Cebu Pacific’s third hub opens in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Cebu Pacific (CEB), the country's leading domestic airline and carrier to Asean region, launched Thursday its direct service to Singapore and Iloilo City from Davao City, the airline's third hub after Manila and Cebu. Airline officials said they see a "very promising market" for this new service that utilizes CEB's newly acquired A-319 aircraft. The maiden flight to Iloilo, which left Davao City at 6:15 a.m. Thursday, carried 138 passengers for the 150-seater aircraft. For Singapore, which left the Davao City International Airport at 8 last night, it was fully-booked. Starting Friday, CEB will also start flying directly to Hong Kong four times a week from the Davao International Airport. Cebu Pacific flies directly from Davao to Singapore three times a week. Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing, said that with Davao as their third hub, a A319 aircraft will be stationed at the Davao airport. "We are the only domestic airline that has direct flights from Davao to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Iloilo," Iyog said during a press conference Thursday. Iyog added that the maiden flights of the three new routes have been very promising. "Even our forward bookings are already full," Iyog said. "The first flight from Iloilo today (Thursday) was very promising, as it was full," Iyog said. The first direct flight from Davao to Singapore was last night at 8 p.m. while the first direct flight from Davao to Hong Kong is at 8:40 p.m. tonight. "We are hopeful that this will make Davao and Mindanao a more attractive destination for tourism and trade," Iyog said.- Sun.Star Davao