Cebu Pacific to start Clark-Narita flights

MANILA, Philippines — Budget carrier Cebu Pacific will expand its hub in Clark through the commencement of its direct service to and from Narita, Japan starting August.

Cebu Pacific said flights between Clark and Narita would run four times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) beginning Aug, 9, making the Gokongwei-owned company the first Philippine carrier to mount flights between Clark and Narita.

The airline said the new international route aims to harness the potential market of leisure travelers from Central and North Luzon, provide more travel options for Filipino migrant workers, and expand opportunities for inbound tourists as well as investors in the Clark, Subic and other special economic zones in the area.

“There is so much untapped potential in Clark, and we are committed to expanding our Clark hub to expand tourism, trade and investment opportunities. This will open up the areas around Clark to more investors and entrepreneurs,” Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said.

“With direct air service between Clark and Narita, it will be easier for Japanese tourists to access destinations in Pampanga, Pangasinan, Baguio, La Union and the rest of Luzon. Conversely, it will also be easier for residents in these areas to enjoy Tokyo, with a direct flight from Clark,” she added.

Cebu Pacific had earlier announced it would begin direct flights between its hubs in Clark and Iloilo, as well as between Clark and Bacolod, on Aug. 9 and daily flights between Clark and Puerto Princesa in Palawan by Oct. 9.

The four new routes will boost the carrier’s total capacity in Clark by 40 percent in 2019 alone, following a 75 percent increase in 2018 with the launch of direct commercial air service to and from Davao and Panglao (Bohol), as well as additional frequency for the Clark-Macau route.

The Clark International Airport is one of Asia’s fastest-growing airports, with passenger volume reaching about 2.5 million last year.

Cebu Pacific has been operating flights in and out of Clark since 2006. From its Clark hub, the carrier has direct flights to Cebu, Caticlan, Tagbilaran, Davao, Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong.

Aside from Clark, Cebu Pacific operates flights out of six other strategically placed hubs in the country, namely, Manila, Kalibo, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro (Laguindingan) and Davao.