Adrew Acquaah-Harrison, chief executive advisor of GMR- Megawide, said MCIA will be the first airport in the Philippines to have VeriPAX.
GMR-Megawide is the consortium composed of the GMR group of India and Megawide Construction Corp. of the Philippines which won the bidding for the modernization and expansion of the MCIA terminal building.
According to Rockwell Collins, the company that developed the Veri- PAX system, “VeriPAX reads boarding passes using new 2D barcode scanners, automatically screens passengers against airline host systems in real time, determines clearance and provides alerts to agents when necessary.”
Harrison said Veri-PAX validates boarding passes at security check points, perform flight checks and perform terminal checks.
Harrison said once completed, “the system will enhance the processing speed of passengers while helping airlines reduce flight delays.”
Harrison said self-service check-in kiosks (similar to ATM machines) will be installed at the MCIA and in the port area, selected hotels and malls so that passengers can check – in with their passports or e-tickets right at their hotels, ports or malls.
Harrison said GMR also implemented the airport operations database (AODB) and the electronic baggage reconciliation system.
Harrison said “an AODB is the central database or repository for all operative systems and provides all flight-related data accurately and efficiently in a real time environment to approved users” while an electronic baggage reconciliation system is “a method of baggage management that creates a bag tag and tracks the baggage throughout the sorting process until it is delivered to the aircraft.”
Harrison said the upgrade and modernization of the facilities and equipment is meant to improve customer service.
Harrison said under GMR management, the air traffic of MCIA has increased. He said since GMR took over the airport’s management, the airport has served 560,000 more passengers from Nov. 1, 2014 to June 2015 as compared to the same period in 2013 to 2014.
To accommodate the additional volume of passengers, Harrison said airline offices at the terminal were removed.
He said common security checks for passengers boarding domestic and international flights were made doubling the capacity of security X-ray lanes.
A common check-in system for all airlines in order to maximize the use of the existing number of check-in counters was also adopted, Harrison said.
This reduced congestion in passenger processing areas, he pointed out.
Harrison said in order to enhance the ambiance of the terminal, MCIA has undergone major repairs on the tiled flooring, new landscape and new lighting in the check in area. A lounge for relatives (meeters and greeters area) of arriving passengers was also enhanced.
Harrison said upon completion of the modernization project, the MCIA will have the following features: 20 aircraft parking stands with passenger tubes; 13 aircraft parking stands that would be served by bus transfers to minimize delays in disembarkation; dedicated domestic and international terminals connected by a link bridge for the convenience of passengers making connecting flights; 149 check-in counters for international and domestic flights for passenger convenience; modern airline lounges; enhanced in-line automated baggage handling system; parking facilities for passengers and visitors; and an airport village mall complex adjoining the terminal with retail and entertainment options.
Harrison said the company’s mission is to transform MCIA into the world’s friendliest airport where guests are welcome by signature Filipino hospitality and world class facilities and amenities.
The 25-year concession agreement undertaken by the Department of Transportation and Communications and Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority with GMR-Megawide also involves the construction of a new international passenger terminal building for future development.
