Cargo volume at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) declined 38% in the first quarter of 2016, according to data from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).
The Philippines’ second busiest air hub processed 14.046 million kilograms of air cargo from January to March 2016 compared with 22.655 million kg year-on-year.
Domestic shipments, which accounted for 75.8% of the total, contracted 38.6% to 10.647 million kg from 17.346 million kg previously.
Foreign cargoes, which contributed 24.2%, registered a drop of 36% to 3.398 million kg from 5.309 million kg.
Flights increased 11% to 16,414 from 14,746. Domestic flights grew 13% to 12,967 from 11,455, while international flights rose 11% to 16,414 from 14,746 last year.
Last March, new international flights were launched at MCIA, seen to draw inbound tourism and give strong support to export services. These were Philippine Airlines’ Cebu-Los Angeles, EVA Air’s Cebu-Taipei, Xiamen Air’s Cebu-Xiamen, and Emirates’ Cebu-Dubai flights.
More passengers, numbering 2.063 million, also used the gateway, 12% higher than last year’s 1.84 million passengers.
GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, which took over the operation of MCIA in late 2014, said revenues in the first quarter of 2016 increased 23%, or P82 million, due to strong aeronautical, commercial, and rental revenues in the wake of an increase in passenger traffic.
GMR Megawide won the 25-year concession to manage and expand MCIA.
