When Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC), part of the Aboitiz Group, identified an opportunity to acquire a stake in Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), they required a comprehensive, independent assessment before proceeding.  

Over a five-month engagement, daa International deployed a dedicated on-site team in the Philippines, supported by subject matter experts from Dublin and Cork airports. Together, we conducted a detailed cross-functional review spanning:  

  • Operations  
  • Commercial performance  
  • HR and organisational capability  
  • Finance  
  • IT systems  
  • Strategic positioning  

  

Using an adapted asset maturity framework, we benchmarked each function against international best practice, assessing readiness and performance.  

Our final deliverable — a structured “as-is” analysis, risk assessment, and a targeted 100-day action plan — enabled AIC to make an informed investment decision. The transaction proceeded, with AIC partnering alongside GMR ahead of full operational takeover in 2026. Since then, AIC has expanded its airport portfolio to include Bohol (TAG) and Laguindingan (CGY), strengthening its presence across the Philippine aviation sector.  

  

About the Airport and Investor  

Aboitiz InfraCapital is the infrastructure division of the Aboitiz Group, a leading Filipino conglomerate with interests across power, banking, energy, and real estate. Airports form a central pillar of its long-term infrastructure growth strategy.  

Mactan-Cebu International Airport is the second largest airport in the Philippines and a key international gateway. Located on Mactan Island in Cebu, it operates both domestic and international terminals under a public-private partnership structure. At the time of engagement, GMR served as lead concessionaire, with AIC preparing for full operational control by end-2026.  

  

The Challenge: Evaluating Operational and Commercial Viability  

AIC required a holistic understanding of MCIA’s:  

  • Operational performance  
  • Commercial and revenue-generating potential  
  • Organisational structure and management capability  
  • Financial sustainability  

The scale and strategic importance of MCIA made it an attractive — but complex — investment. The client required insight that extended beyond traditional financial due diligence, delivering a complete operational and commercial picture of the asset.  

  

Multi-Disciplinary Assessment Across Operations, Commercial, and Strategy  

Our Approach  

Our five-month engagement combined on-the-ground insight with international expertise:  

  • On-site engagement: Interviews with senior leadership and operational teams, airside and landside tours, documentation reviews, and live operational observations.  
  • Departmental analysis: Each SME conducted targeted workstream reviews, identifying performance gaps and improvement opportunities.  
  • Standardised maturity assessment: We adapted an ISO-based asset maturity model to score each function on a five-point scale from “immature” to “fully mature,” creating a consistent benchmark across departments.  
  • Integrated reporting: All findings were consolidated into a structured report detailing risks, opportunities, and recommended actions.  
  • 100-day action plan: A prioritised roadmap of quick wins and operational improvements to deliver immediate impact post-takeover.  

Careful preparation was critical to success. With SMEs on-site for just five working days each, pre-briefings, secured airside access, coordinated interviews, and tightly scheduled site visits ensured maximum productivity. Managing time zone differences between Ireland and the Philippines required disciplined communication and structured planning.  

  

Informed Decision-Making, Smooth Transaction, and Portfolio Expansion  

Results & Impact  
  • Informed investment decision: Senior leadership received an evidence-based, comprehensive assessment of performance and value creation potential.  
  • Transaction completed: AIC proceeded with acquiring the concession stake and began preparing for full operational control in 2026.  
  • Operational roadmap in place: The 100-day plan provided immediate, practical actions to improve efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and passenger experience.  
  • Portfolio expansion: Following MCIA, AIC expanded its airport portfolio to Bohol and Laguindingan airports, reinforcing its strategic growth ambitions.  

  

Effective Preparation, Standardised Evaluation, and Holistic Insight  

Key Lessons Learned  
  • Preparation drives impact: Short on-site engagements require meticulous pre-planning and clearly defined objectives.  
  • Consistency creates clarity: A standardised asset maturity framework enabled cross-functional comparison and objective benchmarking.  
  • Time zone coordination matters: Strong communication between Ireland- and Philippines-based teams was essential.  
  • Holistic assessment adds value: Evaluating operational, commercial, and organisational performance together delivered deeper strategic insight than financial review alone.  

“By combining rigorous analysis with a holistic view of both operational and commercial performance, we enabled our client to make informed investment decisions and unlock the full potential of a complex airport asset.”  
Rachel King, Project Delivery Manager  

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