Cebu Pacific adds flights from Clark, Cebu

CEBU PACIFIC is expanding its Clark and Cebu operations, introducing new routes to boost its presence in Eastern and Western Visayas.

In a statement on Thursday, the Gokongwei-led budget carrier said its wholly owned subsidiary Cebgo will be mounting daily flights between Clark and Caticlan (Boracay); three times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) between Clark and Busuanga; and three times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) service between Cebu and Busuanga starting May 15.

It will also add four times weekly flights ( Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday) between Cebu and Cotabato from May 16.

“We believe that by opening these new routes, we are enabling more residents from Central and even North Luzon to travel to Palawan and Boracay — two of the world’s best islands, without having to make the trip to Metro Manila to catch their flights,” Cebgo President and CEO Alexander G. Lao was quoted as saying.

He noted currently, even guests from the Visayas who would like to explore Northern Palawan, have to fly via Manila to get there. A direct Cebu- Busuanga route, will make it easier to access nearby islands of Coron and Culion, boosting domestic tourism, and enhancing trade and investment as Cebgo also introduces its cargo services.

Aside from Cebu and Clark, Cebu Pacific also operates flights out of four other strategically placed hubs in the Philippines: Manila, Davao, Kalibo, and Iloilo.

Its network covers over 100 routes and 66 destinations, spanning Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and USA.

Cebu Air, operator of the budget carrier, saw its net income surge by 122% annually to P9.8 billion, propelled by higher passenger, cargo and ancillary revenues. It flew 19.1 million passengers in 2016, up 4.1% from the 18.4 million passengers ferried in 2015.

Shares in Cebu Air rose by P3.05 to end Thursday’s trading at P98 apiece. —