Philippine Airlines (PAL) said Tuesday it resumed its popular direct flights between Cebu and Osaka, marking a significant milestone for both the airline and the region.
PAL is deploying a 199-seater Airbus A321ceo jetliner with Business Class and Economy cabins for the initial run of three weekly flights from Cebu to Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, with an increase to four weekly flights from Feb. 26, 2025.
“We are excited to serve the Cebu-Osaka market once again, so we can offer leisure and business travelers from Cebu and the central Philippines a more convenient direct access to Osaka and the western regions of Japan,” PAL president and chief operating officer Captain Stanley Ng said.
“We will do our best to invite Japanese tourists to visit Cebu and discover the rich natural and cultural wonders of the Philippines. We look forward to welcoming travelers on board our nonstop flights with PAL’s distinctly Filipino brand of gracious service and hospitality,” he said.
Athanasios Titonis, chief executive of Aboitiz InfraCapital GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., expressed his enthusiasm for the return of the Osaka route, emphasizing its significance in reestablishing global links for Cebu.
“The resumption of Philippine Airlines’ [Osaka] Kansai flights is a testament to our commitment to restoring and strengthening MCIA’s international network. This milestone reaffirms our mission to position MCIA as a world-class gateway, offering passengers seamless travel options and connecting Cebu to key global destinations,” said Titonis.
Titonis also highlighted the critical role of airline partnerships in achieving MCIA’s vision.
“We deeply value our collaboration with Philippine Airlines and other airline partners as we work together to revitalize travel, foster cultural exchange, and drive economic growth for Cebu and the region,” he said.
Known for its rich history, culture, food and vibrant shopping districts, Osaka is the gateway to the old imperial capital of Kyoto as well as to Nara, Kobe and other popular districts around the Kansai Bay area.
Osaka City is also home to the fabled Osaka Castle, the Dotonbori shopping and dining haven and Universal Studios Japan.
The service will help bolster the local tourism industry, as PAL steps up promotions of Cebu as the ideal gateway to prime holiday and business destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao.
PAL encourages travelers from Osaka and the Kansai region to connect seamlessly in Mactan-Cebu with its flights to Bacolod, Borongan, Busuanga (Coron), Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan (Boracay), Cotabato, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Tacloban and Zamboanga.
The relaunched Cebu-Osaka services complement PAL’s twice daily regular flights between Manila and Osaka Kansai.
PAL has the largest network of flights on multiple routes linking the Philippines and Japan, with nonstop daily flights from Cebu to Tokyo Narita, along with 56 weekly flights from Manila to Nagoya, Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda and Fukuoka.
PAL also offers other international links from Cebu, with daily flights to Seoul (Incheon) and thrice weekly flights to Bangkok.
