Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific is set to start operation of its direct service between Cebu and Shanghai, China in line with plans to expand capacity at its Visayas hub.
Flights between Cebu and Shanghai will run six times weekly (Mondays to Saturdays), beginning April 15, 2019. The airline said the evening departure of the flights from Cebu to Shanghai will enable travelers from neighboring areas such as Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete and Iloilo to connect seamlessly and fly to the biggest city in China.
At just under four hours’ flying time, Shanghai is also a popular destination for Filipinos. Attractions include an evening cruise along the Huangpu River to take in the skyscrapers in one of world’s financial hubs; a unique Disneyland theme park; and the historical Yuyuan Garden.
“We want to improve the depth of our international connections from other hubs in the Philippines. Shanghai is improving international tourist experience, and by connecting our Cebu hub to Shanghai in China, we offer travelers from Cebu and areas in the Visayas and Mindanao a compelling option to access another top vacation destination,” Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said in a statement.
Shanghai received 8.94 million inbound tourists in 2018, according to data from the Shanghai Administration of Culture and Tourism.
The carrier had earlier stated it would ramp up capacity at its Cebu hub by as much as 20% in 2019. Aside from Shanghai, Cebu Pacific flies direct between Cebu, Hong Kong, and Macau in China; as well as Narita, Japan; Incheon, Korea; and Singapore.
“Direct flights from Shanghai to Cebu will also make it easier for Chinese tourists to access one of the best islands in the world,” Iyog explained.
“Cebu has over 100 islands within the province alone with a wide array of beach resorts, water sports and marine life to appreciate and enjoy. As the beach hub of Cebu Pacific, Cebu also serves as a strategic jump-off point to enjoy more of the Philippines—with direct connections to Siargao, Camiguin, Puerto Princesa and 19 other domestic destinations,” she added.
The Department of Tourism reported that Central Visayas—which includes prime tourist destinations such as Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete and Siquijor, welcomed over eight million tourists in 2018, of which 17% were Chinese nationals.
To mark the launch of the new route, seats on the airline’s Cebu-Shanghai flights will be sold for as low as P1 base fare from March 22 to 30, 2019. Travel period is from April 15 to September 30, 2019.
Cebu Pacific operates flights out of seven other strategically placed hubs in the Philippines: Manila, Clark, Kalibo, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro (Laguindingan) and Davao. In 2018, Cebu Pacific flew 20.3 million passengers on over 2,130 weekly flights across 37 domestic and 26 international destinations.
