Cebu Pacific on Friday announced that Laguindingan Airport will serve as its seventh hub in the country as it strengthens domestic route network and air connections to and from Mindanao.
Cebu Pacific also launched two new routes that link Northern Mindanao to Caticlan (Boracay) and Dumaguete City.
Cagayan de Oro was among the first domestic destinations launched by Cebu Pacific when it started operations in 1996.
The Cebu Pacific network, including inter-island routes of subsidiary Cebgo, boasts of a total of nine connections to and from the Laguindingan Airport—Manila, Bacolod, Caticlan, Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Davao and Zamboanga.
“What was originally the 4th destination launched back in 1996, is now a hub. It follows the path of Manila, Cebu and Iloilo, also hubs. Today is a testament to our long-standing commitment to contribute to nation-building, and make air travel more accessible to Filipinos,” Lance Gokongwei, president and CEO of Cebu Pacific, said.
“We look forward to the effect our low fares and direct flights will have on Northern Mindanao,” he added.
The expansion of the Cebu Pacific domestic route network is expected to increase the carrier’s capacity and reach for cargo service. This will mean faster and more efficient movement of goods across the country.
Cebu Pacific plans to carry 20 million passengers in 2017. It has flown 10.09 million passengers in the first six months of 2017.
The Cebu Pacific route network now has 25 international and 37 domestic destinations. Its fleet of aircraft includes one Airbus A319, 35 Airbus A320 and eight Airbus A330s; while the Cebgofleet is composed of eight ATR 72-500 and seven ATR 72-600aircraft.
Between 2017 and 2022, the airline expects delivery of more brand-new Airbus A321ceo and 32 Airbus A321neo aircraft.