MACTAN-CEBU International Airport, the second-biggest airport in the Philippines, recorded a double-digit growth of 19% in cargo volume for the first seven months of the year, data from the airport operator showed.
For the period January to July this year, the Visayan air hub handled 35.58 million kilograms of cargoes, an increase of 5.68 million kg over the 29.9 million kg for the same period in 2012, according to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority.
Domestic cargoes accounted for 23.8 million kg of the total, an improvement of 7.2% from last year’s 22.2 million kg.
Of the total domestic freight throughput, inbound cargoes contributed 15.57 million kg, 18.13% higher than the 13.18 million kg in 2012. Domestic outbound cargoes rose 7.34% to 9.8 million kg from 9.13 million kg a year earlier.
International cargo throughput surged 13%, contributing 8.7 million kg to the total cargo volume and beating last year’s 7.7 million kg.
International inbound cargoes rose 8.33% to 3.9 million kg from 3.6 million kg while international outbound cargoes swelled 19.24% to 4.8 million kg from 4.02 million kg in the first seven months of 2012.
On the sidelines of the recent 1st Philippine Aviation Safety and Good Corporate Governance Symposium held at the Philippine International Convention Center, MCIA general manager Nigel Paul Villarete said cargo volume at the hub is expected to grow once the planned P17.5-billion passenger terminal project is completed.
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air serviced the bulk of domestic cargoes with 12.14 million kg for the first seven months, followed by flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) with 9.9 million kg. Air Philippines, Zest Airways and South East Asian Airlines shared the rest of the cargo volume.
International freight throughput was dominated by foreign carriers Cathay Pacific with 3.05 million kg and Korean Air with 2.2 million kg.
Passenger traffic grew 5.63% for the first seven months to 4.2 million people from 3.99 million in the same period last year. Domestic passenger traffic increased 3.23% to 3.2 million from 3.1 million while international passenger numbers leaped 13.3% to 1.01 million from 895,332 in the first seven months of 2012.
Aircraft traffic also jumped 12.5% to 38,312 flights in January-July 2013 from 34,052 in the same period last year.
The Visayan hub is home to 16 airlines – PAL, Cebu Pacific, Zest Air, SEAir, Air Phil, Tigerair Philippines, Cathay, Silkair, Korea Air, Asiana, Jeju Air, Far Eastern, Airbusan, Air Niugini, Jin Air and China Airlines. – Roumina Pablo
Photo from http://ppp.gov.ph
