CebuPac to start Clark-Tokyo flights

Budget airline Cebu Pacific is launching the first ever flights between Clark in Pampanga province and Narita near Tokyo.

Cebu Pacific said it would launch four weekly flights between Clark International Airport, an alternative to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), and Narita International Airport on Aug. 9 this year.

“There is so much untapped potential in Clark, and we are committed to expanding our Clark hub to expand tourism, trade and investment opportunities. This will open up the areas around Clark to more investors and entrepreneurs,” Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution, said in a statement.

Cebu Pacific sees the new route as a means to tap the broader central and northern Luzon markets, which Clark Airport mainly serves.

“With direct air service between Clark and Narita, it will be easier for Japanese tourists to access destinations in Pampanga, Pangasinan, Baguio, La Union and the rest of Luzon. Conversely, it will also be easier for residents in these areas to enjoy Tokyo, with a direct flight from Clark,” Iyog said.

Clark Airport’s volume reached 2.5 million passengers last year as airlines shifted flights amid congestion woes in Naia.

Japan is one of the Philippines’ top sources of inbound tourists, with 631,801 Japanese visiting the country in 2018. To mark the launch of Clark-Tokyo flights, Cebu Pacific said it would offer base fares starting at P2,099.