In photo: Mactan-Cebu International Airport airport village | Photo from httpsmactancebuairport.com
After the success of Terminal 2, Mactan-Cebu International Airport began the renovation of its Terminal 1. To complement the world-class resort theme of Terminal 2, architects Budji + Royal Design designed an Airport Village for Terminal 1. On its initial plan, this Airport Village will provide a better setup for travelers while waiting for their flights or arriving guests. This would include stores and service areas where they can chill, relax, eat, and drink. In addition, guests are provided with easier access for whatever they would need – like hotel room reservations, bus transits, car rentals, and other flight bookings.
READ: ICYMI: MCIA Terminal 2 is International Architecture Awardee of 2019
MCIA General Manager Atty. Steve Dicdican shared that through this renovation, the needs of the growing number of passengers will now be catered. GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) Chief Executive Adviser Andrew Harrison also added that they made sure of the significant improvements of the facilities so that Terminal 1 will become more pleasant to use. T1 arrival pick-up road will soon be permanently closed for the renovation and would end around September this year.
READ: Mactan Cebu International Airport is Asia Pacific Airport of the Year 2018
With its goal of becoming the most passenger-friendly airport, part of GMR’s plan is to enhance the security feature of the airport replacing the initial checkpoint with new security system and equipment like portable x-rays, CCTV, and under chassis camera. Together with the Department of Transportation, they are also eyeing the possibility of setting up a transit cable car system from Cebu mainland to MCIA in order to ease out road congestion.
READ: Cable Cars as Mass Transport System soon in Cebu?
All these are part of the undertakings after GMR took reins of MCIA last 2014. Aside from being awarded as “Airport of the Year”, they were also able to increase the number of flights from 15 domestic to 36 and 7 international destinations to 26 – transporting more than 106 million passengers in five years!
READ: Mactan-Cebu International Airport hailed as “Asia Pacific Medium Airport of the Year”