Mactan airport shuts down for 6 hrs today

The Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has scheduled a temporary closure today as part of the preliminary works for the second phase of the facility’s runway rehabilitation plan.

In a statement, GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) said that from 2:30 to 8:30 a.m., repair works for the resurfacing of the 350 meters of each end of the runway, known as the Touch Down Zones (TDZ), will be done.

These are the areas where a landing aircraft makes initial contact on the runway and are subject to the greatest wear and tear.

The runway rehabilitation works are undertaken by the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), its technical team, and appointed contractors.

This closure had been planned and coordinated with MCIAA, GMCAC, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and all commercial airlines operating in MCIA, the statement reads.

"The runway repairs are precautionary in nature and are designed to ensure that the best possible level of safety is afforded to the passengers and stakeholders of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport,” said MCIAA General Manager Steve Dicdican.

In July 2017, the first half of the repair works were carried out to establish the new Temporary Touch Down Zones and to correctly configure the runway according to the reduced runway length while works are taking place.

The CAAP also conducted a flight safety check. Andrew Harrison, Chief Executive Advisor of GMCAC, said that the initial runway resurfacing plan was originally envisioned to be carried out over a six-month period with daily closure of the runway for seven hours each night.

Harrison, however, said this proved to be too disruptive for the airlines and passengers, so alternative measures were established to ensure the work could be done in phases with minimum disruption to airport operations.