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Mactan–Cebu International Airport

Coordinates: 10°18′26″N 123°58′44″E / 10.30722°N 123.97889°E / 10.30722; 123.97889
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Mactan–Cebu International Airport

Tugpahanang Pangkalibutanon sa Mactan–Sugbo
Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Mactan–Cebu
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerMactan–Cebu International Airport Authority
OperatorAboitiz InfraCapital Inc.
ServesCebu
LocationMactan, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines
OpenedApril 27, 1966; 58 years ago (1966-04-27)
Hub for
Operating base for
Time zonePHT (UTC+08:00)
Elevation AMSL9 m / 31 ft
Coordinates10°18′26″N 123°58′44″E / 10.30722°N 123.97889°E / 10.30722; 123.97889
Websitewww.mactancebuairport.com
Maps
Map
CEB / RPVM is located in Metro Cebu
CEB / RPVM
CEB / RPVM
CEB / RPVM is located in Visayas
CEB / RPVM
CEB / RPVM
CEB / RPVM is located in Philippines
CEB / RPVM
CEB / RPVM
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04L/22R[1][a] 2,560 8,400 Concrete
04R/22L 3,300 10,827 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Passengers10,050,340
Increase 80.75%
Aircraft movements89,712
Increase 63.12%
Cargo (in kg)58,011,469
Increase 2.50%
  1. ^ Emergency use only
Source: MCIAA[2]

Mactan–Cebu International Airport (MCIA) (IATA: CEB, ICAO: RPVM) is the main international airport serving Metro Cebu and serves as the main gateway to the Central Visayas region in the Philippines. Located on a 797-hectare (1,970-acre) site in Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan, it is the second busiest airport in the Philippines.[3] Opened on April 27, 1966, the airport serves as a hub for Philippine Airlines, and as an operating base for Cebu Pacific, Philippines AirAsia, and Sunlight Air.

The airport is managed by the Mactan–Cebu International Airport Authority and operated by the GMR–Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation.

History

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Early years

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The runway was built by the United States Air Force in 1956 as an emergency airport for Strategic Air Command bombers. It was known back then as the Mactan Air Base.[4] It remained a spartan outpost until the Vietnam War in the 1960s when it became a base for a C-130 unit of the U.S. Air Force.[4]

Commercial operations started on April 27, 1966[5] for domestic flights. It replaced the now closed Lahug Airport (now the site of Cebu IT Park) which could no longer be expanded due to safety and physical problems. International charter flights later commenced in 1978.[6]

On July 31, 1990, Republic Act No. 6958 was approved, which created and established the Mactan–Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA). The law transferred the existing assets and operations of Mactan–Cebu International Airport and Lahug Airport to the newly created MCIAA.[7]

Expansion

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Plans for a new terminal were laid as early as 2005, but the expansion of the existing terminal was instead pursued. By 2009, the airport handled 4.8 million passengers, way beyond the capacity of 4.5 million. By 2017, the airport handled more than ten million passengers.[6]

The expansion of the airport was included on the list of big-ticket public-private partnership (PPP) projects as part of the PPP infrastructure program that was launched in 2010. Bidding was opened in 2012.[6] On April 23, 2014, the Department of Transportation and Communications awarded the operations and maintenance of MCIA to a consortium of the Philippine Megawide Construction Corporation and Bangalore-based GMR Infrastructure. The consortium won with a bid of ₱17.5 billion. MCIAA handed over the operations and maintenance of the airport to the private consortium on November 1, 2014.[8][9][10]

On June 29, 2015, President Benigno Aquino III led the ground-breaking rites at the site of the old Philippine Air Force base in Lapu-Lapu City which had been demolished to give way for the Terminal 2 construction.[11] Construction of Terminal 2 began on January 22, 2016.[12] On June 7, 2018, Terminal 2 was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte,[13][14] with the terminal being operational on July 1.

