BUDGET carrier Cebu Pacific will begin operating its wide-body Airbus A330neo at the Bohol Panglao International Airport (BPIA) starting October, significantly expanding seat capacity and reinforcing the province’s position as a rising tourism hub.
The move marks a major upgrade in the Bohol–Manila route, as the 459-seater A330neo will replace smaller aircraft currently servicing the sector. The deployment reflects the airline’s growing confidence in Bohol’s potential as a key transport and tourism gateway in the Visayas.
The announcement was made during a courtesy visit by Cebu Pacific executives to Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado on July 21, 2025. The carrier, the country’s largest, also confirmed that Aboitiz InfraCapital, BPIA’s private operator, has invited the airline to explore further flight expansions from the province.
Cebu Pacific, which operates a fleet of 100 aircraft flying to 37 domestic and 26 international destinations, raised several operational concerns tied to BPIA’s readiness to support wide-body operations.
Among them are the risk of bird strikes, a known hazard in regional airports such as Iloilo and Tacloban.
While Bohol has reported fewer incidents, the airline stressed the need for preventive measures. Aumentado committed to introducing ordinances on vegetation control and bird dispersal near the airport to mitigate the risk.
The airline also flagged the lack of adequate firefighting facilities as a critical concern. With larger aircraft arriving, Cebu Pacific requested the procurement of additional firefighting equipment, a call the governor pledged to address before the A330neo’s deployment in October.
“We are fully supporting the airport’s readiness to handle wide-body operations,” Aumentado said, affirming the province’s commitment to infrastructure and tourism growth. / KOC