Cebu Pacific has revealed that it will introduce new international service from Cebu to Tokyo Narita and Kalibo International Airport to Hong Kong. As congestion continues to rise at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, carriers are pursuing the development of hubs outside of Manila by launching new flights from provincial stations in an effort to increase capacity.

The new flights from Kalibo to Hong Kong will be operated three times weekly every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday beginning on March 2. The new service is expected to draw even more tourists to the popular beach resort destination of Boracay Island. When flights begin, they will become the only direct service being offered between Kalibo and Hong Kong. However, it remains unclear if Cebu Pacific will offer this as a seasonal or year-round service.

From Cebu, the budget carrier will begin offering non-stop flights to Tokyo Narita beginning on March 26. The flights will be operated four times weekly every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Cebu Pacific will compete directly with Philippine Airlines, which also operates on the same route.

In addition to the new Hong Kong route, Cebu Pacific also offers international charter flights on a seasonal basis from Kalibo International Airport to Chongqing, Guangzhou, Seoul-Incheon, and Shanghai-Pudong. From Cebu, the budget carrier operates a number of international routes to destinations including Busan, Hong Kong, Seoul-Incheon, and Singapore.

Cebu Pacific is not the only budget carrier expanding flights from hubs outside of Manila. AirAsia Philippines recently announced that it will introduce four weekly flights from Cebu to Kota Kinabalu. Although Cebu Pacific dominates the budget market in the Philippines, AirAsia is eager to steal marketshare as it strengthens its brand and reputation in the country.

The new Cebu Pacific Kalibo-Hong Kong flights and Cebu-Tokyo Narita flights will be operated by the carrier's fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft. Cebu Pacific recently accepted delivery of its 30th A320 aircraft on January 25. The addition of the aircraft brings the Cebu Pacific fleet up to 53 aircraft. The new aircraft is equipped with sharklets, which enables the aircraft to burn less fuel and produce less emissions.


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