Cebu Pacific to start direct flights from Davao to Puerto Princesa, Kalibo

Cebu Pacific has announced plans to launch direct flights between Mindanao’s biggest city, Davao, to key tourist destinations around the country in the second half of the year.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said it would start flights from Davao to points like Palawan’s capital Puerto Princesa and Kalibo, one of two gateways to Boracay Island, later this year.

The new flights from Davao are part of plans to expand Cebu Pacific’s domestic network. Cebu Pacific has more domestic flights than any other airline in the country today.

The network expansion will be made possible through the delivery of one brand-new Airbus A320 plane that would add to Cebu Pacific’s fleet. Three more jets are expected to be delivered in the second half.

Flights between Davao and Puerto Princesa and Kalibo will be done four times a week.

In the meantime, Cebu Pacific said it maintained its lead in air-transported domestic cargo business after carrying about half of all freight in the first quarter of the year.

Citing a report from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Cebu Pacific said it transported more cargo than any other airline in January to March of 2012. The company carried 22.1 million kilograms of cargo, or about 48 percent of all air-carried freight.

The company had more cargo than those of rivals PAL and sister firm Airphil Express combined.

“This highlight Cebu Pacific’s extensive domestic network,” Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said.

“With multiple daily flights to most key cities in the Philippines, cargo forwarders and shippers trust Cebu Pacific to bring their valuable cargo in the soonest possible time,” she said.

“Cebu Pacific currently services more than 2,000 accounts, tailor-fitting cargo products to our clients’ domestic and international cargo needs. Services offered include express cargo service, seamless transshipment and 16 interline partnerships for worldwide reach,” Iyog said.