A feat that it reachee more than a year since its launch.
Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), managed by Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC), has successfully facilitated over 500,000 passenger transfers through its CEB Connects facility, marking a 48% growth in passenger transfers since its launch on April 2025.
According to the company, the exceptional volume of passengers across domestic and international transfers cements MCIA’s position in delivering an “efficient and accessible transit facility.”
CEB Connects has been designed to enhance passenger convenience during transfer by reducing self-transfers and re-checking their baggage, with the facility successfully facilitating hundreds of thousands of seamless connections, achieving an impressive average utilization rate of 73% across both domestic and international transfers.
With the Minimum Connecting Times (MCT) set at an efficient 35 minutes for domestic flights and 60 minutes for international flights, the company said the strong utilization underscores the program’s operational success.
“More importantly, the streamlined process demonstrates an even greater volume of passengers can be comfortably accommodated within the specified MCT, ensuring travelers spend less time worrying about transit and more time enjoying our airport facilities and amenities,” the airport management added.
Since its launch, the strategic onboarding of major airline partners have driven increased utilization rates over the past year.
Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific pioneered the transfer service, activating their International-to-Domestic transfers on April 7, 2025, followed by Domestic-to-International transfers on June 11, 2025.
Singapore Airlines then fully activated both transfers on September 15, 2025, followed closely by AirAsia Philippines on November 15, 2025.
Most recently, MCIA expanded its global reach by integrating China Airlines on April 30, 2026, and Emirates on May 26, 2026, for both I-D and D-I transfers.
This robust network ensures that passengers arriving from the Middle East, North Asia, and beyond can transition flawlessly to the Philippines’ top island destinations.
“The strong adoption of CEB Connects shows that modern travelers demand efficiency, speed, and absolute peace of mind when choosing a layover hub,” said Ricia Montejo, General Manager for Mactan-Cebu International Airport at Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC).
“Through close collaboration with our key government partners, such as the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Office for Transportation Security, and Bureau of Quarantine, we have established an agile operational model.”
She also said that by drastically shortening transfer times and removing the need to re-check baggage, CEB Connects and the MCIA are delivering “true operational excellence” that seamlessly links all types of travelers to the heart of the Philippines while showcasing the signature Cebuano hospitality from the moment they land.
