The US Department of Homeland Security has determined that aviation security at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International is ineffective and inconsistent with ICAO standards. The department says the determination was based on assessments by a team of security experts from the TSA. It has since directed airlines issuing tickets for travel between the US and Manila to notify passengers of the determination, and for the advisory to be displayed prominently at US airports that provide regular scheduled flights to Manila. It adds that TSA representatives have been working with the Philippine govt to assist airport and transportation authorities in bringing NAIA up to international security standards. <br/>
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France's Vinci is taking advantage of a Brexit hit to UK asset prices to buy a majority stake in London Gatwick for US$3.7b, the construction company said Thursday. The deal to buy a 50.01% stake gives Vinci, which already runs 45 airports in 12 countries, access to the world's largest metropolitan aviation market. Vinci Airports president Nicolas Notebaert signalled uncertainty over Britain's departure from the EU next March had cut the price of buying into Gatwick, and forecast any hit to UK economic growth after Brexit was likely to be offset by a rise in tourism due to a weaker pound. "Just a few months ago we would not even have dreamed of being able to acquire an unlimited licence in the London airports system for less than 20 times core earnings," he said. <br/>
Istanbul's new airport will be fully operational March 3, Turkey's Milliyet newspaper reported Thursday, after the US$12b project was twice hit by delays. The airport, which officials say will be one of the world's busiest, was declared open in October by president Recep Tayyip Erdogan but only a handful of flights have been operating from the new site since then. Its full operation was first delayed to January, in a setback for the govt which has hailed it as a centrepiece of the construction boom that has driven strong economic growth under Erdogan's 15-year rule. Citing a letter sent by airport authorities, Milliyet said the date had been pushed back again until early March. Videos posted on social media since then have shown rain leaking heavily into a waterlogged passenger terminal, and a flooded car park at the new airport. <br/>