MANILA, Philippines – Budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) of taipan John Gokongwei is expanding its hubs outside Manila by launching direct flights to Hong Kong and Japan starting next month.
Cebu Pacific announced that it would mount flights to Hong Kong from Boracay via its hub in Kalibo, Aklan starting March 2. The Boracay – Kalibo would have three weekly flights using an Airbus A320.
It is also flying to Tokyo (Narita) via the Mactan – Cebu International Airport four times a week starting March 26, using also an A320 aircraft.
Cebu Pacific operates six hubs in the Philippines including its hub at the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Aside from Cebu and Kalibo, the airline operates at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark; Davao International Airport l; and Iloilo International Airport.
It has an extensive route network of 62 destinations spanning Dubai, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, among others as well as the most flights and routes within the Philippines.
Cebu Pacific took delivery of its 31st brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft last Feb. 4. It now operates a fleet of 54 aircraft comprised of 10 Airbus A319, 31 A320, five A330, and eight ATR-72 500 aircraft with an average age of 4.34 years.
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It is in the middle of a $4 billion refleeting program involving the acquisition of 50 brand new Airbus aircraft.
Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said the low cost carrier is scheduled to take delivery of 35 more brand new Airbus aircraft including seven more A320, 30 A321neo, and one A330 aircraft for the next six years or between 2015 and 2021.
“We continue to invest heavily in new planes to expand existing services and open new routes here and abroad,” she said.
Earnings of Cebu Pacific rose 213 percent to P2.08 billion in the first nine months of last year from P664.08 million a year ago. While revenues jumped by 25.7 percent to P38.45 billion from P30.58 billion on the back of higher passenger and cargo revenues.
Passenger revenues grew 26 percent to P29.72 billion from P23.59 billion as volume of passengers grew 14.8 percent to 12.5 million from 10.9 million on the back of more flights.
The airline has yet to report its 2014 financial results.
