The Government of the Philippines has initiated the privatisation process for Davao International Airport through a public-private partnership (PPP). The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has signed a Transaction Advisory Service Agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to guide this privatisation effort.
The scope of the agreement includes determining the best strategies for rehabilitating, expanding, operating, and maintaining Davao International Airport and other regional airports. The government aims to complete this process within 13 months.
In addition to Davao, the operations of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport have already been transferred to a consortium led by San Miguel Corporation. Other airports, including Kalibo, Iloilo, and Puerto Princesa, are also expected to enter the PPP process in 2025, with several proposals already submitted by local developers. Davao currently serves eight domestic and three international destinations, with Cebu Pacific holding the largest market share, followed by Philippine Airlines and AirAsia Philippines.