Saturday, September 29, 2007 Low cost airline launches flight between Cebu, Cagayan de Oro
TO further intensify its bid to make Cebu a major hub of its operating network, the Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific (CEB) introduced its first direct flight from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro last Thursday.
“We hope to further contribute to a healthier tourism eco-nomy for both Cebu and Cagayan de Oro with the start of our direct service between these two progressive cities,” said Candic Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and product.
The three-times weekly Cebu-Cagayan de Oro flight is set every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday using CEB’s 150-seater Airbus A319 aircraft.
CEB public relations consultant Charles Lim said that during its inaugural flight to Cagayan de Oro, 135 of the 150 seats were occupied by paying passengers
“This will complement tourism linking Cebu and Cagayan de Oro City, as well as other provinces in Northern Mindanao,” he said in an interview.
Lim said that after enjoying Cebu’s beach resorts, tourists can take the 45-minute flight to Cagayan de Oro and experience a “safari-type” of adventure that includes water sports, which Northern Mindanao is known for.
Opportunities
He said foreign tourists from Singapore, Korea and Hong Kong—international markets catered by CEB— will now have a bigger opportunity to visit Mindanao, with Cebu as a stopover point.
Lim said the reduction in travel time also allows for wider inter-island business opportunities.
Recognizing the need for accessibility as a major component to raise tourism revenues, Elena Manalo of the Department of Tourism in Cagayan de Oro lauded the entry of CEB.
She said the airline’s low fares and “convenient schedules” encourage more foreign and domestic tourists to explore other local destinations in Mindanao.
She cited Iligan, Gingoog, Malaybalay, Tangub, Oro-quieta, Ozamis, Valencia, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Cami-guin and Lanao del Norte.
“CEB answers the growing market demand of CDO for flights to Cebu,” Manalo said.
Charlie Manio, CEB director for advertising and promotion, said Cagayan de Oro account for 87.74 percent of the airline’s passenger load.
He also said CEB’s market share in Cagayan is at 45.42 percent.
The Cebu-Cagayan de Oro service is the CEB’s ninth domestic service offered from its Cebu operations hub.
CEB also flies to Bacolod, Clark, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Manila, Puerto Princesa, and Zamboanga, from Cebu.
Internationally, CEB offers direct flights from Cebu to Hong Kong, Singapore, Pusan and Incheon, Korea.
Next month, the airline plans to add routes to Guangzhou and Macau.
In a press statement, CEB announced it will also start flying to Taipei via Davao from Cebu on Dec. 14.
Both services are scheduled to operate to Taipei’s Chiang Kai Shek International Airport three times weekly—every Monday, Wednesday and Friday—using the 150-seater Airbus A319 aircraft. (MMM)
