THE first terminal of the Mactan- Cebu International Airport will undergo renovation starting January.
Once completed, the renovated Terminal 1 could accommodate up to 11 million passengers every year, said GMCAC president Louie Ferrer.
Ferrer said the renovation will be composed of two phases in order to ensure that Terminal 1’s services will not be affected.
The first phase will be conducted from January to June while the second phase will be done from July to December.
Ferrer said the renovation is part of the GMCAC’s P17-billion investment to improve the services and facilities of both Terminals 1 and 2 at the MCIA.
At its current state, the Terminal 1 can only accommodate eight million passengers per year following the series of minor renovations from 2015 to 2016.
Along with the 4.1 million passengers being accommodated by Terminal 2, the two terminals at MCIA could accommodate 15.1 million passengers a year, Ferrer said.
Ferrer said the look of the renovated Terminal 1, which will be handled by Manila-based architectural firm Budji + Royal Architecture + Design, will be based on a resort-type design.
“Terminal 1 will have its own identity that is different from Terminal 2, but it will complement and strengthen the overall branding of MCIA as the world’s friendliest resort airport,” Ferrer added.
Andrew Harrison, GMCAC chief executive advisor, said one of the new features of the renovated Terminal 1 is the proposed “Airport Village,” which will merge the arrival and departure area and allow local and foreign passengers to mingle within the airport.
The Airport Village will particularly benefit those greeting and picking up arriving passengers.
Canopies will be built outside Terminal 1 to provide shelter for incoming and outgoing passengers.
Local products, such as lechon, will also be available in concessionaires inside Terminal 1, Harrison said.
Harrison said that they will also include in Terminal 1’s renovation the improvement of the transportation hub by expanding it to accommodate not just taxis and private vehicles, but also buses.
“We look forward to this with excitement as well because seven million of our fellow Filipino passengers are really the ones who use this terminal, and we want to create excitement for them and think of a new vibe and new feel,” Harrison added.
GMR Megawide is also currently in negotiations with MCIA for their second concession agreement, which would make possible the construction of Terminal 3 in the near future. From GCM of Superbalita Cebu /JKV