Low-cost Asian airline to fly Cebu-Singapore

CEBU, Philippines - A few days after it announced to fly Cebu-Taipei, Philippines AirAsia also made known to the public that it will be offering direct flights from Cebu to Singapore starting on Nov. 25The new flight will be available every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Company CEO Dexter Comendador said the addition of the Cebu-Singapore route enables the airline to strengthen its Cebu hub and connect Cebuanos to their ASEAN neighbors.

In an earlier press conference here, Comendador said that Cebu is emerging as the fastest growing air hub outside Metro Manila.

Apart from Singapore and Taipei, the airline is also increasing flights between Cebu and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia from three to four times weekly effective October 29.

Currently, the carrier also has direct flights from Cebu to Incheon in South Korea.

Erwin Balane, route development head of the Department of Tourism, said more new international routes from Cebu will soon open.

He said that the new routes coming to Cebu are a result of the intensive promotion of the Philippines' second largest urban area to airline companies.

He said a number of new routes are on the pipeline but refused to disclose these yet, saying the applications still have pending requirements to comply.

Total tourist arrivals in Cebu in the first semester reached 2.5 million, up four percent.

MCIA's private operator, GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., continues to embark on new airlines and destination marketing initiatives.

Data showed that the Mactan-Cebu airport posted a 12-percent growth in both passenger and aircraft traffic in the first five months of 2016.

The MCIA recorded 3.715 million passengers both domestic and international from January to May this year, up 12 percent from 3.320 million in the same period last year, official data showed.

MCIA had 2.775 million domestic passengers and 939,608 international travelers in the five-month period.

MCIA also saw a 12 percent rise in aircraft traffic in the first five months to 29,441 domestic and international flights.

During the period, the airport recorded 23,445 domestic flights and 5,996 foreign flights. (FREEMAN)