Flights to Cebu rose 7% last year

February 3, 2011

BY CARMEL LOISE MATUS

Domestic and international flights to Cebu rose slightly last year, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said.

In a report by the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority on Tuesday, there was a 7 percent increase in the total number of flights in 2010.

Most of the arrivals in the international flights were from South Korea with Incheon Metropolitan City having 37 flights a week. This is followed by 22 flights a week to Singapore, 14 flights to Hong Kong, 9 flights to Busan, 6 flights to Narita and 3 flights a week to Doha.

“Cebu is the most googled site in the country. We have a good track record in peace and order. We have done our best to improve the capabilities of Cebu to host international events,” Garcia said.

Garcia also thanked the private sector for its confidence in Cebu and for putting up world-class facilities such as hotels

A total of 23,698 flights were recorded in 2010 compared to 22,129 flights in 2009. Of the total, 4,001 were international flights while 19,697 were domestic flights.

Passenger arrivals likewise increased by 14 percent in 2010.

From 4,757,173 in 2009, a total of 5,411,687 passengers arrived in Cebu last year.

A total of 473 domestic flights and 91 international flights arrive in Cebu weekly.

In a press conference yesterday, Garcia attributed the increase in flights to the major airlines that have made Cebu their hub for most of their flights.

Cebu Pacific recorded 98 flights a week to Manila. Air Philippines has 35. Philippine Airlines has 36 flights and Zest Air has 33 flights. Thus, a total of 222 flights leave for Manila alone.

“We have this geographic advantage, here at the center. We are at the heart of the archipelago. And people find it convenient to fly from Cebu to go to other destinations in the country,” Garcia explained.

MCIAA currently serves a total of 20 destinations from Cebu to other points in the country. These include Davao, Cagayan, Bacolod, Tacloban, Iloilo, Caticlan, Zamboanga, Osamis, Surigao, Puerto Princessa, Butuan, Siargao and Manila. PDI

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