Cebu Pacific to launch 2 new routes from Iloilo next month

Updated on September 4, 2024 at 10:15 p.m.

Cebu Pacific has continued to offer new routes outside Metro Manila with the launch of flights from Iloilo to Tacloban and Zamboanga starting October.

In a statement on Wednesday, the budget carrier said it would offer Iloilo-Tacloban flights four times a week by Oct. 27.

READ: Cebu Pacific to debut in Chiang Mai

The Iloilo-Zamboanga route will commence on Oct. 28 and will be operated thrice weekly.

“The addition of our new domestic routes from Iloilo aligns with our mission of making air travel accessible to a wider range of passengers. We look forward to flying more [passengers] across our growing inter-island network and better enabling them to discover the beautiful islands of the Philippines,” Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao said.

Last month, Cebu Pacific also announced the start of the Iloilo-Singapore route by Nov. 25. It will be available thrice weekly.

In October, the low-cost airline is also set to launch Davao-Hongkong flights four times a week and Clark-Tagbilaran flights daily.

Flights linking Cebu to Masbate and Bangkok will also be offered next month.

Cebu Pacific has been expanding its route network amid the goal of flying 24 million passengers this year, higher than the 20 million guests it serviced in 2023.

This year, it has earmarked a P60-billion capital expenditure for mostly aircraft-related spending. The airline has received seven of the expected 18 aircraft deliveries for 2024.

Its existing fleet comprises eight Airbus 330s, 37 Airbus 320s, 22 Airbus 321s and 15 ATR turboprop aircraft.

Cebu Pacific is also set to finalize its P1.4-trillion aircraft order for up to 152 A321neo (new engine option) jets with global manufacturer Airbus soon.

In the first half, the operator of Cebu Pacific saw its topline grow by 18 percent to P51.44 billion from P43.55 billion a year ago, driven by a robust growth in passenger revenues. But costlier expenses, including flying operations, dragged the net income by 5 percent to P3.55 billion for the period from P3.75 billion a year ago.