-
Cargo volume at Mactan-Cebu International Airport grew 24.4% in the first five months of the year
-
MCIA recorded 29.801 million kilograms of air cargo from January to May
-
Passenger traffic also increased 9.7% to almost five million
Cargo volume at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) grew 24.4% in the first five months of the year, according to preliminary data from Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority.
MCIA recorded 29.801 million kilograms (kg) of air cargo from January to May 2025, up from the 23.965 million kg posted in the same period last year with improvements in both domestic and international shipments.
Domestic cargoes rose 17% to 18.148 million kg from 15.515 million kg, while international cargoes surged 38% to 11.653 million kg from 8.449 million kg.
Passenger traffic at the Cebu hub also increased 9.7% in the first five months of the year to almost five million, boosted by higher domestic traffic, which accounted for 76% of the total.
Domestic passengers grew 13.8% during the period to 3.778 million from 3.321 million last year.
International passengers, on the other hand, dropped slightly by 1.3% to 1.221 million.
MCIA handled 41,962 flights from January to May, 4.6% higher than the 40,122 flights recorded in the same period last year.
Domestic flights, which account for majority of the total, improved 5.5% to 34,151 flights while international flights were up 0.9% to 7,811.
Last January 30, MCIA inaugurated its 2.56-kilometer alternate runway, which is designed to meet increasing air traffic demand and accommodate passenger and cargo volumes. The alternate and first runways are expected to simultaneously be operational by 2028, increasing the airport’s capacity to cater up to 18 million passengers a year.
Last April, Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corp., the operator of MCIA, announced it had joined forces with global aviation consultancy Ricondo & Associates to develop a master plan aimed at positioning the Cebu gateway as a world-class aviation hub. – Roumina Pablo
