Cebu airport among fastest growing in SEAsia – CAPA

MANILA, Philippines – Mactan-Cebu International Airport has emerged as one of the fastest-growing airports in the Southeast Asian region as the continued congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila diverted passengers to the Southern gateway.

The latest industry report from the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) said the second largest airport in the country is well-positioned for long-term growth as infrastructure constraints in Manila prompt local carriers to base additional aircraft at secondary hubs.

“Cebu offers a sizeable local market. With its position in the middle of the country, Cebu has the geography to emerge as a large hub linking secondary cities throughout the Philippines, as well as international destinations within the region and afar,” CAPA said.

Mactan-Cebu is set to face rapid growth next year as flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) pursues domestic expansion and the launch of its Los Angeles service, Cebu’s first long-haul route.

CAPA noted Mactan-Cebu is confident other long-haul routes, particularly Middle East destinations, will follow.

“Emirates or Etihad could be enticed to serve Cebu following a new air services agreement between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates which authorized additional flights to Manila for UAE-based carriers,” it added.

PAL has the most international seats at Cebu with 12,300 weekly seats and will expand to almost 14,000 following the Los Angeles route. Budget carriers Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia have 9,600 and 2,500, respectively.

Records showed Cebu handled 6.4 million passengers for the January-October period, 13.4 percent higher than in the same period last year.

Mactan-Cebu is expected to end 2015 with almost eight million passengers, pushing it to the 11th or 12th spot in Southeast Asia based on passenger traffic for this year.

“Cebu is also currently operating above its designed capacity of 4.5 million annual passengers, but unlike Manila it has space, and a commitment to expand. Given the steady six to seven percent per annum economic growth in the Philippines, options besides Manila are needed,” it said.

The construction of a new terminal is also poised to increase annual capacity to 12.5 million passengers when it opens in 2018.