MANILA -- New airport operator New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) is partnering with Meralco to boost the power supply of the country's main gateway.

In a statement, the NNIC pointed out that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has been facing electricity issues because of ageing infrastructure that hadn't been modernized.

"These challenges disrupted operations, impacted passenger experiences, and limited the airport’s ability to function as an efficient transportation hub," the Ramon Ang-led consortium said.

Under the partnership, Meralco will build a new 115 kV – 34.5 kV GIS substation to power to NAIA’s four terminals. This will complement Meralco’s existing NAIA-3 substation.

NNIC said the power distributor will start building the substation in the third quarter of 2025, and will be completed by December 2026.

Meralco subsidiary MSERV will also install a 4900 KVA UPS system across six critical locations, including NAIA Terminal 3 and the airfield, to give uninterrupted power for critical airport operations.

NNIC also said it is with working with the electricity firm to build an underground power distribution network that will align with the airport’s operational needs through 2026.

"Years of underinvestment have left NAIA struggling to meet the demands of a modern airport," Ang said. 

"With Meralco as our partner, we are addressing power reliability as a top priority, alongside operational improvements such as decongesting traffic within the airport, widening roads, mitigating flooding, and replacing faulty equipment," he said.

“By enhancing power reliability for the new NAIA, we are going to help empower the tourism and travel industry, support economic growth and enrich the travel experience for countless travelers," Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan added.

The NNIC took over NAIA operations in September.

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