
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is expanding its flight frequencies and seat capacity for the Cebu market, as the airline bolsters its domestic coverage in anticipation of increased travel demand during the summer season.
In a statement, PAL said it will operate 287 weekly roundtrip domestic flights from Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) beginning next month, increasing flight frequency by 10 percent.
The weekly flights will span 18 destinations across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
PAL will boost seat capacity on certain routes by deploying 199-seater Airbus A321s, which would add 113 more seats per flight compared to the usual 86-seater De Havilland Dash 8-400 NGs.
With new flights and aircraft, the carrier’s weekly capacity to and from Cebu will increase by over 39,000 seats, exceeding its previous capacity in the province by 17 percent.
PAL Express President Rabbi Vincent Ang said expanding its Cebu hub is part of the carrier’s commitment to increase connectivity, which is pivotal in boosting the economy and driving tourism across the country.
“We invite travelers to make the most of the peak summer season by flying to these exciting destinations from Mactan-Cebu, our growing hub in the central Philippines,” said Ang.
PAL Express, the low-cost subsidiary of PAL, operates turboprops to reach popular island destinations.
PAL’s route from Cebu to Boracay, the country’s most popular beach destination, will see weekly flights increase from 14 to 21.
Weekly flights to Siargao, known as the surfing capital of the Philippines, will jump from 18 to 26.
Two famous destinations in Palawan will likewise get a boost, with weekly flights between Cebu and Puerto Princesa increasing from seven to 14, and between Cebu and Coron (Busuanga) from 14 to 17.
Aside from its domestic network, PAL is also expanding its international flight offerings from its Cebu hub.
With the recent introduction of Cebu-Osaka flights, PAL is scheduled to begin Cebu-Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) flights in May.
PAL operates a global network of nonstop flights out of hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao to 31 domestic and 37 international destinations spanning Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East.