According to local media reports, a consortium led by GMR Group is actively competing for a $3 billion contract to upgrade and manage Manila International Airport in the Philippines. The consortium, formed by GMR Airports International BV together with local partners House of Investments Inc and Cavitex Holdings Inc, aims to improve terminals, expand passenger capacity to more than 60 million per year and implement technological advances at the International Airport Ninoy Aquino, the country's main gateway. point, as established by the Philippine Department of Transportation. The concession period is 15 years and may possibly be extended for another 10 years.

Rival bids for the project include those from the Manila International Airport Consortium, the Asian Airport Consortium and SMC SAP & Co. The Philippine government is expected to announce the winning bidder in the first quarter of 2024, with a rigorous review of the bids. technical qualifications and financial capabilities of all bidders in the coming weeks.

GMR Group is not new to airport operations and currently manages Mactan Cebu International Airport, the second largest in the country, in partnership with Philippine Megawide Construction Corp. Additionally, the group oversees operations at Kualanamu International Airport in Indonesia and is involved actively in the construction process of the Crete international airport in Greece.

On the domestic front, GMR manages airports in Delhi, Hyderabad and North Goa, while simultaneously working on developing a greenfield international airport in Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh. Notably, Rajiv Jain-led GQG Partners recently acquired a 4.7 per cent stake worth Rs 16,710 crore in GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd earlier this month.