Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the Philippines’ premier gateway to the Visayas and Mindanao, announced a significant network expansion today during its “Festival of Flights” Media Launch.
The expansion features the launch of several new international and domestic routes, increased flight frequencies, and the arrival of two new airline partners, solidifying Cebu’s status as a key regional aviation hub.
Enhanced Global and Domestic Connectivity
The event highlighted an aggressive increase in flight offerings from key partners, including Philippines AirAsia and Philippine Airlines, and welcomed new carriers Firefly Airlines and Jetstar Airways to the MCIA family.
These new and expanded services are set to dramatically boost accessibility for travelers to and from Cebu:
Route Type Airline Route Frequency Start Date
International AirAsia Cebu–Kuala Lumpur 2x Daily November 15, 2025
AirAsia Cebu–Macau 3x Weekly November 15, 2025
Firefly Airlines Cebu–Kuala Lumpur 5x Weekly December 2, 2025
Jetstar Airways Cebu–Brisbane, Australia 3x Weekly December 3, 2025
Domestic AirAsia Cebu–Davao 18x Weekly November 15, 2025
AirAsia Cebu–Caticlan (Boracay) 11x Weekly November 15, 2025
AirAsia Cebu–Iloilo 4x Weekly November 15, 2025
Philippine Airlines Cebu–Calbayog 4x Weekly October 26, 2025
The new Cebu–Brisbane, Australia service via Jetstar Airways marks a major milestone for direct travel to the Australian market, while the expanded connections to Kuala Lumpur offer greater reach into Southeast Asia. Domestically, the boosted frequencies and new routes further cement MCIA’s role as the crucial gateway to the Southern Philippines.
Unveiling ‘CebConnects’ for Seamless Transfers
In parallel with the route expansion, the Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC), which operates MCIA, unveiled its new promotional campaign for CebConnects. This feature is designed to simplify and streamline the transfer process for passengers moving between domestic and international flights, emphasizing Cebu’s efficiency as a transit hub. The event concluded with the premiere of the new CebConnects campaign video.
Athanasios Titonis, CEO of ACAC, highlighted the strategic importance of the expansion. “Today’s ‘Festival of Flights’ marks a pivotal moment for MCIA and the regions we serve.
This expansion not only gives passengers more choices and convenience but also aligns with our CebConnects campaign, which highlights Cebu’s role as a seamless transfer hub,” said Titonis. “This is a testament to the entire airport community’s efforts to deliver a world-class travel experience and fuel the region’s economic growth.”
Julius G. Neri, Jr., General Manager and CEO of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), commented on the long-term impact. “Cebu’s strategic location is one of its greatest assets, and today’s announcement fully capitalizes on that,” said Neri, Jr. “This expansion strengthens our connectivity infrastructure, which is vital to the long-term economic resilience of the Southern Philippines.”
MCIA remains committed to continuous network growth in partnership with its airlines to drive tourism, trade, and investment opportunities for Cebu and the entire Philippines.
