Cebu Pacific to increase domestic flights as demand continues to rise

Budget airline Cebu Pacific is expanding its domestic hubs in Clark, Pampanga and Cebu this year to tap increasing demand.

The carrier is expected to ramp up operations as it earlier announced that it will receive 12 new planes in 2019. This includes six higher capacity and fuel efficient Airbus A321neos apart from five A320neos and one ATR 72-600.

In a statement citing Cebu Pacific chief operations officer Michael Shau, the airline said it would launch three new domestic routes from the Clark International Airport.

Moreover, it will mount daily flights between its hubs in Clark and Iloilo; as well as between Clark and Bacolod, starting Aug. 9, 2019. Beginning Oct. 9 this year, Cebu Pacific will mount daily flights between Clark and Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

“There’s still a lot of opportunity for expansion within the Philippines—inter-island connections from key cities like Clark and Cebu,” Shau said.

More airlines have shifted part of their operations to regional hubs such as Clark given congestion in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Cebu Pacific noted that it has increased flight frequencies in Clark by over 75 percent over the last six months.

For 2019, Cebu Pacific sees capacity in Clark increasing by up to 20 percent. Routes in development for its Cebu hub are focused on North Asia markets such as China, Korea, and Japan.

From Cebu, Cebu Pacific mounts direct flights to Bacolod, Caticlan (Boracay), Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Calbayog, Camiguin, Clark, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legazpi, Ozamis, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Surigao, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Hong Kong, Macau, Tokyo (Narita), Singapore and Incheon.