AIRPORT EXPANSION : MCIAA says no flights will be affected

CEBU, Philippines - Expansion of the domestic and international passenger terminals of the Mactan – Cebu International Airport amounting to at least P178 million is now underway, the Mactan - Cebu International Airport Authority announced yesterday.

The expansion, which will cover approximately 2,500 square meters of the domestic and international terminals, is expected to be completed by September 2011. A total of 6,000 more passengers are expected to be accommodated by the expanded terminals.

MCIAA said the budget for the project, which has a contract cost of P178,601,051.97, will be taken from the revenue of the airport. MCIAA said it has hit its target revenue from domestic and international cargo and passengers for the first two months of 2010.

In February alone, the airport earned P96.3 million from non-aeronautical fees amounting to P26.6 million pesos, bank and cash management amounting to P1.8 million, and aeronautical fees amounting to P67.6 million pesos.

Ahmed Cuizon, Division Manager of the MCIAA Public Affairs Office, assured yesterday the expansion would not inconvenience the passengers or affect the flight schedules. 

Cuizon said the airport manpower and security system are well-coordinated to prevent the ongoing construction from affecting passenger traffic.

As an added security measure, fences have also been installed along the construction area and parking area. No structure would also affected by the expansion project.

The airport currently accommodates 370 domestic flights and 59 international flights every week. 

“The airport expansion adds to the quality of Cebu as it will give a good impression to both domestic and international passengers,” Cuizon said. – Antoniette T. Parce/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)