CEBU Pacific has launched four additional domestic flights that will further connect three major islands in the country to create more tourism, trade, and productivity traffic.
These new routes include Cebu-Busuanga, Cebu-Cotabato, Clark-Caticlan (Boracay), and Clark-Busuanga.
Ma. Charo Lagamon, director for Corporate Communications and Corporate Affairs, said in a media briefing at the 21 Bar and Restaurant in Bacolod City Thursday there have been requests to open these routes, particularly those going to Busuanga in Northern Palawan.
She said these flights, which provide connectivity options to passengers, especially those based in the Visayas, are significant driver of domestic tourism boost.
“Since low-cost carrier came in there was a spike in people who travel,” Lagamon said, adding that when passenger routes are opened, it also includes cargo shipments thus, efficiency in the movement of goods across the islands also improves.
Cebu Pacific will open the Cebu-Busuanga, Clark-Caticlan (Boracay), and Clark-Busuanga flights on May 15 with an introduction sale of P599.
The other route, Cebu-Cotabato also with P599 rate sale, will open on May 16.
Lagamon said these flights complement existing domestic flights that will cater to the expected influx of passengers during summer.
Last month, Cebu Pacific also expanded its inter-regional route network by opening its Bacolod-Cagayan de Oro flights, one of the two additional routes that will further connect the Visayas and Northern Mindanao.
On March 15, the airline opened the Bacolod-Cagayan de Oro route with three flights every week.
The other route is between Cagayan de Oro and Tagbilaran, with four flight schedules weekly.
Alexander Lao, president and chief executive officer of Cebgo, had earlier said these new routes will not only boost tourism, but also increase trade and productivity between Visayas and Mindanao.
Lao said they are also optimistic that this will encourage a number of tourists and businessmen from Tagbilaran and Bacolod to visit Mindanao more often with direct flights.
Cebu Pacific, which is celebrating its 21st year, currently operates 108 domestic and international flights. It registered 9.6 percent growth in revenue last year, at P61.9 billion.
Lagamon also said that since 1996, the airline has catered to about 140 million passengers. For this year, it targets to cater 20 million passengers or 100 million by 2021.
