger volume this year by 15 to 20 percent, following an all-time high of 24.5 million passengers in 2024.

The airline is optimistic about achieving this significant growth through regional airports, from which it has developed various hubs last year to increase passenger capacity.

This goal is even more feasible as the government continues to roll out its intensified efforts to privatize several local airports.

“The important part with the regional airports is to see the continued development. We’re quite encouraged that the government is intending to privatize more airports,” said Cebu Pacific President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao.

Lao said the government’s move to privatize airports benefits airlines such as Cebu Pacific in expanding capacity and planning better.

“We are excited about all of the privatization initiatives coming along, and we're looking to support that further as it allows us to expand our ops even further,” he noted.

In a television interview last week, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon answered in the affirmative when asked if the privatization effort is a “legacy” of the Marcos administration.

Dizon said the administration has privatized more airports than any other previous leadership, with three airports shifting ownership from the government to the private sector.

In September of last year, the San Miguel Corp.-led consortium, New NAIA Infra Corp., took over the operations of the country’s main gateway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Last month, Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. officially took the reins of Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental.

The company is set to take over Bohol-Panglao International Airport next month.

“Ang sabi ng Pangulo, we need to privatize as many airports as we can (The President said we need to privatize as many airports as we can),” said Dizon.

The transport chief said the government is eyeing to privatize at least six more regional airports.

With the expected improvements, Lao said these airports should have the infrastructure ready to carry bigger jets to attract more passengers across a number of tourist destinations.

At the present, majority of regional airports in the country have short runways, limiting the aircraft to the much smaller turboprop operations.

“Obviously because of the development of regional airports in the Philippines, we hope that some of the infrastructure outside Manila can now take jets,” said Lao.

“So that's something we've expressed to the government and we're encouraged to see that the regional development continues,” he added.