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THE
Mactan-Cebu International Airport is embarking on a
P300-million renovation and upgrading of its lone
terminal building in order to increase its capacity and
improve services.
The
project will expand the existing floor space in the
terminal and the construction of additional passenger
lounges and bays to accommodate more aircraft, including
the wide-bodied long-haul airlines.
Airport
general manager Danilo Francia said consultants are
drafting engineering drawings on the new floor plan and
passenger bays, adding bidding could be launched by the
end of the year.
The
entire project is expected to be completed in 2009.
The
20-year-old airport on Mactan Island handles close to 80
international and some 300 domestic flights a week,
excluding cargo planes and military aircraft.
“The
face of the terminal will change as we plan to increase
the standards of our airport. This terminal is still
useful for the next several years and we plan to
maximize it,” he told the BusinessMirror.
Francia
said the four existing passenger bridges and its single
tube will be expanded to two tubes each, so aircraft can
dock left and right of each bridge.
Two more
bridges with two tubes will be constructed on both ends
of the terminal. The bridges can accommodate large
aircraft with two tubes facilitating simultaneous
disembarking of passengers.
The
waiting lounges will also be expanded while new ones
will be built for budget airlines.
Francia
said inside the building, administration and support
services offices will be transferred to give more space
for passengers and airline offices.
The
airport authority is also set to increase the standard
of stores inside the airport and will give way to bigger
shops.
Francia
said the existing single runway and the supporting
taxiway and aprons are still world-class and could
accommodate the biggest aircraft, including the Airbus
380s.
“The
capacity of the runway is still just over 50 percent. It
can still accommodate a lot of increased traffic,” he
said. |
