The Philippines has won its arbitration case against the builder of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, paving the way for the airport's full operation in December 2010 and its eventual privatization. Mr Benigno Aquino III president of Philippine said that "It is with very intense delight that I was informed that we won by the dismissal of the complaint in Singapore." The Piatco consortium, led by Germany’s Fraport and its local partner Paircargo of the Cheng family, had wanted to be paid USD 1.1 billion after the government abrogated the graft-ridden contract and expropriated the airport terminal in 2004. With the legal obstacles hurdled, Mr Aquino said, he looked forward to full operations on Terminal 3 by December 2010. This early, the administration had plans to privatize the terminal's operation and maintenance. Mr Jose de Jesus transport secretary said that this was part of the government’s overall plan to encourage greater involvement of the private sector in government initiated projects. He added that "Almost all the project under Transportation and Communications Department will be done under this mode." International airlines remained at the old Terminal 1 despite Terminal 3's opening to international flights in August 2008. But with the arbitration and ownership issues still hanging, contracts with tenants for the use of Terminal 3 had to be renewed every six months. The Manila International Airport Authority earlier said that it was inviting three foreign carriers to operate in Terminal 3, rejecting Cebu Pacific's proposal to use the entire airport.
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