Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has successfully established a formal quarterly collaboration and exchange working committee with Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport.
The cooperation signed in Fujian, China on June 2-3, 2026 following the recent successful resumption of direct air connectivity.
It could be recalled that Aboitiz InfraCapital Airports Chief Executive Officer Athanasios Titonis presented the proposal during a strategic meeting with Jinjiang government officials and airport leaders, including Party Secretary Jianfeng Huang.
The strategic dialogue aimed to maximize the recent resumption of Xiamen Air’s direct flights between Cebu and Quanzhou, which officially launched on March 29, 2026.
Addressing the delegation, Titonis emphasized the deep historical ties connecting the two regions, and that these enduring ties were formally recognized when Cebu and Fujian established a sister-province relationship in 2018 to foster cooperation in tourism, culture, trade, and economic development.
“The relationship between the Philippines and China has long been shaped by trade, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connections,” said Titonis. “One of the strongest examples of what collaboration can achieve is the partnership between Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport, and the resumption of flights by Xiamen Airlines to Cebu just last March. Even during periods of uncertainty, including rising fuel costs and other industry headwinds, we have continued to work together to sustain connectivity, support tourism, and create opportunities for our communities.”
Future airport collaboration
To translate these shared goals into actionable results, a structured quarterly exchange working committee was established between MCIA, Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport, and Xiamen Airlines. This platform is designed to allow leadership and operational teams from both airports and the airline to regularly share insights, monitor progress, and explore joint initiatives.
The collaboration will focus on several critical areas of modern aviation:
- Technological Innovation: Sharing best practices in leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize operational efficiency and elevate the passenger experience.
- Commercial and Route Development: Identifying new opportunities to stimulate tourism, encourage bilateral investment, and support regional economic growth.
- Operational Resilience: Strengthening safety, security, and sustainable growth mechanisms amidst shifting global market conditions.
The partnership demonstrates that resilience is not built by any single organization, but it is built through trust, shared commitment, and a common belief in the long-term value of connecting people and places. Through proactive international engagements like this, MCIA reinforces its mandate to drive economic growth in the region through robust aviation connectivity as the premier transfer hub in the Philippines.
