GMR opens new terminal at Mactan-Cebu Airport in Philippines

GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) has inaugurated its new PHP17.5bn ($328m) Terminal 2 (T2) at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MICA) in the Philippines.

GMCAC, is a joint venture (JV) between GMR Infrastructure and Megawide Construction, and operates the airport.

The 65,500m² facility was designed by architect Integrated Design Associates (IDA), based in Hong Kong.

It was constructed as part of GMCAC’s 25-year concession for MCIA after the company took over its operations in November 2014.

The purpose-built facility, which will serve international passengers, is set to boost the number of passengers from the existing 4.5 million passengers per year to 12.5 million.

GMCAC said that the new terminal will not only lessen congestion in MCIA but will also offer a wide-ranging retail environment.

GMCAC chief executive adviser Andrew Harrison told media sources: “The most critical planning aspect toward the opening was the testing of T2’s operational readiness and the alignment of various processes.

“We needed to ensure, through the ORAT programme, that all facilities and processes were ready for commercial operations in July.”

In November last year, GMCAC rolled out the operational readiness and airport transfer (ORAT) programme with familiarisation training and walk-throughs for the airport staff.

Implementation of the programme included intensive testing of airport facilities, processes and policies to ensure whether these standard operating procedures comply with the requirements of immigration, customs, airlines, quarantine and other airport regulatory agencies.

MCIA is the second largest airport facility in the Philippines and is considered the central gateway to the Visayas and Southern Philippines.