Airlines mull new routes as NAIA upgrade nears

MANILA, Philippines — Domestic carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines are planning to match the fresh investments to be made in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by exploring new routes here and abroad.

In a forum organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines in partnership with San Miguel Corp. (SMC), the local carriers unveiled possible routes they may mount from Manila ahead of NAIA’s rehabilitation.

PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng said the airline is looking into the potential of reaching India soon, enticed by its growing markets for business and leisure travel.

However, Ng said such expansion would require additional aircraft from PAL and capacity in NAIA. As PAL awaits the delivery of nine Airbus A350-1000s and 13 A321neos, Ng hopes the airport is improved to accommodate more passengers and facilitate additional flights.

Cebu Pacific wants to cement its position as the airline with the widest domestic reach, setting its sights on aviation developments in Bukidnon and Siquijor. The government is building an airport in Bukidnon, scheduled to take in turboprops by 2025 and narrowbodies by 2026.

However, Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Alexander Lao said the carrier is interested in increasing its NAIA flights to island destinations, particularly Coron and Siargao, if their runways are widened to allow the landing of larger jets.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricardo Isla, for his part, said the airline would prioritize reaching popular travel destinations in the country first before exploring new routes overseas.

He cited the likes of Butuan, Dipolog, Legazpi and Tuguegarao as some of the cities that AirAsia Philippines would want to connect to as soon as possible.

Currently, PAL, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines are preparing to link NAIA to new routes even prior to the gateway’s P170.6-billion upgrade. PAL, for instance, will introduce direct flights to Seattle starting Oct. 2, marking its sixth route in the US and eighth overall in North America.

Cebu Pacific will become the lone carrier to connect Manila and Chiang Mai beginning Oct. 29, supporting efforts to further expand in tourist hotspot Thailand. AirAsia Philippines will also mount Manila-Nagoya flights on the same day, scaling up its flight network in Japan.

All of them expect the airport to improve efficiency-wise once it is turned over to the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. led by SMC.

The NNIC will start operating and maintaining NAIA on Sept. 14, and is given 15 years to complete the rehabilitation of one of the worst gateways in the world.