Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 8) — Local airlines are boosting their international and domestic network this summer as the government relaxes restrictions amid the dip in COVID-19 cases.
In separate statements, Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific said they are taking advantage of the improved coronavirus situation in the country to launch more flights starting this March.
Flag carrier PAL on Tuesday said it is adding more than 1,500 flights, expanding its regular scheduled flights by 52%.
“We are seizing the opportunity to intensify our efforts to promote international tourist travel to the Philippines, as well as to respond to rising demand for flights to serve overseas Filipinos and a recovering economy,” said Captain Stanley K. Ng, acting president and COO of PAL.
“We are reasonably optimistic that air travel will rebound in the months ahead, signaling a resurgence for Philippine tourism,” he added.
PAL also said it is increasing flights to the US and Canada by over 24%, with Los Angeles moving up to 11 flights weekly, while it would mount daily flights for San Francisco.
New York, Vancouver, Honolulu, Toronto, and Guam will see additional weekly services by April, it added.
Flight operations for Southeast Asia routes will also be increased by 98%, beginning with the 14 weekly flights for the Manila-Singapore route.
Routes to Japan will also rise by around 11%, with additional services to Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and to Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita airports.
PAL’s flights out of the Saudi Arabian cities of Riyadh and Dammam will also increase by 16%. The company is also making more flights available to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane as Australia has started welcoming international travelers.
Flights to Hong Kong and Taiwan will be up by 60%, while operations to Macau are expected to resume next month.
According to PAL, flights for domestic routes would be boosted by 56%, with the following operations:
Manila-Cebu – Up to 56 weekly flights (eight flights per day), increasing to 70 per week (10 per day) in April.
Manila-Davao – Up to 42 weekly flights (six per day)
Manila-Bacolod – Up to 21 weekly flights (three per day)
Manila-Legazpi – Up to 21 weekly flights (three per day)
Manila-Iloilo – Up to 21 weekly flights (three per day)
Manila-Cagayan de Oro – Up to 28 weekly flights (four per day)
Manila-Boracay (Caticlan) – Up to 42 weekly flights (six per day)
Manila-Tacloban – Up to 21 weekly flights (three per day)
The flag carrier will also offer 11 weekly flights between Zamboanga and Manila, as well as twice weekly flights between Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi. Daily flights will also be available between Manila and Puerto Princesa, Kalibo, Roxas, Cotabato, Ozamiz City, Pagadian and General Santos City.
Cebu Pacific, meanwhile, said daily flights to key destinations will be increased starting March 27: flights from Manila and Boracay will operate up to 16 times daily; to Bohol up to seven times daily; to Cagayan de Oro up to 10 times daily; to Cebu up to 18 times daily; to Davao 10 times daily; and three times daily for Iloilo.
The airline will also resume mounting flights to Siargao and Surigao via Manila, Calbayog via Cebu, Iloilo and Zamboanga via Davao, and General Santos via Iloilo.
“We are very happy to continuously see positive indicators in the industry, that is why we are also doing what we can to ensure we address the travel demand,” said Xander Lao, the airline’s chief commercial officer.
