Cebu Pacific beefs up domestic routes

MANILA, Philippines - Budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) is beefing up its domestic flights to boost passenger connectivity and access to major tourist destinations in the Philippines.

Cebu Pacific is set to increase flights to tourism spots such as Siargao, Coron, and Bohol.

Siargao is an international surfing hotspot while Coron in Palawan is popular for its dive sites and islands. Bohol’s Chocolate Hills and beaches are also a favorite among domestic and foreign tourists.

The budget airline is operating a total of five weekly flights between Cebu and Siargao, with an additional weekly frequency.

Cebu Pacific would also mount additional thrice weekly frequencies from both Manila-Busuanga (Coron) and Manila-Tagbilaran (Bohol) from Aug. 24 to Oct. 26.

An Airbus A319 aircraft would also be utilized for an additional Tuesday frequency from Manila to Cauayan, Isabela.

Cebu Pacific started operating a total of 33 weekly Manila-Kalibo flights that serve as gateway to the island paradise of Boracay with additional Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday frequencies last Aug. 1.

It also added more flights on the following routes: Manila-Cebu (daily), Manila-Davao with four times a week and Manila-Legazpi with four times a week using Airbus A320 aircraft.

On the same date, the airline also added more flights out of its Cebu hub: Cebu-Davao with three weekly flights, Cebu-Dumaguete with two weekly flights) and Cebu-Tacloban with three weekly flights.

It also increased its flight frequency between Cebu and Legaspi to four times a week and to five times a week starting Oct. 13.

The low cost carrier also started using A320 for its Cebu to General Santos flight last Aug 3.

The airline booked an 18.5-percent decline in net income to P1.414 billion in the first half of the year from P1.736 billion in the same period last year amid the 10.1 percent increase in revenues to P21.726 billion from P19.729 billion.

Revenue gains were offset by the P1.349 billion net foreign exchange losses after the peso weakened to P43.2 to $1 in the first half of the year from P41.05 per $1 in the same period last year.

It also operates the most extensive network in the Philippines with 34 domestic destinations and 22 international destinations through its hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, Kalibo, Iloilo and Davao.