On May 5, 2021, the second taxiway and expanded apron of the airport was inaugurated.[15]

Contemporary history

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Following Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), one of the biggest typhoons ever recorded and one of the most destructive typhoons in the Philippines, the airport was used as a center for air operations for the relief effort. The airport is centrally located in the Visayas which was the region most affected by the storm, especially the Eastern Visayas islands of Leyte and Samar. The Cebu airport was relatively unaffected by the storm while the airports of the Eastern Visayas were unusable immediately after.[16]

On November 12, 2013, the world's longest and heaviest aircraft, the Antonov An-225 Mriya, landed at MCIA from the Zagreb International Airport in Croatia for the first time in the Philippines. It delivered a 180-ton replacement transformer from the Croatian energy company KONČAR for the First Gen Corporation's power plant in Batangas City. Officials of First Gen approached MCIAA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete to allow the Antonov An-225 to utilize the airport for the transportation of their delivery after officials from Clark International Airport, Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, and Subic Bay International Airport refused to allow the aircraft to utilize their airports.[17] According to First Gen President Francis Giles Puno, MCIA had been inspected by Antonov Airlines, the owner of the Antonov An-225 aircraft, as the most viable option for their aircraft, "after considering the combination of airport, onward land transport and sea freight."[18]

Philippine Airlines offered non-stop flights to Los Angeles, the longest route from MCIA, from March 2016 to May 2017.[19]

On August 27, 2018, on the occasion of National Heroes Day, President Duterte expressed support for renaming the airport after Mactan chieftain Lapu-Lapu whose forces killed Ferdinand Magellan during the Battle of Mactan in 1521.[20]

On December 16, 2021, the airport was closed indefinitely after sustaining heavy damage from Typhoon Rai (Odette) before resuming operations on December 19 under a new layout that integrates both terminals together since the domestic terminal sustained the most damage, while the international terminal only suffered minor damage.[21]

On September 2, 2022, Aboitiz purchased a 33.33% stake on GMR–Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation for ₱25 billion. In turn, GMR–Megawide issued ₱15 billion worth of exchangeable bonds in exchange for the remaining shares in GMCAC.[22] On October 30, 2024, it fully acquired GMCAC for ₱7.76 billion, thereby completely taking over the operations of MCIA.[23]

Future development

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On May 22, 2017, Mactan–Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) passed a resolution approving the proposal to start the construction of a second runway, which was proposed by Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu. Del Mar proposed that the construction of the second runway be funded using P4.9- billion sourced from the P14.4 billion premium given by the GMCAC when it won the bid to develop and manage the MCIA terminal. Once completed, the second runway will be adjacent to the existing first runway and will enable simultaneous runway operations.[24]

The groundbreaking ceremony of the second runway was held on January 14, 2020.[25]

Terminals

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Mactan–Cebu International Airport has two passenger terminals, with plans laid in 2019 for another terminal.[26]

Passenger terminal infrastructure
Terminal Opened Floor area Handling capacity Parking bays
Terminal 1 1990 38,525 m2 (414,680 sq ft) 11.7 million passengers per year 6 (aerobridge)
12 (remote)
Terminal 2 July 1, 2018 65,500 m2 (705,000 sq ft) 8 million passengers per year 7 (aerobridge)
5 (remote)
Total 104,025 m2 (1,119,720 sq ft) 19.7 million passengers per year 13 (aerobridge)
17 (remote)

Terminal 1

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Terminal 1 in 2018

Terminal 1, which was built in 1990, serves as the airport's domestic terminal. Prior to the completion and opening of Terminal 2, it housed both domestic and international operations and prior to its expansion, had an annual capacity of 4.5 million passengers,[27] before being increased to eight million following minor renovations from 2015 to 2016.[28]

The terminal has a floor area of 38,525 square meters (414,680 sq ft). It has six jet bridges and twelve remote parking spaces for aircraft. There are six baggage conveyor belts in the baggage claim area.[27]

GMR–Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation announced a two-phase renovation of Terminal 1 in December 2018 as part of its ₱17 billion investment to improve the terminals.[28] The renovation involved the expansion of the pre-departure area and improved flight information displays.[27] Manila-based architectural firm Budji + Royal Architecture + Design handled the renovation of the terminal, which was based on a resort-type design. One of its features is the Airport Village, which merges the arrival and departure areas to allow passengers to mingle within the airport. To facilitate its construction, the arrivals road was permanently closed. Renovations began in March 2019.[29] President Rodrigo Duterte inaugurated the newly rehabilitated Terminal 1 on January 19, 2020, increasing its capacity to 11.7 million passengers.[30]

