Cebu Pacific to open more routes in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — Cebu Pacific is set to open more routes in Mindanao in line with the firm’s commitment to help spur growth and development in the southern part of the country.

Cebu Pacific general manager Danilo Mojica said that at present, Cebu Pacific services the four ports in Mindanao, including the cities of Davao, Cayagan de Oro, Butuan and Zamboanga.

The airline also services a direct Davao City-Zamboanga City route, which will be a daily service starting Dec. 5. By Dec. 10, the airline will also open its Cotabato City-Manila route.

Residents and business leaders in Mindanao have urged the airline to service other ports like General Santos City, Dipolog City and Surigao City.

Mojica said Mindanao is a maturing tourism destination, which the airline is bent on helping develop.

"We are looking at Mindanao as a destination that still has to mature but the airline could be of help by opening more routes in the south," he said.

He explained that Cebu Pacific is still studying the requests of the various localities in Mindanao, particularly General Santos City, which he described as more of a cargo destination than a passenger hub.

"We are looking into the various details of the market before we will act on the said requests that we serve their routes," Mojica added.

Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific has registered as much as 50 to 90 percent increase in daily sales since it launched early this month its year-round low-fare rates meant to help ease the passengers’ burden, particularly with the recent implementation of the expanded value added tax (EVAT) law.

Mojica told reporters here in a recent press conference that there has been a very positive and enthusiastic response to the airline’s low fare rates, which ranges from P688 to P1,200 for a one-way trip depending on the destination.

The discounted rates comprise at least 30 percent of the available total over-all capacity of the airline.

Mojica said the increase in daily sales actually cuts across all fare rates, even for outright purchases and not just limited to the low-fare promo rates.