MCIA reports increase in flights, passengers

The Mactan Cebu International Airport recorded at least 847 international flights during the first quarter of 2007, a 29 percent increase from the 691 flights it recorded for the same period last year.

Compiled data by the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority Board for both periods reveals that arriving passengers increased by 22 percent from 92,226 in 2006 to 112,772 in 2007 while departing passengers went up by 20 percent from 101,333 in 2006 to 121,523 in 2007.

March posted the biggest number of passengers arriving in Cebu with 41,491 against 29,817 for the same month last year while January has the most number of outgoing passengers with 41,816 compared to 38,517 of the same month last year.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, one of the board members of MCIAA, yesterday said that despite the travel advisory issued by some foreign countries against coming here, the number of flights and arriving passengers are still increasing.

Garcia also said that the airport had a 13 percent increase in revenues from P217,164,495 in the first quarter of last year to P244,850,193 for the same quarter this year. - Garry B. Lao/BRP