The Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is the first airport in the country to have installed an automated boarding pass verification system or the VeriPax passenger reconciliation system.
GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) said VeriPax is now fully operational.
GMCAC is a consortium composed of India’s GMR group and the Philippines’ Megawide Construction Corp. that won the bidding for the modernization and expansion of the airport terminal building.
The company that developed the VeriPax system, US-based tech firm Rockwell Collins, explained that the system reads boarding passes using a 2D barcode scanner that automatically screens passengers against airline host systems in real time, determines clearance and provides alerts to airport agents when necessary.
GMCAC chief executive adviser Andrew Harrison said the upgrade and modernization of the airport is meant to improve customer service, citing that tourism is one of the major drivers of the Philippines’ economy. GMCAC president Louie Ferrer said that through these accomplishments for the past two years, business and leisure travel will also increase significantly and contribute to the rising economic prosperity of Cebu.
The airport has also expanded its international arrivals area and can now accommodate an additional 413 passengers.