MANILA — To serve the growing demand this summer, budget carrier Cebu Pacific will increase its turbo-prop flights to select destinations beginning April 8.
Cebu Pacific will increase flights from Manila to Boracay (Caticlan), making it 14 times daily from April 8 to June 8, 2011. The airline’s Manila-Coron (Busuanga) flights will become twice daily, while Manila-Naga flights will become thrice daily during the same period.
These routes utilize 100 percent brand-new ATR 72-500 aircraft from Toulouse, France, of which Cebu Pacific has eight in its aircraft fleet. This kind of plane can accommodate up to 74 passengers.
“With the new flight frequencies, Cebu Pacific will operate an average of 82 turbo-prop flights a day, as compared to Philippine Airlines and Airphil Express’ combined 64 flights. We also utilize our ATR aircraft for 22 destinations and 25 routes, more than PAL and Airphil Express combined,” said Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog.
The Gokongwei-led airline operates 12 turbo-prop routes from Manila including those to Catarman, Tuguegarao and Virac. It also flies from Davao to Cagayan de Oro using an ATR aircraft.
From Cebu, the company operates the most number of turbo-prop flights to the most number of routes and destinations. These are flights to Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Boracay, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Legazpi, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Siargao, Surigao and Tacloban. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)