Cebu Pacific to Expand Flight Operations by 18% in 2011

[HD video below] Cebu Pacific is planning to increase flight frequencies by 18% in 2011, making available a total of 14.5 million airline seats for its passengers.

“We aim to fly 12 million passengers in 2011, an 18% increase from last year’s targets. Internationally, we plan to grow our passenger base by 35%,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog. “We have also just recently announced the beginning of CEB’s Manila-Busan operations this June. We already fly to South Korea’s 2nd largest city from Cebu, and this new route will allow more tourism and business between the two countries.”

The airline is expecting a 20% increase in passengers to Greater China alone, where it flies to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Taipei, Macau and Hong Kong. CEB currently flies 80 flights weekly from the Philippines to Greater China.

The number of flights to Beijing and Guangzhou will also be increased this year to accommodate passenger demand.

CEB has already added flights to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Brunei, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh and Jakarta last December. It is slated to increase flight frequencies to Seoul (Incheon) and Bangkok in the first quarter this year.

“We are expecting the delivery of our 25th brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft in the last week of January, and four more brand-new aircraft in 2011,” Ms. Iyog added.

By the end of 2011, CEB will be operating a fleet of 37 aircraft – with an average age of less than 2.5 years – one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2014, Cebu Pacific will take an additional 16 Airbus A320 aircraft.

CEB currently operates over 260 flights daily to 16 international destinations and 33 domestic destinations. It flew almost 10.5 million passengers in 2010, exceeding targets with a 19% increase over 2009. Its international passengers also grew by 38% in 2010.

At the ASEAN Tourism Forum last week in Phnom Penh, TravelNewsAsia.com spoke to Mr. Benito C. Bengzon, Jr., the Assistant Secretary, International Tourism Promotions, Department of Tourism - Philippines, about the general tourism situation in the beautiful country. Watch the HD video below:

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