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Cargo volume handled by Mactan-Cebu International Airport dropped 44% in the first 10 months of 2020 from the same period in 2019
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Flights decreased 69% while passenger traffic contracted 75% year-on-year
Cargo volume handled by Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) dropped 44% to 35.076 million kilograms (kg) in the first 10 months of 2020 from 62.482 million kg recorded in the same period in 2019.
Of the total, 69% are domestic cargoes while 31% are foreign cargoes, data from Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority showed.
Domestic cargoes reached 24.272 million kg in the period January to October 2020, 49% lower than the 47.543 million kg posted in the same period last year.
International cargoes likewise declined 28% to 10.804 million kg from 14.939 million kg in the first 10 months of 2019.
Domestic and international airlines started suspending flights out of the country’s second busiest gateway in mid-March as the government implemented travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Only repatriation and cargo flights have been operational since.
More flights were allowed starting June, following the easing of community quarantines nationwide, including in Cebu.
For the period January to October 2020, flights at MCIA decreased 69% to 27,569 flights from 88,964 flights in the same period last year.
Domestic flights fell 68% to 21,146 flights from 65,539 flights last year, while international flights were 73% less with 6,423 flights recorded compared to 23,425 flights last year.
In terms of passengers, MCIA saw a 75% decline in the first 10 months of the year to 2.642 million passengers from 10.459 million passengers recorded in the same period last year.
Domestic passengers decreased 73% to 1.849 million from 6.938 million while international passengers fell 77.5% to 792,470 from 3.521 million last year.
Since November, all passenger and aircraft operations at MCIA have been consolidated at Terminal 1 (T1) except for international arrivals which remain at Terminal 2 (T2).
READ: Mactan Cebu Airport to consolidate operations at Terminal 1
MCIA terminal operator GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. earlier said the consolidation will streamline operations and maximize terminal efficiencies during this period of reduced aircraft movement and passenger traffic.
T1 had been dedicated to domestic airlines since the second half of 2018 when T2 was inaugurated and designated the terminal for international flights. – Roumina Pablo
