New routes, more flights out of Cebu from local, international carriers

MANILA, Philippines —  Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is expanding its flight network with additional frequencies from Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines (PAL) and new routes from United Airlines and Aero K.

Cebu Pacific is making the largest expansion out of MCIA among all airlines this month, as it is bringing in weekly flights to Bangkok via Don Mueang; Osaka; Masbate; and San Vicente.

The largest Philippine carrier by passenger size is also increasing the frequency of Cebu flights to Manila, Bacolod, Busuanga, Butuan, Clark, Dumaguete, General Santos City, Iloilo, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Surigao and Zamboanga.

Abroad, Cebu Pacific is raising its Cebu-Hong Kong services to five times a week. The airline is also upgrading its direct flights from Cebu to Incheon, Narita and Singapore to a daily schedule.

United, one of the world’s biggest carriers, is also entering Cebu this month, mounting daily flights to Narita to compete for the travel demand to Japan. Budget carrier Aero K is also putting up a niche service of weekly flights to Cheongju, the capital of Chungbuk in South Korea.

Likewise, PAL is adding flight schedules from Cebu to Bacolod, Siargao and Zamboanga on the domestic end, on top of turning direct connections to Incheon and Narita into a daily basis.

Among South Korean airlines, low-cost carriers Jeju Air and Jin Air are boosting their Cebu trips to Incheon to twice daily and daily frequencies, respectively.

Moreover, Chinese carrier China Eastern Airlines is taking advantage of reduced flights between the Philippines and China by enhancing its Cebu-Shanghai service to a daily schedule.

Cebu Pacific remains the largest carrier landing in MCIA, able to reach 22 domestic routes and four international cities. PAL sits right behind with Cebu connections to 18 locally and three abroad.

Airlines timed the expansion of their flight coverage this month in anticipation of the usual spike in air travel during the holiday season. For Undas, Cebu Pacific expects to fly nearly one million passengers, seeing strong demand for Cebu, Hong Kong, Iloilo, Davao and Caticlan (Boracay).

For low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines, the airline has booked more than 50,000 seats so far for the travel period between Oct. 30 and Nov. 3.

PAL, for its part, has also flown to Seattle since Oct. 2, marking its sixth route in the US, and it is booking up to 90 percent of seats per schedule on strong demand.