Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific is set to launch direct flights to Saudi Arabia's capital in March next year, promising the most affordable travel option to the top destination for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Building on the momentum of its successful Manila to Dubai route, Cebu Pacific is taking another bite of the Middle East market through direct flights to Riyadh.

The airline is set to launch the new route in March 1 and will operate four times a week between Manila and Riyadh.

Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao said the airline decided to launch a long-haul flight to Riyadh to benefit the more than 800,000 OFWs working there.

Lao said this number will continue to grow as Saudi Arabia steadily positions itself as an economic powerhouse in the region, which would open up thousands of new employment opportunities.

“There will be a requirement for infrastructure to be built up, as well as, at some point, services to [be] another pillar of their economy. So that's something we believe that the Philippines can support,” he said at a press briefing on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Lao said Riyadh will likely be the sole long-haul market for the airline this year, referring to destinations that are beyond the typical four- to five-hour international flight.

The airline currently operates long-haul flights to Dubai, as well as the cities of Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.

To further enhance these routes, Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer officer Candice Iyog said there are plans to ramp up their flight schedules and linkages to other domestic hubs.

“So it's really how we strengthen the existing network so that we're able to gain economies of scale. Economies of scale is important because that's how we lower our fares,” said Iyog.

Cebu Pacific said the flight schedule for Manila to Riyadh will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Meanwhile, Riyadh to Manila flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

The budget carrier said passengers booking this route can enjoy savings of up to 57 percent on roundtrip fares compared to other airlines.

Staying true to this commitment, Cebu Pacific is rolling out a seat sale from Dec. 9 to 13 for for passengers to book their Manila-Riyadh flights for as low as ₱1 one-way base fare, exclusive of surcharges and other fees.

The travel period for the promo is from March 1 to Oct. 28, 2026.

Also this month, passengers can avail discounts through fare bundles, allowing them to purchase flights with seat selection, meals, and baggage allowance at lower rates.

With the addition of Riyadh, Cebu Pacific is now expanding its international network to 27 destinations across Asia, Australia,and the Middle East.

The airline operates 37 domestic routes.