Mactan-Cebu International Airport is strengthening its position as the primary hub for inter-island travel following the launch of several exclusive domestic routes and enhanced transfer services in late 2025.
Now operated by Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corp., the facility serves as a critical link to the country’s most remote destinations, including the only direct air connection to Siquijor.
The airport’s expansion comes as part of a broader strategy by the AIC Airports platform to develop a network of world-class gateways. The platform expects to handle approximately 16 million passengers by the end of the year, representing more than 20 percent of the total passenger traffic in the Philippines.
Sunlight Air began non-stop service between Cebu and Siquijor on Dec. 15, marking the first time the “Healing Island” has been accessible via direct flight.
Local officials project that tourism in Siquijor will generate P300 million in revenue by 2026, a figure expected to drive infrastructure development and job creation within the province.
Travel efficiency has been further improved through the introduction of CEB Connects, a premier air-to-air transfer service designed to minimize layovers. The service reduces connection times to 60 minutes for international travelers and 35 minutes for domestic passengers, allowing for seamless transit to islands like Siargao. Sunlight Air currently provides direct connections from Cebu to Siargao for travelers arriving from Manila or international locations.
Cebu Pacific has also established Cebu as the exclusive gateway to San Vicente, Palawan. The airline offers the only direct flights to the emerging destination, which is home to the longest white sand beach in the Philippines at 14.7 kilometers.
By reducing inter-island travel times to between 45 and 60 minutes, the airport management aims to eliminate the need for the complex, multi-leg journeys previously required to reach these islands.
Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corp. assumed operations of the facility in October 2024, integrating it into a national portfolio focused on enhancing connectivity across the archipelago.
