Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the Philippines’ primary tourism transfer hub, was recognized as Airport of the Year – Asia at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025, during a ceremony held in Singapore on Nov. 25, 2025.
The award acknowledged MCIA’s dedication to providing the most efficient and seamless transfer experience in the Philippines through its transformative CEBConnects initiative.
The facility focuses on optimizing air-to-air transfers at MCIA, which involved a major redesign of passenger flow and infrastructure, including new dedicated transfer facilities and streamlined processes.
The implementation of CEBConnects significantly reduced MCIA’s Minimum Connection Time (MCT), positioning the airport among the fastest in the region/ Domestic to Domestic (D-D) MCT was cut to 35 minutes from 60 minutes. Domestic to International (D-I), International to Domestic (I-D), and International to International (I-I) MCTs were reduced to 60 minutes from 90 minutes.
It said the efficiency enhancement led to a 45-percent increase in transfer passenger volume year-on-year, solidifying MCIA’s role as a vital gateway for connecting travelers to the Philippines’ vast archipelago.
Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corp. (ACAC) chief executive Athanasios Titonis said the award is a testament to the dedication of the entire MCIA community and the success of CEBConnects.
“By strategically leveraging Cebu’s central geographical location, we are not just speeding up transfers; we are actively supporting the country’s tourism goals by making it easier for travelers to reach other island destinations,” said Titonis.
Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) chief executive and general-manager Julius Neri Jr. said the improvements driven by CEBConnects are a game-changer for airline operations and customer experience.
“The real-time benefits in on-time performance that we see enhances the transfer experience of our passengers who now find MCIA a highly competitive and reliable hub for regional travel,” said Neri.
Beyond efficiency, the streamlined process provides passengers with more time to enjoy MCIA’s extensive retail and dining options.
MCIA serves 25 airline partners with a robust point-to-point network and maintains an average on-time performance rate of almost 80 percent.
 wins Asia's Airport of the Year 2025 at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards for its CEBConnects initiative, which cut minimum connection times and boosted transfer passenger volume by 45 percent.){kind=link}