Airphil Express eyes Cebu as hub for provincial flights

CEBU, Philippines – After its re-launch in Metro Manila in March this year, Air Philippines is set to conquer the traveling market in the Visayas and Mindanao eyeing Cebu as the hub for all its provincial flights.

Maria Rodriguez Java, Airphil Express head for marketing, media, e-commerce and product, said the company also plans to make Cebu the center in the Visayas and Mindanao for its regional flights to Singapore and Korea , among others.

The low-cost airline had its Cebu to Manila maiden flight yesterday, simultaneous to the Davao to Manila maiden flight. Airphil initially flies Cebu to Manila ones a day but the frequency is set to increase to four flights in October this year.

Java said Airphil aims to fly Cebu to Manila eight times a day as soon as the additional aircrafts it purchased from France arrive. Airphil is undergoing a three-year re-fleeting plan, which includes the purchase of 18 Airbus 320 planes from France . Six A320 are expected to be delivered every year beginning this year. Two aircrafts have already been delivered. The remaining six are set to arrive in November.

Airphil’s Cebu-Manila and Davao-Manila flights are purposely scheduled at the end of the day, at 10:40 p.m., in response to the demand of its target market, the business community.

“Cebu and Davao are known to be the place for manufacturers. According to our research, our customers (in Cebu and Davao ) needs to get themselves and their products to their destination faster, better and cheaper. AirPhil Express has designed its Cebu-Manila and Davao-Manila flights specifically to respond to this business demand,” Java said.

“The end-of-the-day flight schedule and the choice of aircraft to service these routes are crucial. The larger cargo hold of the A320 allows Cebu and Davao-based business to load cargo to and from Manila at the end of every business day and straight to market at the start of the next. By assigning a fast, fuel-efficient, narrow-bodied jet like the A320, Airphil Express is also able to better respond to cost-wise to both passenger and cargo customers,” she added.

Aside from the A320 planes, Airphil’s fleet includes the Bombardier Q300 and the Bombardier Q400. Airphil Express also flies from Cebu to Bacolod , Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Iloilo, Surigao and Tacloban,

AirPhil was incorporated in 1995. In August 2009 it ceased operations after it was acquired by Philippine Airlines. It then started operating PAL Express flights in October under a code-sharing agreement with Philippine Airlines. (THE FREEMAN)