LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Mactan-Cebu International Airport is gaining further international recognition as Cebu seeks to strengthen its role as one of the Philippines’ most important gateways for tourism, trade and investment.
MCIA was named among the Best Airports in Asia-Pacific in the 5–15 million passengers category at the 2026 Airports Council International World Airport Experience Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The latest recognition marks MCIA’s second consecutive ASQ Customer Experience Award, following its recognition for the same passenger category for 2024 and 2025.
The distinction is significant because the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) program is based on passenger feedback collected through standardized surveys covering multiple airport touchpoints, including service, efficiency, comfort and overall experience. More than 700,000 travelers participated in the global benchmarking exercise, according to reports from the Philippine News Agency and The Freeman.
Cebu’s airport reaches another milestone
MCIA’s latest achievement goes beyond another airport award.
The airport has also advanced to Level 3 of Airports Council International’s Airport Customer Experience Accreditation, moving up from Level 2.
According to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, MCIA is currently the first and only Philippine airport to reach Level 3.
The accreditation evaluates areas such as customer understanding, service strategy, measurement, operational improvement, governance, service design, innovation and collaboration across the airport community.
That gives Cebu another competitive advantage as airports across Asia compete for international travelers, airlines, tourism spending and business activity.
Passenger traffic is also climbing
The recognition comes as MCIA continues to experience strong passenger activity.
MCIA handled more than 6.4 million passengers during the first half of 2026, representing a 9.1% increase from the same period a year earlier, according to InsiderPH’s separate report on the airport’s public-private partnership.
The increase reinforces Cebu’s importance not only as a leisure destination but also as a business and aviation hub for Central Visayas and neighboring destinations.
The airport’s growing network is another piece of that strategy.
Earlier in 2026, Cebu’s airport network included expanded or restored international connections, including the resumption of the Cebu–Quanzhou/Jinjiang route, strengthening links between Cebu and China.
Meanwhile, previous route expansions connected Cebu directly with destinations including Kuala Lumpur, Macau and Brisbane, reducing the need for some travelers to route through Manila.
Why this matters to Cebu
For Cebu, a stronger MCIA means more than a better airport experience.
Greater air connectivity can make it easier for tourists to reach Cebu and nearby destinations, while also improving access for investors, businesses and international events.
Cebu has increasingly positioned itself as a MICE — meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions — destination, with airport connectivity playing an important role in attracting international business activity. Recent industry discussions have emphasized the combination of stronger air links, tourism-sector cooperation and destination development as key to maintaining Cebu’s competitiveness.
The airport’s performance is also being viewed as evidence of what a sustained public-private partnership (PPP) can deliver.
Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation has operated MCIA since 2024 under its concession arrangement with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority. InsiderPH reported that Aboitiz InfraCapital had invested P231 million in airport improvements, while the PPP Center cited MCIA as an example of how public-private cooperation can improve infrastructure and passenger services.
From airport award to regional gateway
MCIA’s latest recognition therefore comes at an important time.
Cebu is no longer competing simply to be another Philippine tourist destination. Its growing route network, passenger volumes and airport service improvements are strengthening its case as a regional gateway connecting the Visayas and Mindanao with international markets.
The Philippine government’s Central Visayas development reporting has likewise identified MCIA’s expanding international and domestic routes and its ASQ recognition as important developments for the region’s aviation and tourism sectors.
The challenge now is sustaining that momentum.
More passengers, more routes and greater international visibility will also mean greater pressure on infrastructure, operations and customer service.
For MCIA, the latest awards may therefore be less about celebrating what has already been achieved—and more about proving that Cebu can handle the next wave of growth without losing the passenger-first service that earned international recognition in the first place.
The bigger picture
MCIA is strengthening Cebu’s argument as the Philippines’ premier gateway outside Manila.
With passenger traffic rising, international routes expanding, customer-experience standards improving and another Asia-Pacific airport recognition secured, Cebu is positioning itself for a larger role in Philippine tourism, trade and investment.
And the question now is no longer simply whether Cebu can compete.
It is how far MCIA can take Cebu’s regional ambitions.
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