Saturday, September 23, 2006 Cebu Pacific back in Clark By Dante M. Fabian
* Airline eyes Diosdado Macapagal airport as hub; A319 flights start October 12
CLARK ECOZONE -- The Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) disclosed recently that Cebu Pacific (CEB) flights will be renewed at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) next month.
Cebu Pacific's flights at the DMIA are expected to boost economic ties between two key growth regions in Central Luzon and Western Visayas. Using its brand new Airbus 319, Cebu Pacific will commence its daily Cebu-Clark service on October 12 with an introductory cheap fare of P99 one-way. The plane departs from Cebu at 10:20 a.m. and arrives at DMIA at 11:40 a.m.
The return flight will leave DMIA at 12:10 p.m. and arrive in Cebu at 1:30 p.m. Passengers may avail of the promotional fare between September 19 and September 26 only.
Victor Jose Luciano, CIAC president and chief executive officer, welcomed the return of Cebu Pacific flights at the sprawling DMIA, noting this will further strengthen business and tourism sectors in Central Luzon and the Visayas.
Luciano said Cebu Pacific has realized the potential of Clark as a gateway when it signified its intention to fly thru DMIA once again. Cebu Pacific is also aggressively eyeing DMIA as a hub.
More domestic routes will be made available by Cebu Pacific, according to CIAC vice president for business development Romeo Dyoco.
Davao, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan De Oro, Tacloban, Tagbilaran and Kalibo will also be included among the new routes of Cebu Pacific, said Dyoco.
Cebu Pacific president and chief executive officer Lance Gokongwei announced that, "Cebu Pacific is all about making travel more affordable and convenient to more Filipinos. With the Clark-Cebu service, travelers now have the option of flying direct between the two regions without having to spend more time and more money traveling up and down the expressway to take flights or ferries from Manila to Cebu."
"Very importantly, this will also give more Filipinos in Central Luzon access to our year-round low fares," said Gokongwei.
Cebu Pacific now services 20 domestic destinations with the inclusion of Clark. After the promo fare, the lowest 'Go' fares between Clark and Cebu would be at P568 one-way.
CIAC has already recorded at least 43 international passenger flights per week aside from the 60 international and domestic cargo flights and 14 domestic flights.
As of now, CIAC is trying to expand its passenger capacity by improving the existing terminal including its security measures procuring new X-ray machines, a Terminal Approach Radar and additional equipments.
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