MCIA positions Cebu as secondary gateway

CEBU, Philippines — New direct international flights to Mactan-Cebu International Airport are widening access to the Visayas, positioning Cebu as a secondary gateway for inbound tourism outside Manila as the Philippines sustains its travel recovery.

Nearly 30 additional weekly international flights have been added in recent months, bringing total overseas arrivals and departures at MCIA to more than 100 per week, according to airport Aboitiz InfraCapital Airport Corporation.

The company attributed the increase to stronger demand from priority source markets and heightened promotion of Cebu and neighboring destinations.

The Philippines recorded more than 15 million international arrivals in 2025, underscoring the sector’s rebound and intensifying competition among regional gateways for direct connectivity.

Gelena Asis-Dimpas, officer-in-charge regional director of the Department of Tourism — Central Visayas said the new routes launched in the fourth quarter of 2025 expand access not only to Cebu’s leisure and heritage attractions, but also to its growing English-as-a-Second-Language, medical and wellness, and business travel segments.

“These new direct flights bring Cebu, Bohol and neighboring provinces closer to residents of Guam, Malaysia, Vietnam and Australia,” Dimpas said.

“Travelers now have more time to experience Central Visayas more deeply,” she addedz

The connectivity boost also benefits  Bohol, home  to the Philippines’ first UNESCO Global Geopark, broadening options for multi-destination itineraries anchored in Cebu.

Among the new services, Philippine Airlines, launched the first nonstop Cebu-Guam route on Dec. 16, 2025, operating three weekly flights using Airbus A321 aircraft.

Firefly Airlines began servicing the Kuala Lumpur–Cebu route five times weekly, while Vietnam Airlines introduced thrice-weekly Hanoi-Cebu flights.

Australia also gained its first direct link to Cebu through Jetstar Airways, which opened a seasonal Brisbane-Cebu service operating three times weekly through May 2026. The route cuts travel time by about half and is expected to add roughly 37,000 low-fare seats annually, targeting Queensland residents, overseas Filipinos and outbound Visayans.

Cebu’s hosting of the ASEAN Tourism Forum in January further boosted the region’s visibility among international buyers and airlines, helping reconnect destinations with long-standing partners while opening new markets, Dimpas said.

The expanded air links complement new tourism products developed in partnership with local governments and private operators, including integrated ESL tour packages, medical and wellness travel programs, voluntourism offerings and extended-stay bundles for families and group travelers.

With improved connectivity and diversified tourism offerings, officials said Central Visayas is positioning itself as a more competitive hub for both leisure and specialized travel, as airlines recalibrate regional networks to capture sustained demand growth in Southeast Asia. — (FREEMAN)