MANILA, Philippines - Kuwait may be the inaugural long-haul flight of local low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific.

The Gokongwei-led budget carrier has filed an application with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for a 4-times-a-week frequency using its new Airbus A330 aircraft. The airline had announced in January 2012 it plans to fly to long-haul destinations (over 4 hours away from the Manila airport) by 2013.

Rival Philippine Airlines (PAL), a legacy carrier under the management of San Miguel Corp., has filed a similar petition so it could mount the Manila-Kuwait route during a summer schedule also starting this 2013. It is seeking a 7-a-week frequency for this planned route.

The CAB is set to hold a hearing on these applications on January 15.

PAL has also applied for 3-a-week frequencies to fly to Istabul, Turkey using a Boeing 777 or Airbus A330-300 tentative on August 5.

By March 31 this year, PAL plans to fly to Cambodia using an Airbus A320 if the CAB grants its request for 4-a-week frequencies. - Rappler.com