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MyBus at the Mactan Cebu Airport
Arriving at the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA), we moved towards the transport terminal where a rental van was picking us up. We were a big group and had luggage for a week’s stay so we arranged for the van, which we rented until the evening so we can go to dinner without hassle. As we walked towards the terminal, I saw a man waving a board with MyBus on it. He was calling out to passengers who might want to take this bus to Cebu City (MCIA is in Lapu-Lapu City). I wasn’t able to take a photo of the man but was able to take few as we waited for our van.
MyBus turning along the MCIA terminal driveway after picking up passengers
MyBus turning towards the terminal exit. There were a good number of passengers on the bus so that’s a good thing. That means they already have established some ridership between the airport and Cebu City.
Another photo of the bus as it waited for a car to clear its path. MCIA has very good road transport terminal facilities, which I thought was excellent when compared to those in other airports in the country.
Perhaps I would try MyBus next time I am traveling to Cebu and with less luggage? The bus as shown in the photo is configured for city operations and not for long distance travel (i.e., with luggage compartments on belly of the bus) like the limousine buses I took in Japan.
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Another look at the Mactan Cebu airport taxi stands
This is the last of three posts about our recent arrival at Mactan Cebu International Airport. Following are more photos; this time from exiting the terminal building to the transport stand and driveway.
Arriving passengers exiting the Terminal 1 building and heading to the driveway for transport
Directional signs for various road transport options at MCIA. These include metered taxi, white taxi (airport taxi) and bus
The driveway also includes bays for private vehicles. These are mixed with rideshare vehicles such as those with Grab.
Metered taxi stand – there used to be a Grab booth here but I couldn’t find them in the area so either they might have set up somewhere in the airport or perhaps it is assumed that people can manage with their apps on their smartphones.
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Mactan Cebu airport arrival – Part 2
This is a continuation of the feature on arriving at the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA). In the previous post, I shared photos of our arrival at the new Terminal 2 and our walk from T2 to the domestic Terminal 1.
Passengers continue to the corridor on the Terminal 1 side
Take-off run for a commercial flight
Cramped corridor for arriving passengers heading to the baggage claim area
Bridgeway or tube at T1
We emerged from the corridor to the T1 building and a sign showing us the way to the baggage claim area
Descending the stairs or escalator to the arrival level and the baggage claim area
Visitors are greeted with posters showing Cebu’s attractions as well as ads for residential and resort developments. Also shown in the photo are information boards on arriving flights.
Baggage claim area for domestic flights – notice the passengers with their carts or trolleys crowding along the conveyor system.
Another look at the baggage claim area and a less crowded conveyor
More photo of the arrival including the taxi stand soon…
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Mactan Cebu airport arrival – Part 1
We were treated to a somewhat pleasant surprise upon arriving in Cebu’s Mactan International Airport a couple of weeks ago. The surprise was that our plane taxied to and berthed at the new Terminal 2, which was for international flights.
A view of the MCIA Terminal 2 from our taxiing aircraft
A closer look at MCIA T2 as our plane turned towards the apron
Passengers deplaning via the T2 tube
A view of MCIA T2 from the airbridge
View of the tarmac and one of the airbridges as we walked along the corridor lined along the terminal’s departure level that connected to another corridor for the old Terminal 1.
Corridor along Terminal 2 connecting to Terminal 1
A snapshot of the tarmac
The interior design elements of MCIA Terminal 2 evoke a local, Asian flavour
Spacious corridor towards Terminal 1
A look at an aircraft berthed at MICA T2
Bridge connecting Terminals 1 and 2 with a view of the air traffic control tower
Passengers walking to T1
Interphase of T2 with T1 at this point of the bridgeway
More on MCIA soon!
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Back in Cebu
I am back in Cebu for a few meetings for a conference we are organising together with the University of San Jose-Recoletos. Upon landing, I snapped this photo of the Mactan Cebu International Airport’s second terminal, which is designated for international flights. The control tower is also in the photo as well as part of the old terminal that is used for domestic flights.
View from our Cebu Pacific Airbus A320
I will post about the airport and some street scenes in Cebu in the next days. But before those, I think I still have one on Zamboanga airport that I have been procrastinating about. I will also post something about the conference we are organising later in July. Abangan!
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Back in Zamboanga – arrival
I was back in Zamboanga last week for a short workshop. We were supposed to arrive just before 6AM as we took the first flight from Manila. Our flight was delayed, however, and we arrived around 7:30AM instead. I will write about this in another post. Meanwhile, here are some photos upon our arrival in Zamboanga International Airport.
