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Mactan-Cebu International Airport handled 1.3 million passengers in January 2026, a 15% increase year-on-year and the Cebu gateway’s highest monthly record in history
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Domestic passenger traffic rose by 12% YoY, while international traffic saw a 25% YoY jump
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The surge in passenger traffic can be attributed in part to the influx of tourists and returning Filipinos for the Sinulog festival as well as the opening of new international routes and the entry of new airlines
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In 2025, MCIA introduced eight new routes and welcomed new foreign airlines such as Jetstar Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Firefly Airlines, and Aero-K
Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) handled 1.3 million passengers in January 2026, a 15% increase from 1.1 million in the same period last year and the Cebu gateway’s highest monthly record in history.
The surge in passenger traffic reinforces the sustained demand for travel to Cebu, operator Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC) said in a statement.
Domestic passenger traffic rose by 12% year-on-year (YoY), while international traffic saw a 25% YoY jump.
ACAC said the month’s surge in passenger traffic can be attributed in part to the influx of tourists and returning Filipinos for the Sinulog festival as well as the opening of new international routes and the entry of new airline partners.
In 2025, MCIA introduced eight new routes and welcomed new foreign airlines such as Jetstar Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Firefly Airlines, and Aero-K.
“This exceptional start to 2026 is a testament to the growing demand for Cebu as a global destination and a key transit hub,” ACAC chief executive officer Athanasios Titonis said.
“Our strategic efforts to expand our network — bringing in new partners like Vietnam Airlines, Aero-K, Jetstar Airways and Firefly Airlines, and opening direct links to cities like Hanoi, Cheongju, Brisbane, and Macau— are bearing fruit,” Titonis added.
Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority general manager and CEO Julius Neri Jr., for his part, said: “We are optimistic that this upward trajectory will continue as we open more doors to the world.”
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ACAC said MCIA, as the country’s second-busiest gateway, continues to innovate with initiatives like CEBConnects, ensuring seamless transfers for the growing number of passengers utilizing Cebu as their hub.
ACAC said it aims to sustain this momentum with more route launches and infrastructure enhancements in the pipeline for 2026.
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