MCIA to reach pre-pandemic flight traffic by 2023

MANILA, Philippines — The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) expects to reach pre-pandemic level of international traffic by the first half of 2023, with foreign airlines resuming their Asian flights in the gateway.

GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), operator of MCIA, said domestic flight traffic in the airport has returned to 70 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

On the other hand, GMCAC projects that international flight volume will recover to pre-pandemic numbers by the end of the second quarter of 2023.

GMCAC president Louie Ferrer said Korean airlines are resuming their direct flights from MCIA to South Korea after more than two years of travel decline due to pandemic risks. He said South Korea made up the bulk of air traffic in MCIA prior to the pandemic.

Ferrer said MCIA serves daily flights to Incheon operated by Korean Air, Jin Air, T’way and Jeju Air. In July budget carrier Cebu Pacific also restored its first international flight outside of Manila by reinstating its Cebu to Seoul route on a twice a week schedule.

Also, Ferrer said MCIA hosts direct flights to Busan through Jin Air and Air Busan and to Daegu via T’way.

“The return of direct flights to Korea, apart from the other international destinations, is a positive signal for the recovery of the travel and aviation sector,” Ferrer said.

“South Korea comprised our main international traffic pre-pandemic, followed by other ASEAN countries, and we are very glad to welcome them back to Cebu and assist the return of tourism in the region,” he said.

Aside from Incheon and Busan, Ferrer said MCIA also handles international flights to Singapore through Singapore Airlines, Scoot and Cebu Pacific. The airport also hosts commercial flights to Hong Kong and Taipei via Cathay Pacific and EVA Air, respectively.

On the other hand, flag carrier Philippine Airlines flies daily to Manila, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Tacloban and Siargao from MCIA. Low-cost carrier AirAsia, for its part, runs daily flights to Manila and Caticlan.

Cebu Pacific flies daily to Manila, Camiguin, Davao, Dumaguete, Busuanga and Butuan.

Tourism stakeholders in Cebu hope the resumption of domestic and international flights will boost the industry’s recovery, especially after New York-based Travel+Leisure named Cebu as one of the 25 best islands in the world.