MCIA woos potential big markets starting with India

CEBU, Philippines — As the international gateway is opening up speedily, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport is wooing potential big markets starting off with India.

During the recently concluded Tourism Summit, hosted by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry as one of the flagship events of the Cebu Business Month (CBM 2023), Athanasios Titonis, Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) CEO assigned to MCIA, revealed that India is an upcoming [big] market for Cebu.

Titonis puts strong confidence in Indian tourists’ contribution to tourism growth in Cebu.

The other market MCIA is pushing further to re-develop is the United States.

While the European market is also a good source of tourism arrivals to boost tourism receipts, Cebu has yet to introduce “something new” to offer to the European tourists saying “Unless we have something new, I don’t think Europe is our market right now.”

Meanwhile, MCIA announced the resumption of Cebu-Shanghai direct flights by China Eastern Airlines that commenced on July 14, 2023.

The airline will operate daily flights from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, boosting connectivity between the two destinations.

China Eastern Airlines will deploy its state-of-the-art Boeing 737-800 aircraft for this route, ensuring passengers a comfortable and enjoyable journey. With a capacity of 176 seats, the spacious cabin offers a range of amenities to enhance the travel experience.

“We welcome this latest development of the China Eastern Airlines resumption of Cebu to Shanghai route,” said Titonis adding that this resumption further strengthens our airport’s position as a key gateway, facilitating enhanced business and tourism opportunities between Cebu and Shanghai.

The resumption of the Cebu-Shanghai flights adds to the extensive network of destinations offered by Mactan-Cebu International Airport. With this new service, passengers can conveniently travel to one of China’s most dynamic cities, exploring its rich cultural heritage, iconic landmarks, and thriving business districts.

“This is exciting news for our local tourism industry and travelers who want to travel to China. New doors mean new possibilities and I am thrilled we are gradually getting back to pre-pandemic levels, further reinforcing tourism opportunities and economic growth in Cebu and Shanghai. We continue to work hard together with our concessionaire GMCAC in bringing Mactan-Cebu International Airport to greater heights,” said Julius G. Neri, Jr., Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) General Manager and CEO.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport remains committed to providing ease of travel through enhanced connectivity and ensuring passengers enjoy a seamless and comfortable airport experience. With the resumption of China Eastern Airlines, MCIA has in total 4 Philippine-based carriers and 18 foreign airline partners. It is connected to 27 domestic destinations and 12 international destinations. — (FREEMAN)