Cebu Pacific expands Cebu hub with direct flights to Camiguin, Masbate

Budget airline Cebu Air Inc. has launched direct flights from Cebu to Camiguin in Northern Mindanao and Cebu to Masbate in the Bicol Region in its effort to expand its Cebu hub. The Cebu-Camiguin direct flights will be every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday starting April 15, while the Cebu-Masbate flights will be every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday starting June 1. The John L. Gokongwei Jr.-owned airline will use its ATR 72-500 aircraft fleet for the new routes, which, according to Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog, “would help the Aquino administration achieve its target of 10 million tourists by 2016.” “With these new flights, Cebu Pacific continues to drive tourism and trade to new regions in the Philippines,” Iyog said in a statement Friday. “We now operate flights to 34 Philippine destinations, on 62 city-pairings or routes. This gives our local and foreign tourists the opportunity to visit more destinations in one trip,” she added. With Cebu Pacific’s pioneering direct flight to Camiguin, travelers could now easily reach the second smallest island in the Philippines that is known for its volcanoes, hot and cold springs, Lanzones Festival every October, and Sunken Cemetery. Camiguin was previously accessible only by bus, fast craft or ferry from Cagayan de Oro. On the other hand, Masbate is known for its scuba diving spots, including the Manta Ray Bowl at the Ticao Pass, as well as the “Rodeo Masbateno,” a rodeo festival which takes place every April. Aside from these two new flights, Cebu Pacific is set to start flights between Manila and Tagbilaran 12 times a week starting March 11 and 33 times a week between Manila and Tacloban starting March 31. — KBK, GMA News