By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Ilonggo travelers are on the brink of exploring nearby countries now that Cebu Pacific (CEB) has officially announced regular flights from Iloilo International Airport to Hong Kong and Singapore.
CEB stated that direct flights from Iloilo to Hong Kong will begin on October 27, 2024, operating four times weekly—Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Meanwhile, the airline’s Iloilo to Singapore flights will commence on November 25, 2024, with operations three times weekly—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
These direct flights will significantly reduce travel time and expenses for passengers.
Previously, it could take up to 12 hours to reach Hong Kong, but with the new direct route, travelers can arrive in just three hours. Similarly, the direct flight to Singapore will also cut travel time down to three hours.
By eliminating the need for connecting flights, passengers can also expect to save on travel costs.
“We see Iloilo as an important hub for CEB, not just as a domestic hub in the Visayas but an international one because we see Iloilo’s potential to develop and have a major tourism and business industry,” said Erwin S. Colcol, Cebu Pacific’s Corporate Communications Manager for Marketing and Customer Experience.
CEB also disclosed plans to enhance its domestic flight operations at Iloilo Airport, increasing weekly frequencies to and from several key destinations across the country.
The Manila route will see an increase from 48 flights per week in September to 63 in October, stabilizing at 60 weekly flights in November.
Similarly, flights to Cebu will rise from 16 per week in September to 23 weekly flights in both October and November.
For the first time, CEB will introduce the Iloilo–Clark–Iloilo route starting October 21, 2024, with an initial frequency of two flights per week, increasing to seven weekly flights by November.
Meanwhile, the Davao route will increase from five weekly flights in September to 11 in both October and November.
The number of weekly flights to Cagayan de Oro will also expand from three in September to seven in October and November.
CEB will maintain four weekly flights to General Santos in September, with an increase to seven weekly flights starting in October and continuing through November.
The Iloilo–Puerto Princesa route will gradually increase from three flights per week in September to four in October and seven in November.
To entice more travelers, CEB has an ongoing seat sale until August 31, 2024, allowing passengers to book flights to select domestic destinations for as low as P199 one-way base fare.
