GMR-MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) welcomes the launch of two more international destinations out of Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) via two new airline companies.
Xiamen Airlines of China is launching a route between Cebu and Xiamen of Fujian province in China. Three round-trip flights will be scheduled each week. The plane will leave Xiamen at 9am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, arrive in Cebu at 11:55 am, and return to Xiamen one hour later.
It will be utilizing a Boeing 737 aircraft with a 170-seat capacity.
Xiamen Air has previously opened international routes to Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Taiwan-based EVA Airways likewise inaugurated the Cebu-Taipei-Cebu flight. An Airbus 321 aircraft will be operating this route on a daily basis. It departs Taipei at 7:10 am and arrive in Cebu at 10:05 am. It will also leave Cebu on the same day at 11:05am and arrive in Taipei at 2:00pm.
This is EVA Air’s second Philippine destination after flying Manila daily. “It’s a very exciting time for MCIA- we’re growing our capabilities as a gateway to one of the country’s most competitive regions,” said GMCAC President Louie Ferrer. Before the month ends, GMCAC will be launching a Cebu-Dubai flight through Emirates.
Last March 15, the direct flight to Los Angeles from Cebu by flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) marked the first US connection out of MCIA.
The improved connectivity is expected to boost the trade and tourism links of Cebu.
GMCAC, which operates and manages MCIA under a private-public partnership model, is actively pursuing potential new airlines and routes targeting destinations like Australia, Thailand, India, Japan, Malaysia and China.
Srinivas Bommidala, Chairman of the GMCAC Board said that pursuit of such new and diverse routes for Cebu was supported by detailed economic analysis to ensure long term sustainability and economic and social benefits for passengers and businesses.
Andrew Harrison, GMCAC Chief Executive Advisor, noted that the improvements of facilities at MCIA play part in attracting airlines with multiple products such as economy and business class, thereby offering travelers more choice in their travel product.