FOLLOWING the successful inauguration of Terminal 2 last Thursday, the private operator of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is marketing Cebu as a hub for Southeast Asia.
T2 will serve international flights and will be operational on July 1.
GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) president Louie Ferrer said they are capitalizing on the “world-class” image of T2 to lure more airline carriers to make Cebu their new home.
Ferrer said the transformation of the airport is part of their vision to engineer a first-world Philippines, which they believe is achievable with the government’s serious stance on infrastructure development.
“This airport is proof of that,” he said, adding that the airport development went through a rigorous process, from roof structure down to the uniform of employees, to exude Filipino culture.
T2 is said to be the first airport in Asia to use glulam (glue-laminated) on its roof structure, which forms the roof curvature and defines its geometry and modularity.
The arches span every 30 meters, which enables T2 to be as column-free as possible.
Hong Kong-based Integrated Design Associates (IDA), which previously worked on projects at Beijing Capital, Delhi-Indira Gandhi and Hong Kong airports, form part of the MCIA T2’s design team.
“We are committed to delivering a world-class travel experience to the public with our signature Filipino warmth. We want the experience at the airport to be as positive and as memorable as its destination, Cebu,” said Ferrer.
Moroever, MCIA General Manager Steve Dicdican also announced they will be opening T2 for general public viewing a week before it will start commercial operations.
He said they will announce the schedules of the viewing, which would need prior registration.
Cebu will host the gathering of aviation industry stakeholders next year, another opportunity to show off its world-class resort-themed gateway.
“Cebu will rise to higher altitude as host of Routes Asia 2019. It will be an excellent vehicle to further expand our network and rev up emerging destinations to take off,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat during Thursday’s inauguration.
MCIA reached 10 million passengers in 2017, up by 11.72 percent from 8.93 million in 2016.
Air traffic movement also grew by 20.62 percent to 87,570 in 2017 from 72,600 in 2016.
The airport recorded a total of 66,120 domestic flights, up by 17.64 percent from 56,210 in 2016, while international flights increased by 30.84 percent to 21,440 from 16,390.