Mactan‑Cebu flight slowdown

Mactan-Cebu International Airport is preparing for a 2026 slowdown after airlines cut or suspended several international routes as fuel costs climbed. (cebudailynews.inquirer.net) Airport officials said MCIA handled 2,430,881 domestic and international passengers from January to February 2026, up 17% from a year earlier, but warned demand could start softening as early as June. MCIA General Manager Julius Neri Jr. said the airport had started coordinating with hotels and tourism groups for possible disruptions. (cebudailynews.inquirer.net) Cebu Pacific said on March 24 that global fuel prices had “more than doubled” from 2025 averages and announced temporary network changes through October 2026. From Cebu, it cut Cebu-Singapore flights to five a week from seven starting April 16, while other reductions hit Manila, Clark, Davao and Iloilo routes. (rappler.com) Philippine Airlines also trimmed Cebu service, suspending Cebu-Guam from April 16 until further notice and Cebu-Ho Chi Minh City from April 19 until further notice, with limited exceptions in May. The Civil Aeronautics Board separately raised the passenger fuel surcharge to Level 8 for April 1 to 15, lifting international add-on fees to as much as P6,208.98 depending on distance. (rappler.com; philstar.com) The pressure comes after a strong 2025 for Cebu’s main gateway. MCIA said it welcomed 11.6 million passengers last year, up about 3% from 11.3 million in 2024, and said 20 airlines were then serving 13 international routes. (cebudailynews.inquirer.net) That makes the current pullback notable for Cebu, which has spent the past two years building itself as a hub outside Manila through new direct routes and transfer programs. Airport operators said they are now looking for new and emerging markets to offset weakness in traditional source markets. (cebudailynews.inquirer.net; cebudailynews.inquirer.net) The immediate hit is not a blanket shutdown of Cebu’s foreign links. MCIA’s own website reported on March 30 that the direct Cebu-Quanzhou route had resumed operations, showing that some carriers are still adding or restoring service even as others retrench. (mciaa.gov.ph) For travelers, the near-term pattern is fewer weekly options on some routes, higher fuel surcharges, and a greater chance that provincial passengers will need to connect through Manila for overseas trips. MCIA’s slowdown warning is a forecast, not a collapse, but the airport is now planning for a weaker second half of 2026 than its first. (philstar.com; cebudailynews.inquirer.net)