The operator of Mactan-Cebu International Airport expects 10 million passenger arrivals by the end of 2017.
GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. reported 8.9 million passenger arrivals in 2016, including 6.7 million domestic passengers and 2.2 million international passengers.
Last year’s passenger figure was 11.5 percent higher than 7.98 million passengers in 2015.
The company is targeting to hit 10-million passenger arrivals by the end of 2017, or a 12 percent jump from 2016.
“By pursuing new and diverse routes and increasing travel and tourism to the Visayas-Mindanao regions, we are ensuring long term sustainability and economic and social benefits for the passengers and the businesses,” GMCAC president Louie Ferrer said.
Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority general manager Steve Dicdican said the robust growth in the number of flights and passengers to MCIA was indicative of the national and global acceptance of Cebu as a world-class destination.
“To keep up with the foreseeable steady growth in the years to come and the expectations of passenger that pass through our gateway, we at MCIAA are committed to delivering an airport experience that is reflective of the dynamism and warmth of Cebu,” Dicdican said.
New routes connecting Cebu to Australia, Europe and other Asean countries are in the works in the next two years. Expanding connections to China, Japan and South Korea is also being studied.
MCIAA said to entice international and domestic airlines to launch new routes from Mactan-Cebu airport to any point of the world, it would offer incentives to airlines.
“We are proud and excited to be at the helm of this growth. With a total of 16 international destinations, 27 domestic destinations and with 19 partner airline carriers, it shows that Cebu is no longer just a secondary airport. It is a viable choice connecting to the rest of the Philippines and to the world,” said Ferrer.
Five new international destinations and three domestic destinations were launched out of Mactan-Cebu Airport last year.
The new international routes include Cebu-Los Angeles (PAL); Cebu-Xiamen (Xiamen Air); Cebu-Dubai (Emirates); Cebu-Chengdu (China Eastern Airlines and PAL); Cebu-Hangzhou (Ais Asia); Cebu-Wuhan (China Eastern Airlines); and Cebu-Daegu (T’Way Air). Meanwhile, new domestic routes were launched from Cebu to Ormoc, Calbayog and Roxas by Cebu Pacific.
Sustained growth in the travel market also saw airline companies adding new flights to existing routes like Cebu-Taipei (Eva Air); Cebu-Pusan (Air Busan); Cebu-Kuala Lumpur, Cebu- Taipei, and Cebu Singapore by Air Asia; Cebu-Caticlan and Cebu-Singapore by PAL; and Cebu- Narita by Vanilla Air.