In the first nine months of 2019, cargo handled at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) declined 8.8% to 55.479 million kilograms (kg) from 60.835 million kg in the same period last year.
Data from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority showed that the Philippines’ second busiest gateway handled 42.204 million kg of domestic cargoes from January to September 2019, or 76% of the total volume handled by the airport. The domestic volume decreased 8.4% from the 46.086 million kg serviced in the same period last year.
Likewise, international cargoes went down 10% to 13.275 million kg from 14.748 million kg.
Flights, on the other hand, rose 7% to 80,275 from 75,093. Of the total, domestic flights increased 6.3% to 59,347 from 55,823, while international flights jumped 9% to 20,928 from 19,270.
Passenger traffic grew 11.6% in the first three quarters of the year to 9.465 million from 8.479 million in the same period in 2018. Domestic passenger traffic reached 6.285 million, up 12% from the 5.615 million passengers who used the airport last year. International passenger traffic increased 11% to 3.180 million from 2.864 million in the same period the previous year.
MCIA last October was ranked 16th best airport in Asia in this year’s survey by travel website Sleeping in Airports, which releases annually its list of best and worst airports based on ratings from travellers.
Last year, MCIA opened its new resort-themed passenger terminal building (PTB), increasing the airport’s capacity from 4.5 million passengers per year to 12.2 million. The new PTB, Terminal 2, is dedicated to international flights, while the old terminal is now exclusively for domestic flights.
Renovation of Terminal 1 to give it a “village life” atmosphere is on track and scheduled for completion this year. – Roumina Pablo