It’s been almost 17 years since the Mactan Cebu International Authority was organized and the partnership between the airport and the airlines has become much stronger. In the recent months, I have been discussing airport visions with airline executives. Our managers have likewise been planning the future years with the station and area supervisors of the airlines operating at Mactan. And as we start to get familiar with each other’s culture and concerns, dreams and intentions, we start to discover many things otherwise left unknown by many.
Distinctly Ours
Secretary Mendoza spoke before members of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce last October 17 and said, “We Filipinos are always first in everything. We just find it hard reaching the finish line.” One of the mainstays of our airport is the wide body jets of Philippine Airlines. PAL has been the trend setter in the industry around the world for many years as it continues to fly the intercontinental routes. Being the first airline in Asia, PAL will always be the prestigious player it is destined to be.
Even if Cebu Pacific started with hard to maintain and hardly efficient aircraft (the DC9s), with the newer Airbus 319s and 320’s, it has gained a foothold in the Low Cost Carrier industry and is the fastest growing airline in the region. Today, it has the biggest load factor and the most frequency of flights in destinations from Cebu.
Air Philippines, well known as the operators of Boeing 737s in the domestic front, has been steadily increasing its network and will start extending its reach towards our Asian neighbors. What makes Asian Spirit unique is its 4-jet BAe 146 operation to Koror, Palau. But for the fastest flights to Boracay, Seair’s Dornier 328s have no rival.
Crème of the Crop
In past issues, I have said that Cebu is connected with the top international airport hubs of the world in Asia. That being so, great airlines of these hub countries come and go at Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Hong Kong is not only one of the busiest in annual passenger volume (43,857,908 in 2006), it is closing in to Memphis as the world’s number one in cargo volume in the world. Cathay Pacific has grown to being one of the five-star airlines in the world, as its wide body jets fly the intercontinental routes to all parts of the globe. Cathay Airbus 330s and 340’s, Boeing 777s and 747s are frequent visitors to Cebu.
Changi in Singapore has always been number one among airports for so many years. Always to be the first to have new facilities, it has continued to be the HUB of choice of travelers and airline alliances. With 35,033,083 passengers in 2006, its Singapore Airlines has again been the first to operate the Airbus 380 last Oct 25. Silk Air, a subsidiary of the flag carrier, has been consistently voted regional airlines of the year. Silk Air Airbus 319s and 320s fly to Cebu nine times weekly.
Among the ASEAN countries’ gateway airports connected to Cebu, Kuala Lumpur has made several strides in making itself one of the four top hubs in the world. Boasting of modern and expansive terminals, including its new low cost terminal, its passenger volume has increased to 24,129,748 in 2006. Malaysian Airline 737s are the most modern, luxurious and aptly designed for the “Visit Malaysia” theme this year. You see them coming at 3PM three times weekly.
The East Asia hubs have been growing tremendously. Inchon (Korea), with 28,360,723 passengers in 2006, is one of the four top hubs connected to Cebu. In addition to our PAL and Cebu Pacific flights there, Asiana Airbus 321s and Korean Airline Airbus 330s arrive at Cebu close to midnight four times a week. KAL flies also to Europe and the Americas from the Inchon hub.
Mandarin flights from Taipei and Kaoshung have increased to a total of six weekly. The country is now connected by an elaborate high speed train system, airlines and is concentrating on regional to international destinations. Taipei’s passenger volume in 2006 was 22,857,445, making it to the World’s Top 50 airports. Mandarin’s newest aircraft, the Embraer 190, is the latest to be connected to our airport’s boarding bridges.
Shanghai boasts of two big airports, one connected to the main city by the fastest mag-lift train in the world. Shanghai has overtaken many airports, achieving 26,789,125 passengers in 2006. A China Southern MD 90 flew to Cebu in July of this year. China Eastern Airline officials have recently met with our operations staff and are interested to connect another major city to Cebu.
Narita, with 34,975,225 passengers in 2006, is number 23 in the world. PAL flies to Narita, five times a week, using its Airbus 330s. Again from Narita Japan Airlines flies to all destinations in Europe and the Americas.
The longest flights from Cebu are those to Doha in the Middle East. Voted as the best 5-star airline is Qatar Airways. There is a strong indication that the three flights weekly will increase by next year, using their top of the line Airbus 330s.
In international cargo operations, Memphis, the FedEx home base, is consistently number one in the world. FedEx flies to Cebu six times a week, while UPS contracts PEAC aircraft for its intra Asia requirements from Cebu to Clark, also six times weekly.
By 2008, we expect to be connected to more Asian cities, while integrating more and more domestic destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The dream continues...
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