After Manila NAIA and Clark International airport, low cost carrier Cebu Pacific strengthens its international network out of Cebu to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. It will also fly from Iloilo to both Hong Kong and Singapore from November.
MANILA – Philippines’ largest air carrier Cebu Pacific is set to begin direct services from Cebu to Bangkok (Thailand) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) in the first week of December this year. Cebu Pacific currently operates four international services from Cebu to Hong Kong, Seoul- Incheon and Pusan in Korea as well as to Singapore. The budget airline also operates 20 direct domestic flights from Cebu, namely Cebu to Manila, Bacolod, Busuanga, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Clark, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Surigao, Tacloban and Zamboanga.
Starting December 8, 2012, CEB will launch twice weekly flights from Cebu to Bangkok, Thailand. On December 9, 2012, CEB will also launch twice weekly flights from Cebu to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “We are proud to launch 2 new international services from our Cebu hub. We look forward to providing our services to foreign tourists and overseas Filipino workers and ultimately boosting trade and tourism between Cebu, Thailand, and Malaysia,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Lyog.
A special promotional seat sale is taken place until September 7. “Passengers can take advantage of this seat sale as it covers the peak travel period from December to February. This will greatly benefit those coming home for the holidays, or planning Christmas vacations for family and friends,” Lyog said.
Western Visayas islands will also be connected internationally with Cebu Pacific launching new routes in November from the capital city of Iloilo to Hong Kong and Singapore as well as domestically to General Santos and Puerto Princesa. Hong Kong will be served by two weekly frequencies while Singapore will benefit of three weekly flights. The carrier will also increase the total number of flights to Manila to seven daily frequencies. The province of Iloilo is well-known in the Philippines for its beautiful Spanish related architecture with some of the country’s most impressive colonial churches.
CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 21 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 39 aircraft – with an average age of 3.6 years – is the largest aircraft fleet in the Philippines. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 21 more Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders. It is slated to begin long-haul services in the 3rd quarter of 2013.
In its 16th year of operations, CEB had flown over 60 million passengers. It provides access to the most extensive network in the Philppines, with 32 domestic and 19 international destinations. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 21 more Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders. It is slated to begin long-haul services in the 3rd quarter of 2013, with the arrival of 4 Airbus A330 aircraft from 2013 to 2014.
CEB flew more than 6.9 million passengers in the 1st half of 2012, a 17% system-wide growth compared to the same period last year. It aims to serve a total of 14 million passengers for the full year 2012.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
