By Lilian Mellejor/PNA
DAVAO CITY — The firm that manages the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is open to any opportunity to operate or develop the Davao International Airport.
Andrew Harrison, chief executive advisor of GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), said they would be delighted to come in if the government wants them to do operations and maintenance work for the airport, or develop it under a concession agreement.
“We would like to be part of an opportunity to contribute to the growth of air travel in the Philippines through marketing, through the development of airports, and we are proud and happy to partner with the government in any capacity that they would like,” Harrison said during a press conference here Wednesday.
Although Harrison noted that the Davao airport is managed well, he said “there is always room for improvement that Davao also deserves”, noting the city’s importance in national development.
Harrison, however, said good airport management does not solely depend on the credentials of the proponent “but the value to make traveling experience better.”
He said when GMCAC took over the Mactan-Cebu airport in 2014, there were only seven international routes and 15 domestic routes. Currently, he said, there are now 26 international routes and 32 domestic routes, a huge improvement for the benefit of the traveling public.
For now, Harrison said GMCAC is conducting sales mission to offer more connectivity through the MCIA.
“Even if we get only one more passenger to believe that connecting to Cebu is more advantageous, more convenient and offers better connectivity to the rest of the world, then we have achieved something,” he added.
Harrison said sales missions allow them to showcase the best of what GMCAC has to offer in terms of connectivity, ease of transfer between terminals, and for travel agents to understand the markets they serve so they can sell to the traveling public.
“We concentrate on major cities, like Davao, but also smaller cities like Tacloban because the Philippines is an island nation and connectivity is very important. If we can have more flights, it means the average price of a flight will decrease, (enabling) more people to travel by air and when it is affordable, more passengers will fly,” he said.
GMCAC is also going to Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Tacloban for its series of sales missions on February 6, 12, 13 and 20.
