Mactan Airport Wins Prestigious Green Airports Award

Mactan Airport Wins Prestigious Green Airports Award

Story by the SPOT.ph team 
01 June 2024

For a country used to having an airport called one of the world’s worst, here’s a silver lining, courtesy of Visayas’ main gateway.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) was recently recognized for its sustainability efforts, bagging the Platinum Green Airport Recognition 2024 from the Airports Council International, an organization of airport operators from around Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. The MCIA the first Filipino airport to win this award.

Besting other global bests

Now on its eighth iteration, the Green Airports Recognition this year recognized airports that used "Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions," saying this "has become crucial for preserving our planet, particularly in safeguarding local and regional biodiversity."

This is where MCIA, operated by Aboitiz GMCAC (GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation), bested other airports in the 8 to 15 million passengers per annum category. It topped the winners’ list, leading over other airports such as the King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia, which won Gold, and Japan's Chubu Centrair International Airport, which got the Silver.

MCIA won the award for ensuring "safe and sustainable airport operations while preserving the environment" through its use of solar energy and having green spaces.

MCIA is among a total 12 airports from the region recognized in the awards held at the ACI World Annual General Assembly, Conference, and Exhibition (WAGA 2024) last month.

Said Aboitiz GMCAC (AGMCAC) Chief Executive Officer, Athanasios Titonis: "2.5% of global carbon emissions are coming from the aviation industry. Being the second largest airport facility in the country, our role is crucial in minimizing our carbon footprint. We do this by setting operational boundaries that would directly impact the CO₂ levels of the airport." 

MCIA’s latest win follows its recent achievement as the first Philippine airport to be given Level 1 Airport Carbon Accreditation from the ACI, which recognizes an airport’s efforts on managing carbon emissions and reporting its footprint.

The MCIA earlier underwent a P1.8-billion renovation and stands as having one of the Philippines’ most visually striking airport terminals.

Recognizing Eco-Friendly Airports

The Green Airports Recognition was created to "promote environmental best practices to minimise aviation’s impact on the environment and recognize airport members who have outstanding accomplishments in their environmental projects."

Previous awards recognized airports for efforts in eliminating single-use plastics, carbon management, airport quality management, water management, green airport infrastructure, waste minimization, and energy management.