Cebu Pacific resumes Manila-Catarman flights

MANILA, Philippines - Gokongwei-led Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific Air, Inc. will restart its four-times weekly Manila-Catarman flights starting June 2 after airport and local authorities addressed safety issues. Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution, said airport authorities have blocked the entry points around the airport’s perimeter fence used by residents. “The runway has been cleared of vehicles and people 24/7. This is our green light to fly again to Catarman and bring back Cebu Pacific’s affordable fares that other airlines must again try to match," she said in a statement. As Cebu Pacific suspended early this month its Manila-Catarman service despite its full loads after several runway intrusions by both people and vehicles during flights, other airlines have started charging as much as P5,000 per way. “Safety remains to be a priority for Cebu Pacific and we will not compromise this over revenues or loads. Cebu Pacific remains steadfast in our commitment to provide travelers from Catarman an affordable, reliable, and high-quality air transport service. The public can expect that whether we have competition or none, we will continue to offer the lowest possible airfares in Catarman and in other destinations where we currently operate," Iyog said. Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific is allocating more than 200,000 seats for a three-day seat sale until May 29 with fares as low as P588 for domestic and P1,388 for international flights valid for travel from July 1 to Aug. 31. A one-way "Go Lite" fare of P1,388 is applied for Clark to Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, and Bangkok; Manila to Bangkok, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Min, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Shanghai, Singapore, and Taipei; Cebu to Hong Kong and Singapore. It is offering a P2,288 one-way "Go Lite" fare for its Manila to Incheon (Seoul) and Cebu to Incheon, Busan, and Jakarta services. “We are optimistic that this seat sale will stimulate domestic and international travel during these traditionally lean months. Cebu Pacific remains the pioneer in creative pricing strategies as it continues to offer the best travel deals for all travelers to and from the Philippines," Iyog said. For domestic flights, its one-way "Go Lite" fare only charges P1,388 all-in for its Manila to General Santos, Davao, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, and Dipolog; Cebu to Clark and Davao to Iloilo. All other local destinations carry a one-way fare of P588 all-in. Domestic fares are all-inclusive; international fares are exclusive of government taxes. Promo fares are non-refundable. "Go Lite" fares are for passengers traveling with no check-in baggage. Passengers with check-in bags just have to add P200 to the fare. -GMANews.TV