Philippine Airlines Increases Japan Flights from Cebu

Recognizing the importance of the Japanese market, Philippine Airlines intends to expand its presence in Japan, when it introduces new direct flights from Mactan Cebu International Airport to Nagoya and Osaka in December. The new flights are scheduled to take off on December 19 and 20.

Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG

The new direct flights to Japan will not be the first flights operated from Cebu to a Japanese city. Philippine Airlines already operates two daily flights between Cebu and Tokyo's Narita Airport. Flights between Cebu and Osaka are scheduled to operate four times weekly every Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Flights to Nagoya will operate three times weekly every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. 

Philippine Airlines presently operates the largest number of flights between the Philippines and Japan with 67 weekly flights. The carrier also operates flights to a number of Japanese cities from Manila including Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Philippine Airlines intends to build on the existing tourism between the Philippines and Japan.

It is believed that the recent relaxation of Japanese Tourist Visa rules for Philippine nationals has bolstered travel between the two countries. According to Philippine Airlines, the new services from Cebu is a direct response to the strong public demand for new routes to Japan. In terms of tourism, Japan presently represents the third largest source of visitor arrivals to the Philippines. However, it is believed that over time, Japan could easily surpass South Korea as the top source of tourists to the Philippines. 

The news comes after Philippine Airlines recently signed a code-sharing agreement with All Nippon Airways, one of Japan's major air carriers. Last month, both carriers announced that they would enter a commercial partnership that would include code-sharing on a number of routes in addition to collaboration on frequent flyer programs. The Sydney-Based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation stated that Philippine Airlines needs to strengthen its existing partnerships and build new ones with other carriers to expand its network reach and profitability. 

PAL President Jaime Bautista said that developing more overseas routes was critical to the airline's strategy of returning to profitability. In addition to Japan, Philippine Airlines intends to expand its presence in Honolulu, Hawaii and re-introduce flights to New York via Vancouver. It will be the first time that the national carrier has flown to New York since 1997, when economic constraints forced Philippine Airlines to drop the route. 

The New York route will become PAL's fifth destination in the United States in addition to being the carrier's longest route. Flights will be operated by an Airbus A340-300 configured with wireless in-flight entertainment. The new flights will also help to expand Philippine Airlines' presence in Canada as flights between Manila and Vancouver increase to eleven weekly flights.