As discussed in a column published earlier this week entitled “Walking through the new MCIA terminal,” I talked about my walkthrough opportunity at the new Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) terminal, which began operations this month.

Despite being provided accommodation at the Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino-Mactan, located literally 30 meters from the airport terminal, the day began by boarding a van to the new airport facility.

The project took three years and cost P17.5 billion. With the new terminal, which spans 65,000 square meters, MCIA can now accommodate an additional 4.5 million passengers.

The terminal is truly awesome.

It is home to 26 carriers, including Cebu Pacific Air’s international routes.

It is also convenient as there are less x-ray machines. Instead, their equipment screens all luggage and ejects those with questionable contents. The owner of the item is then called to open their baggage in front of security.

There are also 48 check-in counters, 20 service counters, along with duty-free shopping.

Food in the terminal is handled by the SSP Group, which serves as a concessionaire for over a hundred airports around the world. Among the vendors at the new MCIA facility include Burger King, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Nippon Ramen, BonChon, among others.

Passengers traveling through the new terminal should be excited about the very spacious, comfortable, cozy, cool, and quiet terminal.

Thank you to Cebu Pacific Air and the GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation for inviting me to view the new terminal.

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This column greets Ben Yapjoco, Candice Iyog, Charo Lagamon, Ian Ray Garcia, Michelle Lim, Analyn Aizpuru, Frank Carbon, Crispin Chua, Danny Dangcalan, Art Colmedora, Joy Jimenez, Robert Javellana, Vic Tan, Dodong Bascon, and Cesar Peralta./WDJ