Budget carrier Cebu Pacific announced on Friday, August 7, the resumption and expansion of direct services across China, Japan, and Vietnam to capitalize on recovering regional travel demand.
The Gokongwei-led airline will relaunch its Manila-Xiamen route on November 23 with twice-weekly flights on Mondays and Fridays. Additionally, Cebu Pacific will become the sole Philippine carrier operating non-stop flights between Cebu and Shanghai starting November 17, running three times a week.
These additions build upon its existing direct flights from Manila to Shanghai and Guangzhou as China’s market steadily recovers.
Beyond China, the airline is boosting its Japanese network by introducing direct flights between Cebu and Nagoya four times weekly starting November 19, marking its third Japanese destination out of Cebu alongside Tokyo-Narita and Osaka.
In Vietnam, direct flights connecting Cebu to Ho Chi Minh City and Clark to Hanoi will resume on October 26 and November 19, respectively.
”The launch of additional direct flights to China, Vietnam, and Japan not only provides travelers from all over the Philippines with more convenient access to these vibrant cities but also encourages more international travelers to visit and explore our country,” said Cebu Pacific President and Chief Commercial Officer Alexander Lao.
Regional passenger volume rose 3% to 192.49 million in the first half of the year, according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, enabling Cebu Pacific to scale operations despite elevated jet fuel costs.
Supported by a fleet of 102 aircraft, the carrier is offering a seat sale through August 11 with one-way base fares starting at P1, excluding fees and surcharges.
”As we continue to expand our international network, we remain committed to making travel more accessible and affordable for our passengers,” Lao added.