CebuPac to fly to Da Nang

MANILA, Philippines — Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific is expanding its wings in Southeast Asia by adding a third route to Vietnam as part of efforts to broaden its international network.

Cebu Pacific will start flying to Da Nang, Vietnam, on Dec. 7, operating thrice a week trips to the destination every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Flight 5J 5756 departs the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 7:30 in the evening and lands at the Da Nang International Airport two hours later.

On the other hand, Flight 5J 5757 leaves the Vietnamese city at 10:30 in the evening and arrives in Manila at 2:20 in the morning the next day. Based on the flight plan, Cebu Pacific will deploy a 188-seater Airbus A320 to fly from Manila to Da Nang and vice versa.

Cebu Pacific expects Filipinos to flock to Da Nang as the city hosts a number of historical sites and luxury resorts. Da Nang serves as gateway for three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, namely, the Hoi An Ancient Town, Hue Imperial Citadel and My Son Sanctuary.

Earlier, The STAR reported that Cebu Pacific is studying the possibility of opening new routes in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.

However, at that time, Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao said the airline had to study first whether its fleet would allow it to introduce another route.

As with any other airline, Cebu Pacific is suffering from a shortage in aircraft parts, particularly jet engines, compelling it to reduce flight schedules until September with its fleet injured.

Apart from Da Nang, the carrier owned by the Gokongwei family flies to Vietnam through Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. As of August, Cebu Pacific sends out flights from Manila to Hanoi six times a week and to Ho Chi Minh nine times a week.

To bolster travel demand, Cebu Pacific is offering a seat sale for Da Nang flights until Thursday, with a base fare of as low as P1 per way, exclusive of fees and surcharges. The travel period will run from Dec. 7, 2023 and March 30, 2024.

At present, Cebu Pacific maintains a flight network made up of 35 domestic destinations and 24 international routes, reaching as far as the Middle East.

For the year, Cebu Pacific plans to spend as much as P42 billion for capital expenditures, mainly for the delivery of at least 15 Airbus aircraft.