This positions the MCIA, the country’s No. 2 gateway, to become the first airport in the Philippines with parallel runway operations as passenger volume approaches the pre-pandemic high of about 12 million fliers.
An insider from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the use of the second runway is expected to begin around July this year.
Runway resurfacing
This will coincide with extensive repairs and resurfacing at the first runway to fix wear and tear for smoother and safer flight operations.
The runway resurfacing project, which was approved by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority board only last week, could take a year to complete, a second insider said.
“In time, it will be the first airport in the Philippines with parallel runways in operation,” the official explained.
Parallel runways are more efficient because they allow simultaneous takeoffs and landings, increasing airport capacity while reducing delays.
MCIA operator Aboitiz Group looks forward to upgrades
Cosette V. Canilao, the president and CEO of Aboitiz InfraCapital, said they were looking forward to more efficient flight operations at the MCIA.
“The secondary runway will ensure business continuity by allowing operations to continue even when the main runway is closed for maintenance,” she said in a text message to InsiderPH.
“Currently, the main runway is closed for up to two hours each night, but with a secondary runway, disruptions can be minimized,” she added.
Up next: Faster growth for Cebu
The MCIA, which is operated by the Aboitiz Group and was previously operated by the Megawide-GMR consortium, reached 11.3 million passengers in 2024, an increase of about 12.8 percent.
Robust growth at the gateway prompted the need for a second runway, which began construction five years ago at a cost of over P2 billion.
“The airport’s overall capacity will increase, enabling us to handle more traffic and support future growth,” Canilao said.
“It’s a strategic investment that will further boost MCIA’s reliability and efficiency,” she added.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
