THE operator of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport is now targeting to breach the 10-million passenger mark by the end of 2017, a feat that will be fueled by route diversification and the entry of more carriers.
This developed after the airport clocked in an 11.5-percent increase in passenger volume to 8.9 million passengers in 2016, from 7.98 million passengers the year prior.
GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) President Louie B. Ferrer said the group is also expecting the passenger volume at the airport to grow 12 percent, which is almost the same rate as in 2016.
“By pursuing new and diverse routes and increasing travel and tourism to the Visayas-Mindanao regions, we are ensuring long-term sustainability and economic and social benefits for the passengers and the businesses,” he said.
For his part, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) General Manager Steve Y. Dicdican said last year’s growth is an indication of the “national and global acceptance of Cebu as a world-class destination.”
“To keep up with the foreseeable steady growth in the years to come and the expectations of passenger that pass through our gateway, we at MCIAA are committed to delivering an airport experience that is reflective of the dynamism and warmth of Cebu,” he said.
In the next two years, new routes connecting Cebu to Australia, Europe and other Asean countries will be in the works. Likewise, expanding connections to China, Japan and South Korea are being studied.
The government is offering incentives to airlines to entice them to launch new routes from the Mactan-Cebu airport to any point of the world.
“We are proud and excited to be at the helm of this growth. With a total of 16 international destinations, 27 domestic destinations and with 19 partner airline carriers, it shows Cebu is no longer just a secondary airport. It is a viable choice connecting to the rest of the Philippines and to the world,” Ferrer said.
Just last year, five new international destinations and three domestic routes were launched from the Mactan-Cebu airport.
Due to the demand, the airlines also increased the frequency of their existing routes.
Ferrer said to support the projected growth, his group will continue on working to develop the existing infrastructure, while building a new facility to further push growth in the Queen City of the South.
“We need proper infrastructure so that we can accommodate more airlines and more flights. Route development is essential to an airport; the more flights we have, the more passengers will pass through our gates,” he said.
The construction of a new world-class Passenger Terminal Building, or MCIA Terminal 2, is already in full swing, and is meant to drive further growth in passenger traffic.
Slated to open in June 2018, Terminal 2 will increase passenger capacity to 12.5 million.
The new terminal, spanning 65,500 square meters, will not only lessen congestion, but will offer an exciting and wide-ranging retail environment. The architectural design is inspired by Cebu’s island heritage.
“We create the first and last impressions visitors make of Cebu and the rest of the country and, thus, we want to create a worthy impression for everyone. Not only will the new terminal look distinctly Filipino; it will also be a complete experience of Filipino hospitality the moment you set foot here,” Ferrer said.
He added, “This airport is more than a transfer point. We are making it a vital part of the Cebu experience.”
Terminal operations of Mactan-Cebu airport were officially handed over to GMCAC in November 2014. Since then, the company has undertaken major renovations to improve passenger comfort at the existing terminal.