Mactan-Cebu International Airport sets sights on becoming country’s first plastics-free airport

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the Philippines’ resort-airport, has showed tremendous progress in its Going Green Campaign after banning the use of non-biodegradable single-use plastics and polystyrene containers in restaurants and shops inside the hub.

Starting this year, MCIA private operator GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) prohibited its concessionaires from using the non-biodegradable single-use plastics and polystyrene containers in restaurants and retail stores located in Terminals 1 and 2. Under the policy, GMCAC encourages the use of eco-friendly and reusable substitutes.

To date, 80% of the concessionaires are already using biodegradable alternatives such as plant starch utensils, paper cups and straws, wood stirrers, paper bags, and carton boxes for takeaway food.

“We took this step forward starting with our commercial partners as our commitment to environmental sustainability,” said GMCAC chief executive advisor Andrew Acquaah-Harrison.

“In 2018, MCIA produced a monthly average of 3,500-kilograms (kgs) of plastic waste from its restaurants and shops. This is now down by close to 30% or a decrease of around 12,000-kgs per year,” Harrison added.

GMCAC also holds regular information and education campaigns for all airport concessionaires and stakeholders to raise awareness on the impacts of plastic use on the environment.

OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
Meanwhile, GMCAC underlined its other initiatives as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability.

Since August 2017, GMCAC has been using 6,300 solar panels on the roof of Terminal 1 to supply electricity for the airport. This made MCIA the first solar-powered airport in the Philippines. 

On a monthly average, the solar panel system produces 196,800 Kwh and provides for 30% of the electricity requirements of the domestic terminal.

AirAsia has been named Best Low Cost Airline by Business Traveller Asia Pacific for the eighth year in a row, beating EasyJet and HK Express for the honor.

Photo: AirAsia Hong Kong and Macao CEO Celia Lao accepts the trophy for Best Low-cost Airline at the 2019 Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards held in Hong Kong

The Business Traveller Asia Pacific Awards recognize product and service excellence in aviation and hospitality, as voted by readers of the travel magazine, which has a circulation of 30,000 globally.

AirAsia Hong Kong and Macao CEO Celia Lao accepted the award at a special luncheon ceremony held in the Island Shangri-La Hong Kong.

AirAsia Group President (Airlines) Bo Lingam said, “We are proud to be recognised once again as the best LCC by the region’s most frequent and discerning travellers. For more than a decade, we have been at the forefront of delivering value to our guests, and we will continue to do so as we expand our travel offering on airasia.com beyond flights to better meet our guests’ ever-growing expectations.”

The Business Traveller Asia-Pacific magazine, launched in 1982, recognizes airlines, airports, hotels and travel destinations, that have been voted by its readers for their outstanding service and hospitality.

Tourism Operators Unite in Region 7 or TOURS7, a group of 30 members (as of counting) with the aim of fostering camaraderie and shared learning in its industry, is organizing its first ever travel fair in its six-year history dubbed as Byahe ‘ta Bai on September 13-15, 2019 at Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

Good news to all travelers who are traveling international through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport! Beginning September 1, 2019, the International Passenger Service Charge (IPSC), otherwise known as the international terminal fee, shall be incorporated into airline tickets at point of sale for all international flights issued or reissued out of Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Previously issued tickets without International Passenger Service Charge

Within a year from September 1, 2019, passengers who have been issued or reissued tickets without the integrated IPSC shall pay the IPSC at the terminal fee counters inside Terminal 2. During this period, the following processes shall be implemented:
– At the check-in counter, the airline representative will verify through their system if the IPSC has already been integrated. If paid, airline representative shall issue the boarding pass with a PAID stamp and a non-revenue receipt.
– If the ticket was issued or reissued prior to September 1 , 2019, the airline representative shall issue a boarding pass without the PAID stamp and direct the passenger to the terminal fee counters. At the terminal fee counter, the teller shall collect the IPSC payment from the passenger and issue a receipt attached to the boarding pass.

IPSC Exemption

These passengers are exempted from the IPSC payment as mandated by law:

1. Children below two (2) years old, with or without any airline ticket
2. Overseas Contract Worker
3. Passenger denied entry
4. Airline Crew
5. Diplomats
6. Athletes which have been officially endorsed by the Philippine Sports Commission
7. Muslim Passengers travelling to Mecca on HAJ
8. Any other person as may be specified by MCIAA in mutual agreement with GMCAC or as may be specified by legal requirement

For exempt passengers who have the IPSC integrated in their tickets, they will need to present the following documents at the terminal fee counter for claiming the exemption:

1. Valid Overseas Exemption Certificate (OEC)
2. Exemption certificate for pilgrims, athletes, and others
3. Boarding pass

IPSC Refund

– All request for refunds shall be processed at the terminal fee counters on the day of departure upon presentation of:
* Boarding pass with PAID stamp
* Valid exemption documents as specified above
– Exempted passengers shall be refunded the full amount of the IPSC.
– For unused tickets, the air carrier shall be responsible for the processing of the refunds subject to the airline ticket terms and conditions.

For any concerns or further inquiries, passengers may contact Mactan-Cebu International Airport through (032) 494-7000 or email customerservice@gmcac.ph.

Due to the success of such event in Manila, and the insistent demand of the Cebuanos, Klook is bring the Klook Travel Fest for the first time in Cebu, as part of celebrations for their 2nd anniversary in the Philippines!

GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corporation, together with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, is proud to announce that the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) was recognized as a Breastfeeding Friendly Public Place by the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) during the 7th Breastfeeding Congress and the 1st Asia-Pacific Breastfeeding Conference in EDSA Shangri-La Hotel recently.

There is no denying that the Cebu Lechon is the best and most delicious there is, and that no trip to the Queen City of the South will be complete without taking a bite of its famed crunchy golden brown skin, and juicy, tender, and flavorsome meat.

Traveling isn’t just about capturing Instagram-mable photos of the places you’ve visited and waiting for them to get hundreds of likes. Rather, it is a learning experience – a means to broaden one’s horizon and understand more about different cultures especially of our very own country.