Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) recorded its highest monthly passenger volume in January 2026, handling 1.3 million travelers as international traffic surged.
The figure represents a 15-percent increase over the 1.1 million passengers recorded in January 2025. Domestic traffic grew by 12 percent year-on-year, while international traffic saw a 25-percent jump during the same period.
Airport officials attributed the record-breaking performance to the Sinulog festival and an aggressive expansion of the airport’s network. Throughout 2025, the hub introduced 8 new routes and added several foreign carriers to its roster.
“This exceptional start to 2026 is a testament to the growing demand for Cebu as a global destination and a key transit hub,” Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corp. chief executive Athanasios Titonis said.
“Our strategic efforts to expand our network—bringing in new partners like Vietnam Airlines, Aero-K, Jetstar Airways and Firefly Airlines, and opening direct links to cities like Hanoi, Cheongju, Brisbane, and Macau—are bearing fruit,” he said.
The gateway, which serves as the primary entry point to the central Philippines, welcomed new airline partners including Jetstar Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Firefly Airlines and Aero-K over the past 12 months.
Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority general-manager and chief executive Julius Neri Jr. said the figures reflect strong collaboration between the government and private sector.
“We are optimistic that this upward trajectory will continue as we open more doors to the world,” Neri said.
The airport expects to sustain the momentum through 2026 with further infrastructure enhancements and the continued rollout of its CEBConnects initiative, which aims to streamline transfers for passengers using Cebu as a transit point.
 hit a historic milestone in January 2026, welcoming 1.3 million passengers amid a 25 percent surge in international traffic.){kind=link}