Cebu-Quanzhou flights back as MCIA deepens China ties

CEBU, Philippines — Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has formalized a cooperation framework with Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport in China, deepening aviation ties between the two gateways as direct flights between Cebu and Quanzhou resume amid efforts to expand tourism, trade and investment flows.

The agreement, signed during a cooperation ceremony in Fujian Province early this month, establishes a quarterly working committee involving MCIA, Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport and Xiamen Airlines, according to airport operator Aboitiz InfraCapital Airports.

The initiative follows the March 29 relaunch of Xiamen Airlines’ direct Cebu-Quanzhou service, restoring an air link seen as critical to strengthening business and cultural exchanges between the central Philippines and one of China’s key economic regions.

Aboitiz InfraCapital Airports Chief Executive Officer Athanasios Titonis presented the proposal during meetings with Jinjiang government officials and airport executives, including Party Secretary Huang Jianfeng.

“The relationship between the Philippines and China has long been shaped by trade, cultural exchange and people-to-people connections,” Titonis said. He cited the renewed direct flights as evidence of continued cooperation despite industry challenges ranging from elevated operating costs to broader market uncertainties.

The partnership builds on longstanding historical ties between Cebu and Fujian, whose economic relationship was formalized through a sister-province agreement signed in 2018.

Fujian is widely regarded as the ancestral home of many Chinese-Filipino families, including communities with roots in Cebu.

Under the arrangement, the three parties will meet regularly to coordinate initiatives aimed at improving airport operations, strengthening route development and enhancing passenger services.

Areas of cooperation include the use of artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency, joint efforts to expand tourism and commercial traffic, and the sharing of best practices in safety, security and sustainable airport development.

For MCIA, the agreement supports its strategy of positioning Cebu as a regional aviation hub and gateway to the Visayas and Mindanao.

Airport operators across Asia have increasingly pursued bilateral partnerships to attract new routes and strengthen resilience as international travel continues to recover and competition for airline capacity intensifies.

The collaboration is also expected to support growing economic engagement between Cebu and Fujian by facilitating business travel, tourism and investment opportunities between the two regions.

MCIA, operated by Aboitiz InfraCapital, is the country’s second-busiest airport and serves as a key transfer hub outside Metro Manila.