The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) saw 12% less cargoes last year at 54.130 million kilograms from 61.734 million kg in 2013.
Domestic cargoes, which accounted for 72.2% of the total, declined 12.3% to 39.082 million kg in 2014 from 46.548 million kg in 2013. International cargoes, which contributed 27.8%, likewise dropped 1% to 15.049 million kg from 15.186 million kg.
The Visayas air hub also serviced 13.3% fewer flights last year at 56,281 from 64,945 in 2013. Domestic flights dipped 17.2% to 44,651 from 53,954 while international flights rose 5.8% to 11,630 from 10,991 in 2013.
Passenger numbers also dipped to 6.84 million from 6.996 million, or a difference of 2.2%.
Consortium GMR-Megawide, which won the 25-year operation and maintenance contract for the expansion of the airport last year, formally took over the airport in November last year. Since then, the concessionaire has started equipping the immigration section with passport readers and computers as well as relocating immigration counters. GMR-Megawide has also imported new seats for the waiting areas, rehabilitated comfort rooms, and upgraded the MCIA information technology system to integrate screening areas with the check-in counters.
The consortium earlier said construction work for the new MCIA passenger terminal (PTB), which is part of the contract, will be completed in May 2018. The contract includes rehabilitation of the existing PTB.
Once development is complete, MCIA’s designed capacity of 4.5 million passengers per year will increase to 8 million. – Roumina Pablo