Terminal 2

[edit]
Interior of Terminal 2 in 2019
Exterior of Terminal 2

Terminal 2 is the newest airport terminal and has an annual capacity of eight million passengers.[31] Construction began on January 22, 2016, and was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte on June 7, 2018, before opening to passengers on July 1.[13]

Integrated Design Associates designed the terminal with European timber arches from Austria that look like an inverted boat hull, and a wave-like roof that evokes a tropical and resort-like feel.[32] It represents the sea waves that surrounds the island of Cebu. Terminal 2 won an award for the category "Completed Buildings – Transport" at the World Architecture Festival in 2019.[33][34]

Occupying an area of 65,500 square meters (705,000 sq ft), the terminal has four check-in halls with 48 check-in counters in the departures area expandable to 72, seven jet bridges expandable to 12, 12 escalators, 15 elevators, duty-free shops, and a departure lobby.[27] The terminal's modular design allows for progressive expansion, with a fundamental building block structured for maximum adaptability to future development. Terminal 2 is exclusive only for international flights. However, due to the aftermath of Typhoon Odette, it was used for both domestic and international flights from January 16, 2022, until most parts of Terminal 1 were fully repaired by June.[35][36][37]

Structure

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Runways

[edit]

The airport has a 3,300-meter (10,800 ft) main runway (Runway 04R/22L) with a width of 45 meters (148 ft) that was built by the United States in 1956 as an emergency airport for U.S. Air Forces' Strategic Air Command bombers and was known as Mactan Air Base.[4] The runway is complemented by a full-length taxiway that it shares with the current Mactan Air Base of the Philippine Air Force.

The second runway (Runway 04L/22R) started construction in January 2020.[25] It is 2,560 meters (8,400 ft) long and 45 meters (148 ft) wide.[1] It was completed in January 2024. The runway serves as an emergency runway in case of major situations concerning the main runway.[38][39]

Other structures

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The airport has other government buildings like the two-level CAAP Administration Building and the six-level MCIAA Corporate Building, both located within the airport complex.[15][40] The parking area outside the terminals has a total capacity of 750 cars.[27]

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

Passenger

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
Aero K Cheongju[41]
AirSWIFT El Nido
Asiana Airlines Seoul–Incheon
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong
Cebgo Bacolod, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Calbayog, Camiguin, Caticlan, Clark, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Manila, Masbate, Ozamiz, Pagadian, San Vicente,[42] Siargao, Surigao, Tacloban, Zamboanga
Cebu Pacific Bangkok–Don Mueang,[43] Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Clark, Davao, Dipolog, General Santos, Hong Kong, Iloilo, Manila, Osaka–Kansai,[44] Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Seoul–Incheon, Singapore, Tokyo–Narita, Zamboanga
China Airlines Taipei–Taoyuan
China Eastern Airlines Shanghai–Pudong
Emirates Dubai–International[a]
EVA Air Taipei–Taoyuan
Jeju Air Busan, Daegu, Seoul–Incheon
Jin Air Busan, Seoul–Incheon
Korean Air Seoul–Incheon
Leading Edge Bantayan, Bislig, Zamboanga
PAL Express Bacolod, Borongan, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Clark, Cotabato, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Manila, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Tacloban, Zamboanga
Philippine Airlines Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Manila, Osaka–Kansai (resumes December 22, 2024),[45] Puerto Princesa, Seoul–Incheon (resumes December 21, 2024),[46] Tokyo–Narita
Philippines AirAsia Manila
Qatar Airways Doha[b]
Scoot Singapore
Singapore Airlines Singapore
Starlux Airlines Taipei–Taoyuan
Sunlight Air Busuanga, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Iloilo, Manila, Siargao
Turkish Airlines Seasonal: Istanbul[47][c]
T'way Air Seoul–Incheon
United Airlines Tokyo–Narita[48][d]
Notes
  1. ^ Emirates flights make an intermediate stop in Clark en route to the listed destination. However, the airline has no cabotage rights to carry passengers solely between Cebu and Clark.
  2. ^ Qatar Airways flights make an intermediate stop in Davao en route to the listed destination. However, the airline has no cabotage rights to carry passengers solely between Cebu and Davao.
  3. ^ Turkish Airlines flights make an intermediate stop in Manila en route to the listed destination. However, the airline has no cabotage rights to carry passengers solely between Cebu and Manila.
  4. ^ United Airlines flights continue to Los Angeles with the same flight number. However, there is an aircraft swap at the listed destination, switching from a Boeing 737 to a Boeing 787.