We deplaned from the rear door of the aircraft and that afforded me this shot of the plane and the terminal.
I admire the architecture of the airport terminal. It is an example of architecture appropriate for the city/locale with its rich cultural heritage.
Luggage of arriving passengers are unloaded from the aircraft while a tanker refuels the plane. You can see the fuel hose attached to the wing of the aircraft.
Passengers enter the arrival area of the terminal
Passengers and stevedores crowd around the single baggage conveyor at the claim area.
We found this interesting tarp as we exited the airport terminal showing some statistics on Zamboanga’s population.
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Cauayan Airport departure
Here are photos I took of the Cauayan City Airport upon our departure from the city. This is the sequel to the previous post of photos when we arrived there during a trip earlier this month.
View of the airport terminal as we approach it on board tricycles
Here’s the only concessionaire inside the terminal and practically just beside the check-in counters. Sorry, no last minute shopping for souvenirs or pasalubong here.
Cebu Pacific’s check-in counters
Philippine Airlines’ check-in counters near the terminal entrance security check – obviously, it’s very crowded in this area
Pre-departure lounge area near the designated PAL gate
Pre-departure lounge area near the designated CebPac gate
Another view of the pre-departure lounge
Private planes sitting on the tarmac – there are many farms in Isabela that are operated like companies. Many produce rice. And many are owned by corporations whose owners/execs regularly fly in via their own or chartered aircraft.
Our plane taxiing towards the runway
A view of the runway as we turned in preparation for the take-off
A view of the end of the runway as our plane turned
Aerial (bird’s eye view?) photo taken just after take-off showing the farms in the area
I will be sharing more aerial photos soon including some snaps of the Magat Dam, which was the major hydro infrastructure in the area.
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Cauayan Airport arrival
I have so far never failed to take photos of the airports I have gone through in my travels here or abroad. The following photos are of Cauayan Airport in Cauayan City, Province of Isabela in the Cagayan Valley Region (Region 2) to the north-northeast of Metro Manila.
Taxiing towards the apron and the terminal. One can also see the control tower to the right.
Passengers walk to the terminal with each given an umbrella to shield themselves (partially) from the punishing heat of the sun. Isabela is one of those provinces where the heat indices reach well above 45 degrees C.
A look back to the aircraft and passengers deplaning to head to the terminal.
The baggage claim area had a single conveyor belt
Passengers gathering around the belt to claim their checked-in luggage.
Another view of the conveyor
Luggage start to come out as most passengers are gathered around the conveyor.
A look back at the arrival exit of the Cauayan airport terminal
A quick look and photo of the airport entrance for departing passengers.
There are no taxis in Cauayan so its either you book a van or take the local ‘taxi’ in the form of tricycles. Most of these are motorcycles with sidecars but there are also many new tuktuk types, which are more spacious and comfortable to ride.
Tricycles, motorcycles and private vehicles parked at the airport. That’s the control tower in the background.
More photos of Cauayan Airport as well as aerial shots soon!
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New ramps for enplaning/deplaning
We were able to use the ramps I mentioned in a previous post. In a recent trip to Cagayan De Oro, we deplaned from the forward door of the aircraft where the ramp was engaged. Here are the photos showing a closer look at different sections of the ramp.
The first ramp upon exiting the aircraft
The second ramp section with passengers basically facing the plane
Final (lower) ramp sections
A look back to the ramps before we walked to the passenger terminal building
I wonder how many of these have been made and deployed at airports around the country…
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Persons-with-disabilities- and senior citizen-friendly ramps for aircraft
The trip to Cagayan De Oro via Laguindingan Airport allowed me to take photos of the new ramps being used in our airports. These ramps are suitable for persons with disabilities and senior citizens who may have difficulties ascending or descending the usually steep stairs of aircraft from or to the ground. Not all airports have the tube or bridges connecting the terminal to the plane. Here are some of the photos I took at Laguindingan Airport prior to boarding our plane to Manila.
Compare the ramps to the conventional stairs for the rear door of the aircraft.
Meanwhile, smaller aircraft such as the turboprop plane below have built-in stairs. But these planes are lower compared to the larger Airbus 321’s we flew on our way back home.
I also saw the same ramps at NAIA when we deplaned near Terminal 3. But it seems Cebu Pacific is the only local airline who are using these? We hope there would be more of these in every airport in the country. That will definitely be for the benefit of all and not just those with physical disabilities or physically-challenged.
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Caught (up) in traffic 