CEB plans to add more int’l flights from MCIA

CEBU, Philippines — Budget airline Cebu Pacific Air is looking to expand its international route network in its Cebu hub with the opening of the new Terminal 2 of Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

In an interview at the sidelines of the T2 inauguration yesterday, Lance Gokongwei, chief executive officer of Cebu Air Inc., the airline's listed operator, said the company will add more future international flights from Cebu.

Gokongwei cited North Asia as a priority in its planned expansion in its Cebu hub.

North Asia includes China, Japan and Korea.

The top airline executive said these destinations are growing markets.

With the new and modern terminal at Mactan Airport, Gokongwei believes the airline will be able to add more capacities in its flights.

Currently, Cebu Pacific flies directly from Cebu to international destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.

Gokongwei further said MCIA's T2 has so much potential in terms of future growth.

"This is the nicest airport in the Philippines today," he said.

Commercial operations of MCIA T2 will start on July 1.

Earlier, Cebu business leaders also foresee the country's second biggest airport going at par with modern Asian airports.

Cebu Business Club president Gordon Alan Joseph believes Cebu’s modernized airport will bring trickle down effect to its overall economy.

"It looks like we will finally have a world class airport in Cebu and without a doubt, this will bring in more flights which will be good for tourism and overall business," Joseph earlier said.

GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp, the consortium between Philippine firm Megawide Construction and India-based GMR Infrastructure Ltd, won in 2014 the 25-year public private partnership (PPP) contract to build, operate and maintain the new MCIA terminal for some P17.52 billion.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president Steven Yu also said the T2 will eventually improve Cebu’s ranking when it comes to efficient airports in Asia.

The P17.5-billion MCIA T2, touted as the world's first resort airport, is set to be inauguration on June 7 with President Duterte as one of the guests.

The 65,500-square meter terminal is designed by Hong Kong-based Integrated Design Associates (IDA) together with local designers Budji Layug, Royal Pinda and Cebuano Kenneth Cobonpue.

The new terminal building will have a capacity of about 13 million passengers annually and will serve international operations.

Last June 2017, the consortium submitted a P208-billion unsolicited proposal for MCIA's 50-year development.

To date, MCIA is serving 32 domestic and 22 international destinations, with eight local and 17 international airline partners.

Cebu's airport expansion is seen to lure more airlines to mount flights from the country’s second busiest airport.

Cebu is continuously promoted as an alternative international gateway to the Philippines, given its strategic geographical location and proximity to tourist destinations in southern Philippines.