Cebu is set to welcome new routes and carriers through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) starting this October.
Aboitiz InfraCapital GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation CEO Athanasios Titonis relayed this important development to Gov. Gwen Garcia in a meeting at the Capitol on October 21. He was joined by Rafael Aboitiz, head of airports business of Aboitiz InfraCapital.
Among the new routes to be launched on October 24 are the ones leading to San Vicente Airport in Palawan; to Masbate Airport; to Bangkok International Airport; and Kansai International Airport in Japan.
Additionally, United Airlines will soon operate a Cebu–Narita flight; while Aero-K will serve the Cebu–Cheongju route. These new offerings are expected to bring in a surge of travelers through the MCIA as it is projecting to hit 12 million passengers by the end of 2024.
Titonis said MCIA, under Aboitiz InfraCapital GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, aims to become the main gateway for tourism transfers in the Philippines, facilitating easier access to popular destinations like Siargao, El Nido, and Bantayan.
Gov. Gwen, who is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, expressed her full support for these developments’ undeniable potential to further boost Cebu’s economic growth.
Aside from this, MCIA also plans to expand its terminal, airside facilities, commercial facilities and transfer infrastructure to support these efforts, setting aside an initial P800 million for capital projects. | BJR