Cebuano tourism, business and aviation stakeholders in front of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) booth at the Routes Asia 2016 held in Manila. (Melanie Ng)
THE Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is one of only two Philippine airports to be shortlisted during the Routes Asia 2016 awards.
The other Philippine airport that was shortlisted was Godofredo P. Ramos, or Caticlan airport.
A total of 16 regional nominees for the awards were divided into three categories depending on airport passenger volume, namely under 4 million, 4-20 million, and over 20 million passengers.
MCIA was one of five airports to be shortlisted for the 4-20 million passenger category, along with Auckland International Airport, Bangalore International Airport Limited, Perth Airport, and Yangon International Airport, according to Routes Online.
While MCIA did not win, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) general manager Nigel Paul Villarete said the nomination has helped boost MCIA’s status and recognition as an airport.
“We didn’t get it. Perth International Airport, Australia won. But it gives us immense pride to be nominated among hundreds of other airports in the world, an honor we would like to share with GMCAC,” Villarete told Cebu Daily News in a text message.
Awardees of the Regional Routes Marketing awards have been automatically shortlisted for the Global Routes Marketing awards, which will take place in Chengdu.
“Again, it’s just a glimpse of what is to come in the future. The partnership of MCIAA and GMCAC will lift our airport to soar to even greater heights in the future,” Villarete said.
On the other hand, Caticlan was nominated for the under 4 million passengers category.
The awarding was held on March 7, Sunday, during the Routes Asia Networking Evening.
The Regional Routes Marketings awards give recognition to those airports that have excelled in marketing and developing routes, according to Routes Online.
It is part of the Routes Asia 2016 event from March 6 to 8, which was held in Manila. The event brings together aviation stakeholders and gives them an avenue to discuss and conduct business with other stakeholders in the industry, including airlines, airports, and tourism stakeholders.