Cebu Pacific boosts its Davao hub launching new routes to other key cities in the country in time for the ‘Kadayawan Festival.’
Starting July 26, 2017, CEB wholly-owned subsidiary Cebgo will fly three times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) between Davao and Dumaguete; and four times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Saturday) between Davao and Tacloban starting July 27, 2017. CEB offers its lowest all-in one way year-round fare from Davao to Dumaguete at Php2,590 and Davao to Tacloban at Php 2,142.
“Cebu Pacific remains bullish over prospects in Mindanao. We remain optimisticthat new routes would benefit not only Davaoeños, but Mindanaoans in general, in terms of strengthening family and cultural ties, fostering domestic tourism and education exchange, and helping harness trade and business opportunities. Our new intra-island routes provide Mindanaoans convenient air connections; and support the government’s push for more infrastructure investments in Mindanao,” said Charo Logarta Lagamon, Director for Corporate Communications of Cebu Pacific.
The launch of the new flights was led by Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo and Davao City Councilors, led by Danilo Dayanghirang. The Dumaguete local government contingent took the maiden flight from Dumaguete to Davao.
“My hats off to Cebu Pacific for being the pioneer in Dumaguete; for coming in during the time when no other airline would fly to what was considered then a missionary route. The new Davao-Dumaguete route will usher in more flights and improve connectivity. It will increase economic development, extending beyond Negros Oriental to nearby Siquijor; and link Davaoeños and Dumagueteños closer. The Dumaguete City Council will work with our Davao counterpart to forge a partnership between our cities for tourism development,” added Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo.
For his part, Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, representing Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio, noted that, “These direct routes are an answer to the growing need for greater inter-island connectivity around the country, and are reflective of the competitiveness and reliability of Cebu Pacific. The Philippines is becoming smaller because of Cebu Pacific. We look forward to more flights between cities around the country as we move towards a stronger Philippines.”
The new routes will also result in expansion of the Cebu Pacific logistics footprint, CEB is the leading air cargo carrier in the region, transporting high-value exports such as live prawns and tuna; agricultural products like mangoes, pomelos and mangosteen; as well as other food items from Davao. In 2016 alone, CEB carried over 19,000 tons of cargo from Davao. Its cargo facility in Davao is equipped with a one-tonner forklift, making the movement of heavy-cargo easier.
“Additional routes also expand the CEB cargo service capability. This will mean faster and more efficient means for traders, exporters and entrepreneurs to move their products and raw materials; or for our overseas Filipinos to be able to send their packages back home easier. We are optimistic that the overall improvement in the CEB cargo logistics network in Mindanao will boost the local economy,” Lagamon said.
From the Davao hub, Cebu Pacific has the most extensive domestic route network with over 140 flights weekly from Davao to Cebu, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Tacloban and Manila. CEB also has a direct flight to Singapore twice a week from Davao. Early this month, CEB increases the frequency and capacity of its flights between Manila and Davao, upgrading the aircraft from the 180-seater Airbus A320 to a 436-seater A330. CEB also added two daily flights to and from Manila, bringing frequency to four times daily, or 28 weekly flights.