Cargo

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
Air Hong Kong Hong Kong[49]
SEAir International Clark[50]
Skyway Airlines[51] Clark, Davao

Statistics

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Terminal 1's former departure waiting area
Former exterior of Terminal 1

Data from the Mactan–Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).[2][52]

Accidents and incidents

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  • On October 23, 2022, Korean Air Flight 631, an Airbus A330-300 with registration HL7525 originating from Seoul, overshot the runway after two landing attempts, shortly after landing in stormy weather. No injuries were reported, but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.[53]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Cebu airport's second runway halfway done". PortCalls Asia. October 28, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "GRAPHS – Mactan – Cebu International Airport Authority". Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  3. ^ Hoontrakul, P. (2014). The Global Rise of Asian Transformation: Trends and Developments in Economic Growth Dynamics. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  4. ^ a b c "Mactan–Benito Ebuen Air Base". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  5. ^ "G.R. No. 162288". April 4, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Roa, Ana (May 12, 2018). "Mactan's maiden flight". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  7. ^ AN ACT CREATING THE MACTAN-CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, TRANSFERRING EXISTING ASSETS OF THE MACTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND THE LAHUG AIRPORT TO THE AUTHORITY, VESTING THE AUTHORITY WITH POWER TO ADMINISTER AND OPERATE THE MACTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND THE LAHUG AIRPORT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (Republic Act 6958). 1990. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  8. ^ Agcaoili, Lawrence (April 23, 2014). "Megawide-GMR remits P16.1-B payment for Cebu airport project". The Philippine Star.
  9. ^ "Megawide-GMR airport design reflects Cebu culture | Manila Bulletin | Latest Breaking News | News Philippines". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  10. ^ "Philippine-India consortium to overhaul Cebu airport by 2018- Nikkei Asian Review". Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  11. ^ "Aquino breaks ground on P32B Cebu airport terminal project". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  12. ^ "Construction of the Mactan-Cebu airport begins | GOVPH".
  13. ^ a b Lopez, Virgil (June 7, 2018). "Duterte inaugurates new 'resort-like' Mactan Cebu airport terminal". GMA News. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  14. ^ Bunachita, Jose Santino. "Duterte leads inauguration of new Mactan airport passenger terminal". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Tugade inaugurates new taxiway, CAAP Bldg at Mactan-Cebu Int'l Airport". Philippine Information Agency. DOTr. May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  16. ^ Rodriguez, Jon Carlos (November 12, 2013). "Cebu airport to be used as hub for relief efforts". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  17. ^ Alegado, Sieg (November 12, 2013). "World's biggest plane to deliver 140-ton power generator to PHL". GMA News. GMA Network Inc. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  18. ^ Sollane, Jose (November 13, 2013). "World's biggest airplane in Cebu". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  19. ^ "PAL unveils Cebu-Los Angeles route; flights to start in May". Philippine Daily Inquirer. January 21, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  20. ^ Adel, Rosette (August 27, 2018). "Duterte favors renaming Mactan airport in Cebu after Lapu-Lapu". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  21. ^ "Mactan-Cebu Int'l Airport shut 'until further notice' amid damage from 'Odette'". December 17, 2021.
  22. ^ Piad, Tyrone Jasper C. (September 3, 2022). "Aboitiz buys into Mactan airport". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  23. ^ Jose, Ashley Erika O. (October 31, 2024). "Megawide completes airport operations exit, commits to strengthening infrastructure focus". BusinessWorld. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  24. ^ Fernandez, Rona Joyce T. (May 21, 2017). "2nd runway project a 'go'". SunStar. Archived from the original on December 27, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Mactan-Cebu International Airport breaks ground for second runway". ABS-CBN News. January 14, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  26. ^ Ordinario, Cai (June 17, 2019). "Govt studies P208-B proposal to build terminal 3 at Mactan-Cebu Intl Airport". Business Mirror. Retrieved July 12, 2024 – via Public-Private Partnership Center.
