Cebu Pacific to increase flights starting Jan '12

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu Pacific (CEB) will increase flight frequencies and seat capacity to select international flights starting January 2012 to meet travel demand, especially with the addition of more brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft to its fleet.

CEB will take delivery of four more Airbus A320 aircraft from October 2011 to January 2012, allowing the airline to offer the lowest possible fares in the market and the most flight schedule options for its guests.

The airline will increase flight frequencies in the following routes: effective Jan. 7, 2012 - Manila-Brunei-Manila (from three to four weekly flights); Manila-Singapore-Manila (from 32 to 35 weekly flights); Manila-Beijing-Manila (from three to four weekly flights); additional seats (from Airbus A319 to Airbus A320) Manila-Ho Chi Minh-Manila (daily); and effective Jan. 8, 2012 – additional seats (from Airbus A319 to Airbus A320) Manila-Bangkok-Manila (10 weeklyflights).

CEB also previously announced additional four weekly flights from Manila to Kuala Lumpur and vice versa, making it double-daily starting Jan. 8, 2012.

“CEB already offers the most number of flights between the Philippines and Singapore, with direct flights from Manila, Cebu and Clark. We recognize Singapore as a high-traffic route for leisure and business, so we are adding more flights to meet the demand,” according to Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and distribution.

“We are also the only low-cost carrier operating direct flights from the Philippines to Brunei and Beijing. Our trademark low fares have allowed many overseas Filipino workers and tourists from Beijing to travel to the Philippines and vice versa. These additional flights and CEB’s seat sales will continue to boost tourism and trade between our countries,” Iyog added.

CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 16 Airbus A320 and eight ATR-72 500 aircraft. By the end of 2011, CEB will be operating a fleet of 37 aircraft – with an average age of less than 3.5 years – one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 23 Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders, and two Airbus A320 aircraft on operating lease agreements.