MANILA, Philippines – Emirates is set to launch daily flights on the Dubai-Cebu-Clark route by next year.
Salem Obaidalla, senior vice president for Aeropolitical & Industry Affairs at Emirates said in an email to Civil Aeronautics Board director Jose Victor Luciano the airline is set to announce daily services on the Dubai-Cebu-Clark route within the next few days.
The flights would operate seven days per week from Dubai, serving Cebu, then Clark and onto Dubai, in a circular pattern.
“We plan to commence operations from March 30, 2016, with a two-class 777-300ER,” Obaidalla said.
Apart from services in Cebu and Clark, Emirates is also set to introduce additional flights on the Manila-Dubai route on March 29,2016.
The additional flights on the Manila-Dubai route are being made available by Emirates as it was granted four additional frequencies during the air services talks held between the Philippines and United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August.
Under the new air services deal between the Philippines and UAE, both agreed to increase the maximum number of flights per week for each country to 35 flights from the current 28 provided that UAE carriers can also operate separately to Clark and Cebu within one year from the signing of the memorandum of understanding.
The additional flights show Emirates’ commitment to the Philippine market.
The additional services are likewise seen to promote growth in tourism and trade between the two countries.
Obaidalla said the new services in particular, would have “hugely positive development for tourism, trade and the ongoing development of the Philippines’ regional economies.”
Emirates has been operating flights to Manila since 1990.
The airline provides links to over 100 global destinations to the Philippines through its network.