Cebu Pacific in Pursuit of New Zealand Flights
Budget carrier Cebu Pacific is seeking authorization to operate a daily flight to New Zealand from the Civil Aeronautics Board which is scheduled to meet next month.
According to Alex Reyes, General Manager of Cebu Pacific's long haul division, the carrier has the aircraft in place to fly direct to New Zealand. "We asked for daily frequency to New Zealand," said Reyes. "We have aircraft with the range for a direct service to New Zealand. The market is attractive because of the growing Filipino community in New Zealand." He added that the carrier plans to stimulate tourist traffic between the two countries.
Last March, the Philippines and New Zealand signed a new air services agreement that enables carriers from either country to operate up to 21 weekly flights, a significant increase from the 3 weekly flights that were previously allowed.
Cebu Pacific submitted an application to the Civil Aeronautics Board requesting an allocation of 7 weekly flights to New Zealand. No carriers currently operate service between the Philippines and New Zealand. Cebu Pacific currently operates long-haul flights from Terminal 3 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The carrier has been flying long-haul to Dubai since October 2013 and recently announced plans to launch service to Kuwait and Sydney, Australia this coming September.
According to Carmelo Arcilla, Executive Director of the Civil Aeronautics Board, the application will be acted on next month. "The matter will be resolved by next board meeting, which is next month," said Arcilla.
Currently, Cebu Pacific is the only carrier that has expressed an interest in operating direct flights to New Zealand. However, rumours have recently surfaced that Philippine Airlines may be interested in serving New Zealand through Australia. Cebu Pacific is also eyeing flights to two destinations in Saudi Arabia, which could be launched by the end of the year. The budget carrier is also targeting US destinations including Hawaii and Guam.
Under the new air services agreement with New Zealand, unlimited flights are permitted to points outside of Manila. Fifth-freedom rights are also part of the deal enabling Philippine carriers to collect passengers in New Zealand and continue on to a third country. New Zealand carriers are permitted to collect passengers in the Philippines and continue to China.
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| Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG |
Last March, the Philippines and New Zealand signed a new air services agreement that enables carriers from either country to operate up to 21 weekly flights, a significant increase from the 3 weekly flights that were previously allowed.
Cebu Pacific submitted an application to the Civil Aeronautics Board requesting an allocation of 7 weekly flights to New Zealand. No carriers currently operate service between the Philippines and New Zealand. Cebu Pacific currently operates long-haul flights from Terminal 3 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The carrier has been flying long-haul to Dubai since October 2013 and recently announced plans to launch service to Kuwait and Sydney, Australia this coming September.
According to Carmelo Arcilla, Executive Director of the Civil Aeronautics Board, the application will be acted on next month. "The matter will be resolved by next board meeting, which is next month," said Arcilla.
Currently, Cebu Pacific is the only carrier that has expressed an interest in operating direct flights to New Zealand. However, rumours have recently surfaced that Philippine Airlines may be interested in serving New Zealand through Australia. Cebu Pacific is also eyeing flights to two destinations in Saudi Arabia, which could be launched by the end of the year. The budget carrier is also targeting US destinations including Hawaii and Guam.
Under the new air services agreement with New Zealand, unlimited flights are permitted to points outside of Manila. Fifth-freedom rights are also part of the deal enabling Philippine carriers to collect passengers in New Zealand and continue on to a third country. New Zealand carriers are permitted to collect passengers in the Philippines and continue to China.
no one's going to fly Cebu Pacific's ugly planes
ReplyDeleteI would as Jetstar has to many restrictions flying out of Manila. Lots of people in NZ would like to fly direct to Clark Airbase.
DeleteTHIS IS AWESOME! Keen to have a direct flight to NZ from Philippines.
ReplyDelete