Wednesday, December 05, 2007 Local airline opens direct flights to Bangkok from Cebu next year
WITH Cebu fast becoming a major business and leisure destination among foreign travelers, the Gokongwei-owned domestic carrier Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) announced its first direct flight from Cebu to Bangkok, Thailand beginning April 6, 2008.
Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and product, made the announcement yesterday in a press conference at the Cebu Midtown Hotel.
She said the three times weekly Cebu-Bangkok flight will bring to six CEB’s non-stop international services from its Cebu operations.
She pointed out that CEB is the only airline flying from Cebu to Bangkok.
CEB currently flies direct to Hong Kong, Singapore, and to Incheon and Pusan, South Korea and to Taipei, Taiwan starting Dec. 14.
In an interview, Iyog said other than Bangkok, CEB is looking at other feasible destinations.
She said CEB has been eyeing Japan as a potential destination and is planning to open direct flights to that country once seat entitlement issues have been ironed out.
CEB also announced direct daily service between Cebu and Boracay (Caticlan) starting March 28, 2008 or upon delivery of its second ATR72 aircraft.
The airline will also increase flight frequencies for the Cebu-Cagayan de Oro route to four times weekly starting Jan. 9 next year, while its Cebu-Davao service will become a thrice daily operation on May 8, 2008.
It is also offering a P1 seat sale promotion for the Cebu-Butuan destination.
Other than increased flight frequencies and opening of new destinations, Iyog said CEB is targeting to grow its aircraft carriers to four ATRs and four Airbuses, which are expected to be delivered next year.
“We will continue to expand our operations in our Cebu hub as the demand for air travel in the Visayas and Mindanao regions continue to rise. And we will continuously find ways to improve our operations as part of our commitment to make travel more accessible and comfortable for Filipinos,” Iyog said.
CEB is also beefing up domestic destinations from its Cebu hub in an effort to develop the province as a gateway to the rest of Visayas and Mindanao.
Inter-island connectivity, Iyog said, is the company’s support to spur tourism activities in the country.
Citing an official survey, she said domestic travel in the Philippines has grown to 23 percent in the last nine months. (MMM)
