The New Manila International Airport is a proposed airport that would either relieve or replace Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
The project site is located on the coast of Bulakan, Bulacan, 35 kilometres north of the city centre. It’s also referred to as Bulacan International Airport, though it will be the main airport of Manila.
The airport will be built on a 2,500-hectare property with a plan for four runways. The surrounding area will be developed into a new residential area and an industrial zone with a seaport.
Manila is currently served by Ninoy Aquino International Airport (also known as Manila International Airport), but the airport does not have enough space to expand.
Clark airport is nearly 100 km away from Manila, and IATA has said it’s too far from Manila to be an alternative airport.
In addition to the development of a new airport at Bulacan, there is also a plan to expand Sangley Point International Airport. Meanwhile, there have been conflicting reports about whether NAIA will be closed down completely, or rehabilitated and continued to be used as the main airport of Manila.
The Bulacan airport project was proposed by Ramon Ang of the San Miguel Corporation; a conglomerate best known for San Miguel Beer. Ang had been accumulating land at the Bulacan site before making the unsolicited proposal. The airport construction would be financed by SMC and operated under a build-operate-transfer scheme with a 50-year concession.
New Manila International Airport Map
[Map of New Manila International Airport.]
News Archive
2022
SMC ramps up projects for former Bulacan airport residents – [22/11/22]
Construction of NMIA in Bulacan in full swing – [13/11/22]
“The Department of Transportation (DoTr) led by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista is closely monitoring developments in the P735-billion New Manila International Airport (NMIA) which is now rising in the province of Bulacan.”
Gov’t expects new international airport in Bulacan to start operations by 2027 – [07/11/22]
Boskalis creates new land for the Philippines’ most sophisticated airport – [09/09/22]
“The construction of the New Manila International Airport (MIA), the largest project in Boskalis’ history, has reached an important milestone – the contours of the new land are now visible.”
Boskalis makes progress on the Philippines’ most sophisticated airport – [12/08/22]
Bulacan airport ecozone bill refiled in House with amendments – [10/08/22]
Bulacan airport construction goes full blast to meet target – [07/08/22]
Groups demand anew for repeal of Bulacan airport law – [07/07/22]
Lawmakers to refile Bulacan airport ecozone bill after Marcos veto – [03/07/22]
Marcos vetoes bill seeking to make Bulacan Airport City economic zone – [02/07/22]
World-class ‘aerocity’ rising – [26/06/22]
Senate passes bill creating Bulacan Airport City – [26/05/22]
LOOK: San Miguel’s planned Bulacan airport complex – [19/05/22]
Manila International Airport land reclamation: Construction progress in photos – [24/05/22]
“The land reclamation operations for the New Manila International Airport (MIA) are moving ahead.”
2021
SMC’s P 735-B Bulacan Airport is a go – [07/06/21]
“The Philippines’ largest infrastructure project, so far,—San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) P735-billion “airport city” in Bulacan province—will start construction not in the country but in a factory offshore, said Ramon Ang, president of SMC.”
The essence of the Bulacan airport project – [23/03/21]
“A country like the Philippines needs great, not half-measure, projects.”
SC junks environmental case against Bulacan airport construction – [05/01/21]
“The Supreme Court has dismissed the writ of kalikasan filed by a marine conservation group against the construction of San Miguel Corporation’s Bulacan airport.”
Boskalis to develop land for Manila International Airport – [04/01/21]
“Boskalis has received a letter of confirmation of acceptance of bid for the land development design and construction of the Manila International Airport.”
San Miguel gets 50-year franchise for Airport City project in Bulacan as bill lapses into law – [04/01/21]
2020
Last batch of Taliptip residents move in to new homes ahead of airport construction – [08/12/20]
San Miguel Boss Ang to start airport construction, eyes airline – [06/10/20]
“San Miguel Corp. will start work this month for a Philippine airport that’s scheduled to start servicing Manila in five to six years, President Ramon Ang said, adding he’s planning to return to the airline business by then.”
Philippine beer giant San Miguel to grow crabs to stop airport floods – [19/08/20]
“San Miguel Corp., the Philippines’ largest company, wants to stop perennial flooding north of Manila where it’s planning to build a 735.6 billion-peso ($15.1-billion) airport. Crabs may help it get the job done.”
Bulacan Int’l Airport to start construction by October – SMC – [15/07/20]
Bulacan fisherfolk abandon homes for airport project – [29/06/20]
About 3,000 fishermen have agreed to leave their homes in a coastal area of this town where the P735-billion Bulacan international airport project of the conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is rising.
Bulacan airport project seen to affect endangered, vulnerable migratory birds – [28/06/20]
“The proposed international airport in Bulacan province may adversely affect thousands of waterbirds, including several endangered and vulnerable species, a bird-watching group said.”
Bulacan airport, NAIA rehab to push through once COVID-19 situation eases —DOTr – [30/04/20]
Airport projects to be delayed due to COVID-19 – [30/03/20]
Bulacan airport delay worries investors – [02/03/20]
“Delays in San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) airport and infrastructure project — in addition to blanket impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak on the local bourse — worries investors, with shares declining by over 5 percent week-on-week.”
