Budget airline Cebu Pacific has announced it will begin direct flights from Manila, Philippines, to Siam Reap, Cambodia, starting in April 2012.

The new route will debut with three flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Flights will depart Manila at 7:50pm and arrive in Siam Reap at 9:30pm. The return flight will depart Siam Reap at 10:30pm and arrive in Manila at 12:10am.

“It will be the first and historic direct flight between the two countries,” said Ek Tha, the spokesperson for Cambodia’s Council of Ministers. “The upcoming flights will help boost mutual tourism.”Cambodia’s Siem Reap province houses Angkor Wat temples, one of the world heritage sites. Last year, the temples attracted 1.6 million foreign visitors, up 23 percent year-on-year.

Cebu Pacific, the Philippines ’ largest carrier, will commence direct Hong Kong-Kalibo (Boracay) flights on March 23, 2012. One-way lite fares start from HKD $428 (USD $55).

The thrice weekly Kalibo-Hong Kong service is CEB’s first direct international route to and from Kalibo International Airport , gateway to the world-renowned Boracay Island . Utilizing one of Cebu Pacific’s brand-new Airbus jet aircrafts, the flight is set to depart Kalibo at 2:35pm and arrive in Hong Kong at 5:05pm. The return flight leaves Hong Kong at 5:50pm and arrives in Kalibo at 8:20pm.

“Cebu Pacific continues to provide Hong Kong nationals and foreign tourists the most convenient travel options in the Philippines with its newest fastest flights to Boracay. One of the Philippines ’ top tourist destinations, Boracay is a popular beach, diving and wedding destination in Asia ,” said VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

US-based Travel + Leisure Magazine named Boracay the 4th top island in the world in the World’s Best Awards 2011. It bested Hawaii , Sicily , Great Barrier Reef Islands and Galapagos.

Cebu Pacific currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 19 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. By the end of 2011, CEB will be operating a fleet of 37 aircraft – with an average age of 3.6 years – one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take an additional 23 Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Philippine low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific will consider starting long-haul, low-cost services if it sees strong demand for certain point-to-point routes.

“We are looking at the opportunity,” Cebu Pacific president and CEO Lance Gokongwei told Flightglobal Pro’s sister publication, Airline Business, in an interview.

“There are certain point-to-point markets we would have to look at. The Middle East has 2.5 million Filipinas; the USA has four million Filipinas. These are quite underserved.”Gokongwei said the airline will go ahead only if it can achieve a sustainable unit-cost advantage and potentially make money for its shareholders.

“I need to be personally convinced that there is a market, and I think there is a market only if you are very selective about which routes you go into with this,” said Gokongwei. “Once we feel that we have the capability to do so, we will.”

The airline, which operates Airbus A320-family aircraft and ATR 72-500s, has orders for the A321neo. It has not ordered any widebodies, which will be needed for long-haul operations, but Gokongwei said there have been discussions about widebodies.

“As part of our business plan, we need to know the operating cost of all aircraft. So we’ve had discussions about widebodies with all the major suppliers,” Gokongwei said.

If the company goes ahead, the long-haul low-cost operation is likely to have a separate management team. This would be similar to Singapore Airlines’ subsidiary, Scoot, and AirAsia X, an associate of Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia.

“It is difficult to do because whenever you bring in new aircraft, it adds complexity. You need management and technical capability, the distribution channels are important,” Gokongwei said.

“It can enhance the brand, just like what AirAsia X has done for AirAsia, but it adds complexity. So if you want to do it, you need to make sure you have completely different teams. Don’t confuse the management by having them do both,” Gokongwei added.

Budget airline Cebu Pacific is set to fly to all major coastal cities in China when it starts its Manila – Xiamen flights on March 23, 2012, a thrice weekly service, using its brand-new Airbus jet aircraft.

