Mactan-Cebu airport to build 2nd runway

Officials of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) expect to accommodate more flights with the construction of the P2.5-billion second runway set to begin in January 2020.

MCIA General Manager Steve Dicdican said Phil-JAC Inc. is designing the second runway within the existing airport terminal. The design would be done by October while the procurement process begins in November.

The construction contract would be awarded by December, said Dicdican at the sidelights of the international aviation summit for North Asian Low-Cost Airlines held in Cebu City.

Dicdican said construction would take two years and is expected to be finished before the end of the Duterte administration.

“This is going to be beneficial because it will allow us to operate without disruptions in case of any accidents or any works to be done in one of the runways,” said Dicdican.

“Second, it will increase our capacity at the airport. We can have more flights and more passengers will be accommodated in our airport.”

There would be minimal effect on the airport operations during the construction of the new runway in January–the month of the Sinulog festival when visitors are at their peak for Cebu, Dicdican assured.

“We may have to close some of the taxiways but it will not cause any disruption (in the operations),” Dicdican added.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport terminal is operated by the GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp.

With a resort theme, the new Terminal 2 is recognized as among the best airports in the country.

Although it has two terminals, it has only one runway.

The airport facility is the busiest outside of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It serves an average of 320,000 passengers per month. (Editor: Leti Boniol)