Staying connected in Cebu: Post-pandemic growth at Philippines’ Mactan-Cebu International Airport

With Cebu’s airport looking to position itself as a transfer hub in the Philippines, Julius Neri tells Edward Paine why he is on a mission to ensure seamless connections for all travellers.

This article, “Staying connected in Cebu”, was published in Volume 8 Issue 2 of Regional Gateway. To read more articles similar to this, apply for your complimentary subscription today.

 In the heart of the Philippines, Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is emerging as a strong regional player with impressive post-pandemic growth and plans to become a central transit point for the island nation’s thriving tourism industry – the first transfer hub in the country.

The second largest airport in the Philippines’ recovery tells a story of remarkable transformation. After seeing traffic decimated by Covid, MCIA experienced an 81 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger traffic in 2023/24, reaching 10 million.

It is hoping to add another 20 per cent growth this year. Domestic traffic has now not only recovered but surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and while international traffic has not yet reached its previous peak, the airport is confident it will do so in 2025.

“We have been growing very fast,” Julius Neri, MCIA’s General Manager, tells Regional Gateway. “Our domestic traffic has already surpassed pre-Covid levels and we expect international traffic to catch up shortly.”

The most significant challenge remains the absence of Chinese travellers, who were previously the airport’s second-largest market but who have stopped travelling in such numbers as a result of geopolitical issues and visa complexities.

“Connectivity is crucial in an archipelago of
over 7,000 islands. We want to provide our
arriving tourists with as seamless
connectivity as possible.”

Julius Neri, General Manager, Mactan-Cebu International Airport

International expansion — MCIA’s strategic route development for regional connectivity 

To compensate for the diminished Chinese market, Cebu Airport has been aggressively diversifying its international routes. Recent launches include direct flights to Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam and a groundbreaking route by United Airlines via Tokyo’s Narita Airport – marking the first regular service by a US carrier to Cebu.

The airport is also preparing to welcome Jetstar’s direct flights to Brisbane in November, with “several more destinations in the pipeline” according to Neri.

The Korean market has emerged as a particular bright spot, currently supporting 12 daily flights, with South Koreans ranking as MCIA’s number one inbound visitor group.

The airport’s leadership attributes this success to Korean travellers’ love for warm-weather destinations, and favourable visa arrangements.

“Koreans love our beaches, especially during their winter,” says Neri, highlighting the appeal of Cebu’s tropical climate.

MCIA is also turning to India. The Indian market presents obstacles, with current visa processes for those wishing to visit the Philippines requiring physical embassy interviews, seen as a significant deterrent for potential travellers.

Runway to success — Enhancing passenger experience with airport infrastructure and Cebu Connect

The airport’s infrastructure is designed to support a substantial expansion of passenger numbers.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport wants to change visa processes to attract Indian airlines. Image: MCIA

The existing configuration can accommodate up to 18 million passengers annually, while the figure currently hovers around 11.8 million, leaving significant room for growth.

A recently completed second parallel runway, set to be operational by June 2025, will increase operational efficiency by 25 to 30 per cent, enabling those figures to grow.

“When the second runway is operational, we’re going to rehabilitate and repair our main runway,” says Neri. “After that is done, then we can talk about operating both.”

The runway strategy is designed to extract maximum benefit for the airport. While the two runways are too close to operate independently, MCIA plans to use one for take-offs and another for landings, creating a more streamlined operational model in pursuit of higher traffic flows.

Perhaps most exciting in the airport’s plans is its “Cebu Connect” transfer hub – the first of its kind in the Philippines.

This system, launched last year, allows international travellers to connect to domestic flights without leaving the terminal, with automatic luggage transfer and simplified immigration processes.

Neri says: “We are situated in the centre of the Philippines, within a one-hour flight of over 90 per cent of tourist destinations. Connectivity is crucial in an archipelago of over 7,000 islands. We want to provide our arriving tourists with as seamless connectivity as possible.

