LUCIO Tan-led Philippine Airlines (PAL) is making its major investment in building Cebu as an aviation hub by relaunching its direct link to Los Angeles (LA).

The flag carrier will begin on May 2, 2020 its thrice weekly service to the North America region from Cebu.

At over 11,800 kilometers, the Cebu-LA direct link will be the longest commercial route serving the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

PAL vice president for marketing Ria Domingo said the company has revived the route, which was first introduced in 2016, due to “popular demand.”

The carrier is using its longest long-range aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER, that accommodates up to 370 passengers and has the capability to fly non-stop across the Pacific Ocean on a year-round basis.

The 14-hour direct flight gives Cebuanos the chnace to visit the US for sightseeing, family reunions and business.

PAL is also looking to cultivate inbound tourism by introducing the rich natural and cultural wonders of Visayas and Mindanao to American tourists based in LA-San Diego metropolitan areas, as well as the rest of Southern California and Nevada.

“MCIA is looking forward to serving Filipino balikbayans and foreign visitors to and from Southern California,” said Andrew Harrison, chief executive advisor at GMR-Megawide Group.

“We are determined to show to US travelers that Cebu is in itself a world-class leisure and business destination,” said Harry Inoferio, PAL senior assistant vice president for sales.

Los Angeles is PAL’s sixth international destination from Cebu, the others being Nagoya, Tokyo Narita, Bangkok, Osaka and Seoul Incheon.

PAL flight PR152 departs from MCIA every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 9 p.m, arriving at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport at 7:30 p.m. on the same days. The return flight leaves LA at 11 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays touching down two days later in Cebu at 5 a.m.