Cebu Pacific to expand hub in Visayas

MANILA, Philippines – Budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) of taipan John Gokongwei is looking at expanding its Cebu hub, an integral part of the airline’s route network.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport serves as an important hub for the low cost carrier since it started operations in 1996 in Cebu, Atty. Jorenz Tañada, vice president for corporate affairs of Cebu Pacific, said.

“We are reviewing our network plans out of Cebu and we look forward to offering Cebu Pacific’s low fares to even more travelers,” Tañada said.

The Gokongwei-led airline currently operates 27 routes from Cebu to other domestic and international destinations.

“We are always looking for opportunities for growth. Reviewing our network plans in Cebu includes the possibility of mounting more flights,” Tañada said in a text message.

In the first half of 2014, the low cost carrier flew 1.9 million passengers from its Cebu hub – 14.75% higher compared to 1.7 million in the same period last year.

In 2013, the budget airline flew about 3.3 million passenger via its Cebu hub.

Cebu Pacific operates an extensive route network serving 59 domestic routes and 36 international routes with a total of 2,403 scheduled weekly flights from 6 hubs: the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Mactan-Cebu International Airport; Clark International Airport; Davao International Airport; Iloilo International Airport; and the Kalibo International Airport.

The expansion will also support the ongoing P17.5 billion ($393.78 million) modernization project of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

The tandem of Filipino-owned Megawide Construction Corp. and Bangalore-based GMR Infrastructure is undertaking the country’s first airport public-private partnership (PPP) project to increase the annual passenger capacity of the international gateway to 8 million from the current 4.5 million. – Rappler.com