MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has reinstated its weekly flights between Cebu and Osaka in line with efforts to capture the steady demand for business and leisure travel to Japan.
PAL is flying direct between Cebu and Osaka once again, restoring the service on Dec. 22 using a 199-seater Airbus A321.
Initially, PAL is connecting Cebu and Osaka on a thrice weekly basis, but the airline will increase the frequency to four times a week starting Feb. 26.
Based on PAL’s schedule, the flight takes off every Monday, Thursday and Sunday. By February, PAL will add Wednesday flights for travelers who want a midweek option.
PAL president and COO Stanley Ng said Osaka caters not only to leisure guests, but to business travelers as well.
The flight also gives passengers from Visayas, especially Cebu, direct access to Osaka and the western regions of Japan.
“We are excited to serve the Cebu-Osaka market once again, so we can offer leisure and business travelers from Cebu and the central Philippines a more convenient direct access to Osaka and the western regions of Japan,” Ng said.
Likewise, Ng said PAL would go on promotional tours in Osaka to invite tourists in the city to visit Cebu, which is known for its cultural and environmental wonders.
Osaka has become one of the most popular destinations that Filipinos go to when visiting Japan, as the city offers popular attractions like Dotonbori and Universal Studios Japan.
Osaka serves as the gateway to Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan, and it is also home to some of the largest shopping districts in the country. Osaka is the second destination that PAL reaches from Cebu, the other one being Narita.
Similarly, PAL resumed Cebu-Osaka flights to increase the customer base for its flight network in Cebu.
From the province, travelers can connect to other Philippine destinations like Bacolod, Borongan, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Cotabato, Davao, General Santos City, Iloilo, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Tacloban and Zamboanga.
Currently, PAL leads all Philippine carriers on flight frequency to Japan, offering 56 connections a week to the country by way of Fukuoka, Haneda, Nagoya, Narita and Osaka.
From Cebu, PAL reaches other international hubs in Asia, particularly Incheon and Bangkok, as it boasts the widest overseas coverage among domestic carriers.