Cebu airport among ‘best’ in Asia

CEBU, Philippines - Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the second busiest in the Philippines, is Asia’s 18th best, according to a 2015 listing made by a Canadian-led travel site.

The Sleeping in the Airports website (www.sleepinginairports.net), which collects and receives information on airports all over the world, came up with the ranking based on the results of an annual survey that asks travelers to rate their airport experiences.

In the same list, two other Philippine airports, Iloilo Airport and Clark International Airport in Pampanga, also landed on the 21st and 24th places, respectively.

The Department of Transportation and Communications, in a statement, welcomed the recognition, attributing it to MCIA’s “vastly improved services and facilities after evident upgrades were implemented by GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp.”

Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya noted improvements in MCIA, such as the replacement of worn-out interiors like counters, lighting and ceiling boards, and reconfiguration of the check-in lobby and waiting areas to “free up more space.”

MCIA has incorporated greeneries in its interior arrangement, as well as added new seats and furniture for additional comfort, he said.

New equipment, such as self-service check-in kiosks, were also installed, a greeter’s area constructed and security procedures upgraded to lessen passenger queuing.

Estee Marie Plunket, GMCAC head of corporate affairs, described the website’s recognition as “an achievement earned together with their grantors, DOTC and Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority.”

“It’s a success story of the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model and pride of Cebuanos. We are honored and grateful for the recognition and it inspires us to soar even higher,” Plunket said.

The Mactan airport was turned over to GMCAC on November 1 last year, after the MCIAA and DOTC entered into a concession agreement with the winning consortium.

According to the agreement, GMCAC will develop and operate the facility for 25 years.

At present, GMCAC is also undertaking the construction of its second terminal, costing P32 billion. President Benigno Aquino III led the ground-breaking rites last June.

Expected to be completed by first quarter of 2018, the new terminal spans an area of around 50,000 square meters. Its completion is seen to increase airport traffic from 4.5 million to 12.5 million passengers yearly.

Abaya said this is just the beginning of the country’s efforts to modernize its airports.

“The coming years will certainly be exciting as world-class terminals will rise in Mactan-Cebu and Clark; a new international airport will be opened in Panglao (Bohol) and vastly-improved airport will be launched in Puerto Princesa (Palawan); and the Davao, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Laguindingan (Misamis Oriental) airports will be expanded and their operations upgraded,” he said.

The five best airports in Asia, according to the list, are Singapore Changi International Airport (1st), Seoul Incheon International Airport (2nd), Tokyo Haneda International Airport (3rd), Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (4th) and Hong Kong International Airport (5th). (FREEMAN)