Flights for this route are scheduled to depart Manila at 11:20 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, arriving in Xiamen at 01:35 a.m. Return flights will leave Xiamen at 2:25 a.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and arrive in Manila at 04:40am.

“Xiamen and Fujian Province are the well-known hometown of about 85% Filipino-Chinese, including (CEB’s owners), the Gokongweis,” noted VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

Xiamen is a highly industrialized city in the Fujian Province, on the Southeastern coast of mainland China. It was ranked China’s 2nd most suitable city for living by a Beijing-based polling agency, with highly developed banking services and open policy towards foreign investment and trade.

CEB is introducing its 18th international destination in the market with an P888 (CNY 138) Manila-Xiamen or Xiamen-Manila seat sale until December 23, 2011 or until seats last. After the sale, lowest year-round fares from Manila to Xiamen will start at P2,499 (CNY 388).

Cebu Pacific will become the only airline flying between Manila and Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, when it launches its flights on March 17, 2012. It will be a twice weekly service, utilizing one of Asia’s youngest aircraft fleets.

Flights for this route are scheduled to depart Manila at 10:30pm every Tuesday and Saturday, arriving in Hanoi at 12:30am. Return flights will leave Hanoi at 1am every Wednesday and Sunday, and arrive in Manila at 5am. Cebu Pacific also operates daily flights between Manila and Ho Chi Minh.

“This announcement is very timely given the visit of Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang to the Philippines last week. He wished then for more direct flights between Manila and Hanoi. Cebu Pacific is more than happy to oblige, to further promote trade and tourism between our two countries,” Cebu Pacific VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

“With direct flights, Cebu Pacific offers significant linkages between the Philippines and Vietnam. It allows inbound tourists quick access to the Philippines’ top urban destinations, and provides our country’s business stakeholders immediate connectivity to Vietnam’s capital city,” she added.

Lowest year-round fares from the Vietnam capital to Manila start at USD 69.

Manila-Hanoi-Manila will be the airline’s 78th route, with Hanoi being Cebu Pacific’s 17th international destination. Cebu Pacific operates flights from the Philippines to the most number of capital cities in the ASEAN, and serve the most number of routes. It offers more than 90 flights per week from the Philippines to 8 ASEAN destinations in 6 countries.

The Philippines ’ largest airline and Asia’s third-largest low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB) announces a one-day only PHP 1 (USD 0.20) seat sale to any CEB destination within the Philippines . This is for sale on June 11, 2010, for travel from January 1 to March 31, 2011.

CEB has the most extensive network in the country, with 33 domestic destinations and 4 hubs in Manila , Cebu, Clark and Davao . All of its domestic routes and flights are included in the PHP 1 seat sale.

Prime tourist destinations are also up for grabs in this PHP 1 seat sale, such as Boracay, Puerto Princesa and Legazpi, which have direct flights from both Manila and Cebu . Roxas, Tagbilaran (Bohol), Dumaguete, Davao , Cebu and Coron (Busuanga) are also included in the seat sale.

Passengers can likewise avail of the PHP 1 seats to travel around the country, and later connect to the airline’s 15 international destinations. Those with check-in luggage will just add P100 upon booking.

“CEB would like to give back to its local and international passengers with this PHP 1 seat sale, since they were the ones who made the airline the largest in the Philippines for the first quarter of 2010. We thank them for making us number one,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

Based on Civil Aeronautics Board data, CEB overtook Philippine Airline’s passenger numbers in the first quarter of 2010, making it the largest airline in the Philippines . CEB operates the youngest aircraft fleet in the country, and garnered a 91.8% on-time performance in the first quarter of 2010.

Cebu Pacific started direct flights between Manila and Guangzhou. Cebu Pacific 150-seater A319 Manila-Guangzhou service operates four-times weekly every Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The flight departs from Manila at 7:20pm and arrives in the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 9:30pm. The return flight leaves Guangzhou at 10:15pm and arrives in Manila at 12:25am the following day. [Read more…]