CebuPac eyeing EU, US routes

A Cebu Pacific plane on the tarmac of the Puerto Princesa international airport. RICK ALBERTO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Budget carrier Cebu Pacific said it was studying new routes to Europe and the United States following separate announcements by the United States and the European Union of the airline’s removal from their air safety blacklists.

Philippine Airlines was removed from the EU blacklist last year.

Cebu Pacific CEO Lance Gokongwei said areas under study were Hawaii, Guam and Saipan.

For Europe, he said Cebu Pacific was looking at London, Paris and Amsterdam.

Cebu Pacific launched its first long-haul service last year, with flights from Manila to Dubai.

The carrier plans to open more routes to the Middle East and Australia this year.

Gokongwei said Cebu Pacific intended to compete with other airlines with its trademark budget promos, but declined to give a definite timeline.

Cebu Pacific, which already dominates the domestic market, needs government approval to fly to either Europe or the United States, Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla said.

“Generally when you offer more choices, you see both better service and more affordable pricing,” Gokongwei said in a press conference after the announcement of Cebu Pacific’s removal from the US and EU blacklists.

“Certainly Cebu Pacific would be interested to have a ‘one Euro fare’ to Europe if given the opportunity to fly there,” he said.