MANILA, Philippines - Cebu Pacific is expanding operations between Manila and Sydney by offering daily flights starting December amid strong passenger demand.
The Gokongwei-owned budget carrier said in a statement the daily operations between Manila and Sydney would begin on Dec.1.
Cebu Pacific has the most number of seats offered on the Manila to Sydney route through its up to five times weekly nonstop services.
Data from Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics showed Cebu Pacific accounted for the the biggest share of 41.7 percent of the Manila to Sydney passenger market in the January to April period of this year.
The same data showed Cebu Pacific got 47.4 percent of the total cargo market of the Manila to Sydney route as of end-April.
“Cebu Pacific continues to remain bullish over prospects in the Australia market. The additional frequency between Manila and Australia reflects our commitment to reinforce the Cebu Pacific effect across one of our strongest international markets. We want to continue to offer our year-round low-fares that are affordable, accessible and available to a greater number of travellers,” Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution said.
She said the increase in frequencies would not just benefit tourists, but even businesses.
“The additional frequencies will also mean increased cargo capacity between Sydney and Manila. This bodes well for exporters, entrepreneurs and enterprises would like to bring products from Australia to the Philippines, and vice-versa; as well to Japan, China and Korea, the rest of Southeast Asia and to Dubai,” she said.
To promote the daily flights, Cebu Pacific is holding a seat sale for the Manila to Sydney route with the fares available for as low as P9,167.31
The seat sale would run until July 28, of this year or until seats last, with the travel period covering Nov. 16, of this year until March 15 of next year.
Cebu Pacific has flights to over 60 destinations.
Its 61-strong fleet is composed of four Airbus A319s, 36 Airbus A320s, eight Airbus A330s, eight ATR 72 500s and five ATR 72-600 aircraft.
From this year until 2022, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of seven Airbus A321ceos, 32 Airbus A321neos, and 11 ATR 72-600 aircraft.