New routes, more flights from Cebu from local international airlines

October 17, 2024 | 12:00 p.m

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

Cebu Pacific is conducting the largest MCIA expansion of any airline this month by introducing weekly flights to Bangkok via Don Mueang. Osaka; Masbate; and San Vicente.

The Philippines’ largest airline by passenger count 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.

Overseas, Cebu Pacific is increasing its services between Cebu and Hong Kong 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 largest airlines, is also coming to Cebu this month, offering daily flights to Narita to meet travel demand to Japan. Budget airline Aero K also offers a niche service with weekly flights to Cheongju, the capital of Chungbuk in South Korea.

Likewise, PAL adds flight schedules from Cebu to Bacolod, Siargao and Zamboanga on the domestic side and also introduces daily direct services to Incheon and Narita.

Among South Korean airlines, low-cost airlines Jeju Air and Jin Air are increasing their Cebu-Incheon flights to twice daily and daily, respectively.

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

Cebu Pacific remains the largest airline to land in MCIA, serving 22 domestic routes and four international cities. Right behind is PAL with Cebu connections to 18 domestically and three internationally.

Airlines have planned to expand their flight offerings this month in anticipation of the usual surge in air travel during the holiday season. For Undas, Cebu Pacific expects to carry nearly a million passengers and is seeing strong demand to Cebu, Hong Kong, Iloilo, Davao and Caticlan (Boracay).

The airline has so far booked more than 50,000 seats for the low-cost airline AirAsia Philippines for the travel period from October 30 to November 3.

For its part, PAL has also been flying to Seattle since October 2, marking its sixth route in the US, booking up to 90 percent of seats per schedule due to strong demand.