MANILA — In a proud moment for Philippine aviation, the Mactan–Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has been crowned Airport of the Year – Asia at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025 held in Singapore on November 25.
This recognition didn’t just happen.
It was earned — with passion, innovation, and a team determined to make Cebu shine.
A Celebration of Hard Work and Heart
“This award is a testament to the dedication of the entire MCIA community and the success of CEBConnects,” said Athanasios Titonis, CEO of Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC).
And he meant every word.
Behind this win is a bold initiative called CEBConnects, a program that reimagined everything about air-to-air transfers at MCIA.
It wasn’t just a tweak — it was a complete redesign of how passengers move, wait, and connect.
How CEBConnects Transformed Travel
CEBConnects introduced:
✨ Dedicated transfer facilities
✨ A smoother, simplified passenger flow
✨ Faster, more efficient transfer procedures
The results were immediate — and remarkable.
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Domestic-to-domestic transfers: Cut from 1 hour to just 35 minutes
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Domestic ↔ International transfers: Reduced from 90 minutes to 1 hour
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International-to-international: Also down to 1 hour
This level of speed and seamlessness?
It’s rare.
And it’s exactly what made MCIA stand out across Asia.
Efficiency That Travelers Feel — and Appreciate
According to ACAC, these improvements created a 45% surge in MCIA’s transfer passenger volume year-on-year — a clear sign that passengers felt the difference.
Titonis added:
“By strategically leveraging Cebu’s central location, we are not just speeding up transfers; we are supporting tourism by making it easier to reach our islands.”
Every minute saved means one more tourist exploring Cebu, Bohol, Siargao, Palawan — and beyond.
A Hub Filipinos Can Be Proud Of
MCIA general manager Julius Neri Jr. said the program not only upgrades airline operations but also elevates the customer experience — helping travelers see MCIA as a competitive and reliable regional hub.
And the numbers prove it:
🚀 80% average on-time performance
✈️ 25 airlines served
🌏 A growing reputation as one of Asia’s best gateways
MCIA’s win is more than an award.
It’s a reminder that world-class excellence is possible — and happening — right here in the Philippines.
