Cebu’s Mactan airport will soon expand its network beyond the region, with new services to Los Angeles and Doha starting next quarter.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) plans to resume a Cebu-Los Angeles service on 2 May, after a three-year suspension due to capacity rationalisation.
The service will be operated thrice-weekly using Boeing 777-300ERs. Cirium fleets data shows that PAL’s 777s are configured with 370 seats, and the route brings around 1,110 seats to the market.
“Our upcoming service from Cebu to Los Angeles is a vivid demonstration of our commitment to build up Mactan Cebu [airport] as a global aviation hub, a dynamic gateway, not only to domestic points, but to major international destinations,” says PAL’s president and chief operating officer Gilbert Santa Maria.
Cirium schedules data shows that PAL operates between Manilla and six US cities, but the route will be carrier’s only US connection from Cebu.
The data also indicates that Qatar Airways will commence a thrice-weekly Doha-Cebu service, flown on 787-8s starting April.
Cebu is one of the country’s top tourist destinations, but international connections are currently limited to points in North Asia and Southeast Asia, namely China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
