Cebu Pacific to mount Caticlan night flights

CEBU PACIFIC Inc., will start mounting night flights to Caticlan Airport in Boracay starting July 1 following the upgrade of the air traffic control system and newly installed night navigational equipment at the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport.

The Gokongwei- led airline said in a statement yesterday it will add two round- trip flights daily between Manila and Caticlan, utilizing the ATR aircraft under subsidiary Cebgo.

With the additional service, the budget carrier said the last flight will be leaving Manila at 6: 55 p. m. and returning from Caticlan at 8:45 p.m. Currently, the last flight from Manila to Caticlan leaves at 3:30 p.m. with the return flight at 5:10 p.m.

“[The] expansion of operating times will not only boost frequencies to key domestic routes, but it will also give travelers more options, greater flexibility on when they fly and also help decongest air traffic, especially during the peak flying hours at noon and early afternoon,” Cebu Pacific Vice-President for Corporate Affairs Paterno S. Mantaring, Jr., was quoted as saying.

Cebu Pacific has a total of 39 flights weekly between Manila and Caticlan; 14 between Cebu and Caticlan; and seven between Clark and Caticlan. The additional night frequencies will add 12 more flights to Caticlan to bring Cebu Pacific’s total to 72.

Cebu Air, Inc.’s net income plunged 68% to P1.28 billion in the first quarter.

Its shares closed at P99.10 apiece on Thursday, down 90 centavos or 0.90%.