Cebu Pacific wants more seats for Philippines-Hong Kong route

MANILA, Philippines - Budget carrier Cebu Pacific is seeking over 2,000 additional seats for weekly flights between the Philippines and Hong Kong.

A regulatory filing showed Cebu Air Inc., the operator of Cebu Pacific, is applying for additional allocation of 1,064 weekly seats between Manila and Hong Kong. 

It is likewise applying for an additional 1,260 weekly seats from points outside Manila to Hong Kong.

The weekly seat entitlements are being applied in accordance with an existing memorandum of agreement entered into by the governments of Hong Kong and the Philippines.

A hearing for the application is scheduled on Sept.7, at the Civil Aeronautics Board.

?Data from the Department of Tourism showed Hong Kong was the country’s 11th biggest source of tourist arrivals in the first five months.

Tourists from Hong Kong reached 51,229 from January to May, down 5.36 percent from 54,129 in the same period last year. 

Cebu Pacific currently flies to 36 domestic destinations, as well as 30 international destinations in Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US.

The carrier is aiming to serve 20 million passengers this year. 

As of the first-half, Cebu Air’s net income went up 48 percent to P7.7 billion from P5.2 billion in the same period last year.