TO beef up its Cebu hub operations, Cebu Pacific (CEB) launched its Cebu-Siargao service last Wednesday.

The service, offered three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), provides easy access to travelers from the Visayas and Mindanao to Siargao’s surfing sites and other water sports tourism activities in the area.

The Cebu-Siargao, which lasts one hour and 10 minutes, was launched with a year-round fare of P1,188. CEB, which re-open the Siargao National Airport for this service, is the only airline flying this route.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines airport manager Gina Villamor said that it took nine months of planning before CEB was able to extend the service to Siargao, which is considered a missionary route.

Welcome

“This is a welcome development, (especially) for the hotels and the students because the rate is cheaper and the travel is faster than taking the bus and ferry from Surigao,” said Rep. Francisco Matugas (First District, Surigao del Norte)

He added that the flight service would also attract more players and spectators from various provinces and countries to participate in Siargao’s international surfing and game fishing competition.

CEB vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said the airline is optimistic that the Cebu-Siargao service will flourish, given the support of the local government unit of Siargao.

She said CEBU hopes to make Cebu-Siargao a daily service, but this would depend on the capacity of private and public
stakeholders concerned to spur more development in Siargao.

CEB is also offering a Manila-Siargao connection via Cebu with the year-round fare of P2,188.

The airline company will also intensify its Cebu hub operations by expanding its Cebu-Ozamiz service from four times weekly to daily. It will also increase its Cebu-Cagayan de Oro service from 28 times weekly to 36 times weekly.

CEB, now on its 13th year, flies from Cebu to 19 domestic destinations and four international cities. Its aircraft fleet is comprised of 11 Airbus A320, 10 Airbus A319 and seven ATR 72-500. (NRC) : News Source