Travelers bound for Bicol and Mindoro will now have to travel to Clark to take their flights to Naga and San Jose, following Cebu Pacific’s transfer of these flights from Manila in line with the impending turboprop phaseout at the country’s main gateway.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said all flights to San Jose will now fly out of Clark International Airport, beginning Oct. 26.

Meanwhile, direct flights between Manila and Naga will be reduced to once daily from twice daily, with the other frequency transferred to Clark.

Cebu Pacific said the flights out of its Clark hub will be operated by its regional unit Cebgo, which operates an all-turboprop fleet.

The Gokongwei-led airline said the transfer is in compliance with the July 29 resolution of the Manila Slot Coordination Committee (MSCC) to limit turboprop operations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Manila Bulletin broke the story that MSCC will postpone the deadline of the planned turboprop transfer from October to March 2026.

Part of the postponement is the imposition of a limit on turboprop flights out of NAIA to a maximum of 42 flights per week and six flights per day.

Industry sources told Manila Bulletin that Cebu Pacific and flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will split the weekly turboprop schedule, with 21 flights each.

“[Cebu Pacific] recognizes the importance of managing airport capacity effectively, which will lead to improved passenger experience and greater public convenience,” the airline said.

Cebu Pacific said its boutique subsidiary, AirSWIFT, will continue to operate from NAIA Terminal 2 until March of next year. 

The public-private MSCC moved to postpone the transfer of all turboprop operations from NAIA to nearby airports driven by concerns among industry stakeholders.

“The MSCC recognized that additional time may be needed to effectively manage and mitigate the impact of such transfer, and address logistical and informational challenges,” it said in a document obtained by Manila Bulletin.

Turboprops are smaller aircraft used to reach Naga and San Jose, where airports have limited runway space that cannot accommodate larger jets.

Pushing turboprops out of NAIA was seen as a way to ease congestion at the already crowded airport and free up slots for larger aircraft that can carry more passengers.

Cebu Pacific said it would notify passengers affected by the scheduled transfer.

These passengers will be entitled to a full refund, a free rebooking for travel within 30 days of the original flight date, or the option to store the amount in their travel fund for future flight bookings or add-ons.

To promote the transfer, Cebu Pacific is holding a seat sale for Naga and San Jose flights from Clark until Aug. 31, offering as low as ₱1 one-way base fare, exclusive of fees and surcharges.

The promo will have a travel period until March 31, 2026.