MANILA, Philippines - Budget airline Cebu Air Inc. is expanding its hub in Cebu through the launch of flights to Camiguin in Northern Mindanao and Masbate in the Bicol Region.
Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said the additional flights would help the Aquino administration achieve its target of 10 million tourists by 2016.
“With these new flights, Cebu Pacific continues to drive tourism and trade to new regions in the Philippines. We now operate flights to 34 Philippine destinations, on 62 city-pairings or routes. This gives our local and foreign tourists the opportunity to visit more destinations in one trip,†Iyog stressed.
Direct flights to Camiguin from Cebu every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday would start April 15 while flights to Masbate from Cebu every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday would start June 1.
Cebu Pacific would use its ATR 72-500 aircraft fleet for the new routes.
With CEB’s pioneering direct flight to the island of Camiguin, travelers could now easily reach the second smallest island in the Philippines. It is known for its volcanoes, hot and cold springs, Lanzones Festival every October, and Sunken Cemetery. Camiguin was previously accessible only by bus, fast craft or ferry from Cagayan de Oro.
On the other hand, the island of Masbate is known for its scuba diving spots, including the Manta Ray Bowl at the Ticao Pass, as well as the “Rodeo Masbateno,†a rodeo festival which takes place every April.
The airline currently flies to 21 international destinations as well as 32 domestic destinations through its six strategically located hubs including Manila, Cebu, Clark, Kalibo, Iloilo, and Davao.
The airline earlier announced that it is mounting additional flights to domestic and international destinations in preparation for the Summer vacation with the delivery of new aircraft from Airbus as part of its major re-fleeting program.
Cebu Pacific expects the delivery of two new A320 aircraft in January and March this year afterwhich five more aircraft are expected to arrive within the year.
Cebu Pacific is set to start flights between Manila and Tagbilaran 12 times a week starting March 11 and 33 times a week between Manila and Tacloban starting March 31.
The airline also intends to fly seven times a day between Manila and Bacolod as well as six times daily between Manila and Kalibo starting March 31 as well as 15 times daily between Manila and Cebu and 10 times daily between Manila and Davao starting April 2.
The budget airline is also expected to mount additional flight from its Cebu hub starting April 2 with Cebu to Bacolod (thrice daily), Boracay (23 times weekly), Davao (four times daily), General Santos (10 times weekly), Legazpi (five times weekly), Puerto Princesa (twice daily), and Siargao (six times weekly).