Staggered increase for Mactan terminal fee Nov. 1 and Jan. 2015

Starting Nov. 1, domestic travelers leaving the Mactan Cebu International Airport will pay an additional P20 as passenger service charge (PSC) on top of the current P200.

Another P80 will be charged starting Jan. 1 , 2016.

The staggered implementation of the increase in what is locally called the terminal fee was approved last Friday by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) board after two public hearings were held since September.

“During the regular meeting of the MCIAA Board last Oct. 10, 2014, the authority decided to stagger implementation of the PSC for domestic passengers even as it recognizes the need to expand the runway,” said the board in a statement issued yesterday by MCIAA general manager Nigel Paul Villarete.

Trend

Villarete said this charge already includes the national government fee of P100 imposed under Presidential Decree 1957 (PD 1957) and the P60 aviation security fee.

He said the board based its decision on opinions for and against the increase and the trend on passenger service charge increases adopted by other countries.

During two public hearings on Sept. 11 and Oct. 7, Villarete said the increase in PSC is need by the MCIAA to generate more funds for improvement of the airside part of the airport operations.

The airside includes rehabilitation and maintenance of the runways, the security fence and taxiway lighting system.

The area isn’t covered by the private-public-partnership project with GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) which takes over terminal operations on Nov. 1.

Influx

Villarete said they are prioritizing the overlaying of runway and taxiway which costs P255 million and P325.33 million, respectively.

“With MCIA expected to serve up to 10 million passengers a year within the next five years, the projected investment of MCIAA and GMCAC are vital to ensure that our airport maintain its high safety standards and provide much better world class airport experience to all its users and passengers,” Villarete said.

Villarete also made known that the MCIAA recognizes the need for a second runway in the airport to support the expected influx of air traffic.

“While the present aircraft movement at peak hour is still less than half the single runway hourly capacity, we can’t overemphasize the fact that air transport infrastructure are bulk investments that may take years, sometimes even decades, to pursue,” he said.

Villarete said the MCIAA initiated the project development phases for the second runway, which is supported by Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City’s north district.

“The required pre-investment studies will be started next year, with the fullest intention of realizing the completion of this huge undertaking on or before 2020,” he said.

GMCAC will also assume the operation of the airport terminal 1 come Nov. 1 and start construction of the  second terminal in the first quarter next year.

The second terminal project is projected to be completed in three years.