Welcome to Open Mic, the airport- and aviation-focused podcast hosted by Curtis Grad, Chief Executive and Founding Partner of Modalis Infrastructure Partners. Each episode features in-depth conversations with global aviation leaders—airport executives, investors, innovators, and policy experts—exploring the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the airport and aviation landscape.

In this episode, Curtis sits down with Athanasios Titonis, Chief Executive Officer of Aboitiz Operating Airports, operator of Mactan–Cebu International Airport, Bohol–Panglao International Airport and Laguindingan Airport in the Philippines. Together Curtis and Athanasios discuss crisis leadership, airport privatization and Aboitiz’s aspirations of transforming aviation in the Philippines. 

They dive into:
✈️ How Cebu’s airport team managed a real-time earthquake crisis and what it revealed about crisis management and teamwork.
🌏 The “Cebu Connect” strategy which links air and sea transport to create a national tourism and transfer hub.
🤝 The growing role of Aboitiz and international investors in modernizing Philippine airports.
💡 How AI and digital innovation are reshaping airport operations while keeping people at the heart of aviation.

Timestamps:
00:00  Intro – Welcome to Open Mic
02:15  Earthquake response and crisis management at CEB
10:20  Transforming Philippine aviation
23:00 The role of AI and the continuing importance of people in airport operations
25:00  Learnings from previous roles
33:45 Magic Mirror: Getting to know Athanasios

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