Mactan-Cebu International Airport

Mactan-Cebu International Airport (IATA airport code: CEB, ICAO airport code: RPVM) is the major airport of the Visayas region of the Philippines. It is located in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, near Cebu City. The airport is also the only international airport in the entire Visayas region. A first class hotel -- Waterfront Mactan Airport Hotel -- sits right in front of the airport terminal. A new international terminal worth P1 Billion will be constructed starting 2006 and will be completed in four years after which the existing 15 year old terminal, which houses the domestic and international wings and has a capacity of 2 million passengers, will be purely devoted for domestic use. Also, the current four aerobridges or tubes on the existing terminal will be upgraded and added with two more bringing it to a total of six. All of these improvements were bared by the airport's general manager in light of the increasing international and domestic flights to Cebu. The improvements are also meant to augment Cebu's goal of attracting five million tourists per year by 2010.

History

The airport opened in the mid-1960s. It was built to replace Lahug Airport, which could not be expanded due to safety and physical problems. The airport was then expanded in its later years to become the current Mactan-Cebu International Airport. The airport is currently the second busiest in the country after Manila's NAIA-1 and NAIA-2 and serves as the country's primary alternative gateway.

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On December 11, 1994, Philippine Airlines Flight 434 was flying on its second leg of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Mactan-Cebu International Airport - New Tokyo International Airport (now Narita International Airport) route when a bomb on board exploded, killing a passenger. The airliner was able to make an emergency landing.

Related Topics:
December 11 - 1994 - Philippine Airlines Flight 434 - Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Narita International Airport

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Authorities later found out that Ramzi Yousef planted the bomb on the airliner to test the bomb for his Project Bojinka plot. His project was discovered in Manila after an apartment fire on the night of January 5 and the morning of January 6, 1995.

Related Topics:
Ramzi Yousef - Project Bojinka - Manila - January 5 - January 6 - 1995

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