“Unlike in the other airports in the country, you can just connect directly within the domestic terminal. Your luggage is all transferred [and] you progress through immigration and customs without having to step out of the terminal. That’s a first in our country, and it’s been doing very well.” 

Currently, the airport offers transfers for passengers switching between domestic flights on the same airline.

From April 2025, the plan was to extend this to those transiting from international to domestic flights on the same carrier, and later this year for passengers switching between different airlines.

“When we launched the initiative, I challenged all the carriers to integrate seamlessly,” says Neri. “We’re not there yet but that’s what we will try to accomplish in the next year or so.”

Supply chain challenges — How airports can tackle global airport issues in aircraft backlogs and delays

Mactan-Cebu International Airport is positioned at the centre of the Philippines archipelago. Image: MCIA

One fly in the ointment, which Neri said risked putting the brakes on further growth at MCIA, is an issue affecting regional airports globally – extended aircraft order backlogs and delays in deliveries of those airframes to airline and lessor customers.

All carriers with aircraft orders are exposed, including one of the airport’s primary carriers, Cebu Pacific, which has an order for 152 Airbus aircraft, including options for A321XLR aircraft that will enable long-haul narrowbody flights.

The low-fare airline, which is the largest in the Philippines, signed a memorandum of understanding for 10 of the type in the summer of 2019, which would be able to fly non-stop to destinations as far afield as India and Australia. It is awaiting dozens more A320neos, A321neos and A330neos.

Technological advancement is another key focus for MCIA. The airport is collaborating closely with government agencies to upgrade security and immigration technologies.

Recent investments include state-of-the-art X-ray machines for customs and plans to procure advanced electronic gate scanners for immigration.

The airport has installed Tek84 Intercept body scanners, a compact piece of equipment that can process up to 180 individuals per hour, and Rapiscan 920CT (Computed Tomography) scanners, which allows for baggage containing large electronics and liquids to be scanned without requiring their removal.

MCIA has also been on an ambitious journey to improve the customer experience, implementing initiatives to improve touchpoints throughout the airport, including seamless check-in processes and improved dining and retail options.

In recognition of this, MCIA was the first airport in the Philippines to receive the Airport Customer Experience Accreditation for Airport Service Quality from the Airports Council International (ACI).

“The vision is about creating a seamless, efficient and technologically advanced gateway to compete on the global stage. ”

Airport collaboration — Mactan-Cebu International Airport’s partnership and growth strategy

A notable partnership with Indianapolis International Airport has provided valuable insights for MCIA, with both airports sharing similar – if somewhat surprising, given their geographies – operational priorities and approaches to growth.

Neri says: “Last year, we visited Indianapolis, whose airport is similar in size to ours. Of course, they are a hub for FedEx, so they have much more volume in terms of cargo traffic, but in terms of passengers, we are similar. We met with the team, and we found out we have a very similar thought process and priorities. We have been touching base with them and sharing ideas.”

The airport’s leadership sees significant potential in upcoming policy changes, particularly in Manila, where turboprop flights may be redirected to regional airports like Cebu. This could further boost Cebu’s strategic importance in the Philippine aviation ecosystem. 

Rapiscan’s 920CT scanners enable baggage containing large electronics and liquids to be scanned without requiring their removal at MCIA. Image: Rapiscan

As of 30 March 2025, turboprop flights have begun relocating from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as part of a congestion-reduction initiative mandated by the Manila Slot Coordination Committee (MSCC).

The transition will direct flights to alternative airports, including Clark International in Angeles City, with the full transfer expected to be completed by 26 October 2025.

Neri says the vision extends beyond growth – it is about creating a seamless, efficient and technologically advanced gateway that can compete on the global stage.

By focusing on strategic route expansion, infrastructure development, and technological innovation, Cebu Airport is positioning itself as a model of post-pandemic airport recovery.

As global travel continues to rebound, Cebu Airport appears ready to lead in the region.