THE low-cost carrier of taipan John L. Gokongwei is strengthening its hub in the Visayas with the scheduled launch of direct flights to Tokyo from Cebu starting March.
The airline will start operating its four weekly operations between Cebu and Tokyo (Narita) on March 26.
Utilizing the airline’s brand-new Airbus A320 fleet, the service is aimed at boosting Japanese tourist arrivals into Cebu.
As the only low-cost carrier operating this route, fares between Cebu and Tokyo are up to 60 percent lower compared to other airlines.
“Cebu Pacific has a good track record of stimulating travel because of its low fares and network. With this direct access to Cebu, we hope more Japanese tourists will visit the Philippines, just in time for the Visit the Philippines Year 2015,” Cebu Pacific Vice President for Marketing and Distribution Candice J. Iyog said.
Cebu is renowned as an island destination with urban comforts. Given its strategic location in the middle of the Philippines, it can also be a jump-off point to other beach, diving and surfing spots where Cebu Pacific flies to, such as Boracay, Camiguin, Siargao and Palawan (Puerto Princesa). The island of Bohol is also just a ferry ride away.
The Gokongwei-led carrier operates the most flights out of Mactan-Cebu International Airport, currently flying direct to 25 domestic and international destinations. “This new route also makes travel to Japan more convenient for those coming from the Visayas and Mindanao. We are launching direct Cebu-Tokyo flights just in time for the cherry-blossom season in Japan.
We hope more Filipinos can plan their trips ahead and experience this wonderful destination,” Iyog added.
Cebu Pacific launched direct flights from Manila to Tokyo (Narita) and Nagoya in March this year. A month after it launched direct flights, the Japan National Tourism Organization indicated that the Philippines was one of its fastest-growing source of foreign visitor arrivals. The carrier also flies from Manila to Osaka.
Aside from Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, the dominant budget carrier offers flights to 25 other international destinations, namely, Bali, Bangkok, Beijing, Brunei, Busan, Dammam, Dubai, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Incheon (Seoul), Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Macau, Phuket, Riyadh, Shanghai, Siem Reap, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Xiamen.
It also operates the most extensive network in the Philippines. Cebu Pacific’s 51-strong fleet is comprised of 10 Airbus A319, 28 Airbus A320, five Airbus A330 and eight ATR-72 500 aircraft. Between 2014 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 11 more brand-new Airbus A320, 30 Airbus A321neo and one Airbus A330 aircraft.
Cebu Air Inc., the operator of Cebu Pacific, booked a net income of P3.18 billion in the first semester this year, a 125-percent surge from P1.41 billion in the same period in 2013.
In the same comparative periods, revenues rose by 23 percent to P26.72 billion from P21.73 billion, while expenses jumped by 26 percent to P23.76 billion.
The Gokongwei-led carrier was among the five Southeast Asian carriers to post profits during the first half.
Lorenz S. Marasigan