MCIA terminal 2 may open ahead of schedule

CEBU, Philippines - The construction of the Mactan International Airport Terminal 2 project is now 60 percent complete and is even projected to get ahead with its target opening date on June 2018.

GMR-MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), president Louie Ferrer assured that the most awaited airport facility might even be completed ahead of schedule.

GMCAC, the Filipino company that manages the terminal operations of MCIA under a Public-Private Partnership for a 25-year concession agreement, is investing some P32-billion for phase 1 development of Terminal 2 that is set to redefine Cebu’s travel landscape.

When completed, combined annual passenger throughput is projected to rise to 12.5 million from 4.5 million passenger per annum, an increase of 8 million.

Terminal 2 will span approximately 45,000 square meters and can be expanded further in phase 2. The new terminal will serve all international flights with eight (8) aerobridge-equipped aircraft parking stands and will be connected by a link-bridge to Terminal 1, which will be refurbished for exclusively domestic use.

Terminal 2 will feature 48 Check-In counters that are expandable to 72 and will include modular expansion capability to ensure operations can continue uninterrupted whilst expansion takes place as traffic growth warrants.

A car park will also be available to accommodate 550 cars and expandable to 750 cars as needed.

In terms of employment generation, more than 3,000 jobs are created during the construction of Terminal 2 with another 550 employment opportunities through Concessionaires once Terminal 2 is commissioned.

Economist Claro DG Cordero Jr., of the Jones Lang de LaSalle Philippines recently said that the opening of the terminal is seen to bring overwhelming economic movement for Cebu.

Cordero said that the opening of the MCIA terminal 2 will bring unimaginable economic boost for Cebu. (FREEMAN)