Bulacan airport project to push through despite delays – [26/02/20]
SMC says dredging project to solve ‘aerotropolis’ flooding concerns – [25/02/20]
DOTr seeks March start on Bulacan airport despite DOF concerns – [ 24/02/20]
“While the Department of Finance (DOF) has sought clarification on certain provisions in the contract with the private concessionaire, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) still hoped to break ground on the proposed New Manila International Airport in Bulacan by March.”
SMC to forfeit P11B if Bulacan airport not completed on time – [19/02/20]
Bulacan airport construction will ‘definitely’ start this year: official – [19/02/20]
Is Bulacan airport a goner? – [19/02/20]
Endangered migratory birds on collision course with Philippine airport project – [03/02/20]
Why the proposed new airport in Bulacan might hurt the country’s seafood supply – [19/01/20]
Bulacan airport to break ground on Jan 15 – [09/01/20]
2019
San Miguel’s $15bn airport: Game changer or white elephant – [13/12/19]
“Philippine beer giant bets its future on a four-runway aerotropolis.”
3 global firms tapped for P734-B Bulacan airport – [14/08/19]
“Conglomerate San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) vision to establish a major gateway grew closer to becoming reality after identifying three international groups to design and build its proposed P734-billion New Manila International Airport (NMIA).”
San Miguel gives a sneak peek into proposed Bulacan airport – [09/08/19]
New Manila International Airport in Bulacan proposed design released – [09/08/19]
“San Miguel Corp on Friday released a number of design options for the proposed New Manila International Airport (NMIA) in Bulakan, Bulacan.”
[The proposed design of the New Manila International Airport. Photo: San Miguel Corp.]
San Miguel’s Bulacan airport project unchallenged – [31/07/19]
“San Miguel’s proposal to build a new airport in Bulacan province was unchallenged Wednesday, paving the way for the conglomerate to begin construction.”
2018
Construction of Bulacan airport to start in ’19 – [28/12/18]
“Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is aiming to start construction activities at its massive Bulacan airport project, being positioned as an alternative and eventual replacement to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), by 2019.”
DOTr sets bidding for Manila-Bulacan railway link – [17/09/18]
SMC plans MRT Loop to link Bulacan airport – [31/08/18]
“Food-to-infrastructure conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) plans to build an MRT Loop with an airport express – similar to Hong Kong’s much-touted MTR – that would seamlessly connect Metro Manila to its planned aerotropolis in Bulacan.”
DOTr pushing for dev’t of new airports to complement NAIA, Clark – [24/08/18]
“The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is pushing for the development of other gateways to complement the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Clark International Airport (CRK).”
Ramon Ang: SMC has deep pockets to build ‘aerotropolis’ on its own – [05/05/18]
Philippine authorities approve unsolicited proposal for new international airport – [27/04/18]
“The San Miguel Corporation, who submitted the proposal, may yet have to fend off competition in a Swiss challenge, as per the country’s regulations.”
SMC’s airport proposal, 7 other projects get NEDA Board approval – [26/04/18]
“Eight infrastructure projects, including the unsolicited proposal for a Bulacan International Airport, have been approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, led by President Rodrigo Duterte.”
‘NAIA will not last forever’ – Tugade – [13/04/18]
“Transforming NAIA into an economic development zone is the government’s vision, in addition to improving other airports and entertaining proposals for new airport developments, Tugade said during the Philippine Economic Briefing held in Pampanga.”
San Miguel Corporation gets go-ahead for airport project – [04/04/18]
“The National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Council (NEDA-ICC) has approved the proposal of conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) to build a P700-billion airport in Bulacan.”
2017
Govt studying SMC’s Bulacan airport plan – [17/07/17]
“The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said an unsolicited proposal by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) to build a new international airport in Bulacan was still under consideration by the government.”
Philippines studies establishing airport in Sangley or Bulacan – [11/05/17]
Billionaires’ $20bn battle over new Manila airports heats up – [16/02/17]
“The battle of Philippine tycoons to build a new airport to serve the nation’s capital is intensifying as San Miguel proposed a 700 billion-peso (Dh51.4bn) facility, rivalling an offer from a group led by the billionaire Henry Sy.”
DOTr reviews San Miguel’s P700B Bulacan airport – [15/02/17]
“Conglomerate San Miguel Corp.’s new international “aerotropolis” in Bulacan province would cost about P700 billion to build and can be completed within six years.”
Be it Sangley or Bulacan, San Miguel keen on new airport dev’t – [23/01/17]
2012
Ramon Ang wants to build airport in Bulacan – [02/04/12]
“San Miguel’s Ramon S. Ang wants to build an international airport in a fairly large property owned by San Miguel in Bulacan.”
Full service carriers, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Cathay and Korean Air, make a plurality of airlines serving Clark. The airport is hardly the low cost hub it used to be.