Mactan-Cebu Airport Surpasses 500,000 Transfer Passengers as CEB Connects Sets New Southeast Asia Transit Benchmark

Mactan-Cebu International Airport has officially crossed the milestone of 500,000 transfer passengers through its dedicated CEB Connects transit facility, representing a remarkable 48 percent surge in connection volume since the program launched in April 2025 and establishing Cebu as a primary transit powerhouse in Southeast Asian aviation.

Managed by Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC), Mactan-Cebu International Airport (IATA: CEB, ICAO: RPVM) has transformed passenger transfers between the Philippines' archipelago and global long-haul destinations. By eliminating traditional friction points—such as self-transfers, baggage re-checking, and terminal transfers—CEB Connects has achieved an average utilization rate of 73 percent across domestic and international flight itineraries.

Industry-Leading Minimum Connecting Times

At the center of CEB Connects' operational success is its streamlined Minimum Connecting Time (MCT) protocol. Passengers transiting through Cebu benefit from:

• Domestic-to-Domestic (D-D) Transfers: Minimum connecting time of just 35 minutes.
• International-to-Domestic (I-D) and Domestic-to-International (D-I) Transfers: Minimum connecting time capped at 60 minutes.

This rapid turnaround allows international travelers arriving from long-haul flights to smoothly clear customs, immigration, and security protocols without leaving the secure transfer zone or retrieving checked luggage, before boarding connecting flights to regional hubs across the Visayas and Mindanao.

Travelers can plan their journeys and check flight schedules via the official Mactan-Cebu International Airport website.

"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. "Through close collaboration with key government partners, including the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Office for Transportation Security, and Bureau of Quarantine, we have established an agile operational model that removes the friction of re-checking baggage and links travelers directly to the heart of the Philippines."

Rapid Expansion of Global Airline Partners

The volume growth through CEB Connects has been accelerated by a continuous rollout of top-tier domestic and international carriers:

• Philippine Airlines & Cebu Pacific: Launched the initial International-to-Domestic transfer services in April 2025, expanding to Domestic-to-International connections by June 2025.
• Singapore Airlines: Activated comprehensive dual-direction transit services in September 2025, funneling high-yield global traffic through its Changi hub into central Philippines.
• AirAsia Philippines: Added full transfer capabilities in November 2025.
• China Airlines: Integrated seamless connections in April 2026, boosting transit links for North Asian travelers.
• Emirates: Formally activated both I-D and D-I transfers in May 2026, allowing passengers originating across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa to bypass congested secondary gateways and connect directly to Philippine island paradises like Siargao, Boracay, Palawan, and Bohol.

Setting Benchmarks for Philippine Aviation Infrastructure

As the Philippines' premier transfer gateway, Mactan-Cebu International Airport was the first airport in the country to operate parallel runways, drastically enhancing apron management and reducing air traffic holding times.

For more information on entering the country, visitors should consult the latest travel requirements from the Department of Tourism Philippines.

Operating under the infrastructure arm of Aboitiz Group, MCIA has garnered widespread international recognition, including Best Airport in Asia-Pacific (5–15 mppa) at the ASQ Awards, Platinum Green Airport status, and Airport of the Year in Asia at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards.

Through integrated transit initiatives like CEB Connects and the multimodal CEB+ air-to-sea network, Cebu continues to set the operational benchmark for sustainable, passenger-centric aviation growth across the Asia-Pacific region.

FAQ: Mactan-Cebu Airport Surpasses 500,000 Transfer 2026

Do I need to re-check my luggage when using CEB Connects? No. CEB Connects eliminates the need for baggage re-checking, allowing your luggage to be transferred automatically between your domestic and international flights.

What is the minimum connecting time for international flights in Cebu? The Minimum Connecting Time (MCT) for International-to-Domestic (I-D) and Domestic-to-International (D-I) transfers is capped at 60 minutes.

Do I have to leave the secure zone during my transfer? No. Passengers using the CEB Connects facility can clear customs, immigration, and security protocols without leaving the secure transfer zone.

Which airlines currently support the CEB Connects transit service? Participating carriers include Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Singapore Airlines, AirAsia Philippines, China Airlines, and Emirates.

---

Related Travel Guides

• Typhoon Bavi Disrupts Asia Flight Networks
• Aviation Updates: Massive European Airport Expansions Trigger Severe Housing Crisis Amid Regional Travel Chaos
• The MD-11's Tail Engine Mystery: Understanding the Trijet Design That Defined an Aviation Era