Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) recently received its 40th aircraft while competitor flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it will launch a Manila-Toronto service by end-November.
CEB expects delivery of another Airbus A320 by next month.
“CEB will end 2012 with 41 aircraft, the largest aircraft fleet in the Philippines,” CEB vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said.
Just recently, CEB launched a thrice weekly Zamboanga-Cagayan de Oro service using an Airbus A319. Three more domestic routes will be launched this month, and four international routes in November and December.
Meanwhile, PAL is launching a service to Toronto next month, giving the flag carrier a direct link to Canada’s largest city and its first gateway on the East Coast of North America in 15 years.
The new service will trigger a revamp of PAL’s Canadian operation. From November 30, the current daily service from Manila to Vancouver will be revised to four times weekly, alternating with a three times weekly non-stop service from Manila to Toronto.
On the other hand, the Vancouver-Manila service will be four times weekly along with a shared service from Toronto three times weekly. The Toronto to Manila run will therefore be a one-stop service via Vancouver.
The Toronto service departs Manila every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 3pm. Arrival at Terminal 3 of Toronto Pearson International Airport is at 5pm on the same days.
PAL will field its brand-new long-range flagship, the Boeing 777-300ER, for non-stop flights to Toronto.
The new service kicks off the peak Christmas travel season, one of the busiest periods in the Philippine travel calendar.
Image courtesy of Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
