Trials and Triumphs

Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. – Mark 34

As I write this, I have just come from Beijing for the China Airports Management Forum and am now attending the Civil Aviation Chief Executives Programme there in Singapore. While in Beijing, we received news about the occupation of the new Suvarnabhum International and Don Muang National Airports by anti-PM forces in Bangkok, paralyzing the whole civil aviation network of Thailand. Then immediately afterwards, we witnessed by live television, the simultaneous terrible bombings and killing of 200 people and wounding of many others, mostly visiting tourists, at landmarks and renowned hotels in Mumbai.

For those who have been mercilessly murdered at Mumbai, they were never aware that their time was at hand. Yes we do not know the time and place, but it will come. In a way too, at one of the greatest masterpieces in airport history, no one predicted that the time had come for a temporary closure of the new airport in Bangkok. Many were stranded, their lives placed on hold, at the mercy of an internal conflict.

Everywhere else around the world: in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in several countries and across continents, as a result of conflicts, many reached the end of their lives. The global financial crisis, destabilization, climate distortion and environmental degradation, these crises around the world have resulted in a situation of decay, unparalleled in history. Media has successfully brought about a feeling of doom and a sense of helplessness.

There is a need for change in mindset – to focus on the positive, to cling to a hope that can keep us going.

From the speakers from different parts of the world at the China Airports Management Conference, it is clear that there is a decrease in international air traffic, but there is also an increase in domestic or in-country flights. This is true in India, in China, in the ASEAN countries and very much so in the Philippines.

I have projected that we would reach 300 domestic flights weekly by December. Remarkably, we have attained 336 flights weekly by mid-November. Cebu-Manila is close to 20 flights daily; Cebu to Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and Davao is three to four flights weekly already and the rest are daily.

Already Lounges 7 and 8, which we started to use for the turbo props, are getting crowded. Cebu Pacific’s second and newest ATR started last November 8. The third and fourth will be here by January. The third PAL Express Q400 is already here; and when it increases to four, even the Northeast Parking Ramp will be full of aircraft.

On the international scene, while there is a slight decrease to 67 flights weekly, China Airlines is taking over Mandarin’s flights by December. This is a good sign which means there is possibility of bigger aircraft and a lasting presence from Taiwan. The China Eastern charters have been extended and the load factor in the Cebu-Shanghai sector is very good. We predict an increase of Silk Air flights to Singapore. And we await the coming of the QATAR extended Airbus 340-600 soon.

Mr. Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, the President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), expressed optimism by saying that the airline industry will experience profits in 2009 and 2010. He mentioned this during the 50th Anniversary of the Singapore Aviation Academy last December 2.

We know that in spite of the global economic downturn, our country has experienced growth in the last quarter; and experts around the world have projected 4 percent growth next year and in 2010.

Back at Mactan, the airport was busy with the hosting of the Philippine-Russia Talks last December 9-11. This was another first for our airport. In addition, Cebu will be the venue for the APEC Transportation Ministers Conference by April.

Finally the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority will celebrate its anniversary on December 18, with the theme, MCIAA, One Team...One Dream.