  27. ^ a b c d e "Mactan-Cebu International Airport". Airport Technology. May 11, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  28. ^ a b "MCIA Terminal 1 renovation set: 'Airport Village'". Sunstar. December 16, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  29. ^ Newman, Minerva (March 17, 2019). "MCIA-Terminal 1 to be turned into "Airport Village"". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  30. ^ "President Duterte unveils marker at Cebu's newly renovated airport terminal". Presidential Communications Office. January 19, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  31. ^ "Megawide to open Mactan-Cebu airport Terminal 2 in June". BusinessMirror. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  32. ^ "First roof structure in Asia to be completely made from glued laminated timber". Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  33. ^ "Completed Buildings Transport winner". World Architecture Festival. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  34. ^ "Mactan Cebu International Airport wins World Architecture award". ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN. December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  35. ^ "Public Advisory: Transfer of Operations in T2". Mactan-Cebu International Airport. January 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  36. ^ "Cebu Pacific Air and Cebgo Domestic Flights Return to Terminal 1". Mactan-Cebu International Airport. May 19, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  37. ^ "PAL Cebu domestic departures and arrivals to transfer to Cebu Terminal 1 starting October 15". Philippine Airlines. October 12, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  38. ^ Lorenciana, Carlo (July 29, 2020). "Mactan-Cebu airport eyes 2nd runway as air travel recovery looms". Philippine News Agency.
  39. ^ "Mactan airport's parallel runway maybe operational in 2023". INQUIRER.net. November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  40. ^ Abadilla, Emmie V. (October 27, 2021). "Mactan-Cebu International Airport's new corporate building inaugurated". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  41. ^ Liu, Jim. "Aero K Schedules Cebu Oct 2024 Launch". AeroRoutes. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  42. ^ Cordero, Ted (June 19, 2024). "Cebu Pacific launches Cebu-San Vicente flights with P1 seat sale". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  43. ^ Salcedo, Dirk Andrei. "Cebu Pacific launches new flights from Cebu to Masbate, Bangkok". Aviation Updates Philippines. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  44. ^ "Cebu Pacific to Launch Cebu-Osaka Flights with Piso Sale". Bilyonaryo. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  45. ^ Cordero, Ted (September 13, 2024). "PAL relaunches Cebu-Osaka flights". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  46. ^ Jim Liu. "Philippine Airlines NW24 Seoul Service Changes – 10SEP24". AeroRoutes. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  47. ^ "Turkish Airlines NS25 Intercontinental Network Changes – 31OCT24". AeroRoutes. October 31, 2024.
  48. ^ "UNITED REMOVES 2 NEW INTERNATIONAL ROUTES SCHEDULED IN NS24". AeroRoutes. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  49. ^ Piad, Tyrone Jasper (September 28, 2024). "DHL Express to hike rates starting 2025". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  50. ^ Nadalet, Ivan (April 14, 2014). "Philippines' SEAir International to establish hub out of Clark". ch-aviation.
  51. ^ Salcedo, Dirk Andrei (June 5, 2024). "New PH cargo airline receives Boeing 737 freighter". Aviation Updates Philippines.
  52. ^ "STATISTICS – Mactan – Cebu International Airport Authority". Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  53. ^ Perez, Annie (October 24, 2022). "Plane overshoots runway at Mactan Cebu International Airport". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
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Media related to Mactan-Cebu International Airport at Wikimedia Commons