Section 78. Development of New Airports. —

The Board shall be responsible for the planning, development, construction, operation, maintenance, or the expansion of airports. In planning and developing new airports, the Board shall consider:

1. The suitability of a proposed site in terms of terrain and proximity to population center(s);

2. The projected size of the market to be served by a proposed airport;

3. The ability of a proposed airport to generate sufficient revenue to cover costs of operation and maintenance;

4. The availability of funding from both local and foreign sources for the construction of a new airport or expansion of an existing one;

5. The proximity of other airports to a proposed new airport and the capability of such other airport to handle traffic projected to be handled by the new proposed airport;

6. The government's public service obligations, more particularly the government's duty to ensure the availability of air transport infrastructure for remote areas far from major population centers and that are not otherwise easily accessible by transportation via land or sea. In such cases, the Board shall take reasonable steps to ensure that funding will be available for the operation and maintenance of such airports;

7. ICAO best practices and recommendations concerning the development of airports; and

8. Such other considerations as the Board, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, may consider relevant or important.