Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific is set to begin its direct service between Narita, Japan and Clark, Pampanga in August, becoming the first Philippine airline to provide such service.
The new international route aims to harness the potential of the market for leisure travelers from Central and North Luzon; provide more travel options for Filipino migrant workers; and expand opportunities for inbound tourists as well as investors in the Clark, Subic and other special economic zones in the area, Cebu Pacific said in a statement.
Flights between Clark and Narita will run four times weekly (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays) beginning August 9, 2019. The flight departs Clark at 7:00 a.m.—giving tourists ample time to reach Tokyo by early afternoon—while the return flight leaves Narita at 1:15 p.m. (Tokyo time) and arrives at 5:00 p.m., which allows for land travel to neighboring provinces.
Cebu Pacific also earlier announced it would begin direct flights between its hubs in Clark and Iloilo; and between Clark and Bacolod on August 9, 2019; as well as daily flights between Clark and Puerto Princesa in Palawan by October 9, 2019.
The four new routes will boost Cebu Pacific’s total capacity at Clark by 40% in 2019 alone, following a 75% increase in 2018 with the launch of direct commercial air service to and from Davao and Panglao (Bohol), as well as additional frequency for the Clark-Macau route.
“There is so much untapped potential in Clark, and we are committed to expanding our Clark hub to expand tourism, trade and investment opportunities. This will open up the areas around Clark to more investors and entrepreneurs,” Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said.
With its catchment area having a population of over 23 million, Clark International Airport is one of Asia’s fastest growing airports, with passenger volume reaching about 2.5 million in 2018. Cebu Pacific has been operating flights in and out of Clark since 2006. From its Clark hub, the carrier has direct flights to Cebu, Caticlan, Tagbilaran, Davao, Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong.
“With direct air service between Clark and Narita, it will be easier for Japanese tourists to access destinations in Pampanga, Pangasinan, Baguio, La Union and the rest of Luzon. Conversely, it will also be easier for residents in these areas to enjoy Tokyo, with a direct flight from Clark,” Iyog said.
Japan is one of the Philippines’ top sources of inbound tourists, with 631,801 Japanese nationals visiting the country in 2018. The Department of Tourism has also intensified its campaigns—including Joshi Tabi [Women’s Travel] program—to entice Japanese tourists to visit the Philippines.
Aside from Clark, Cebu Pacific operates flights out of six other strategically placed hubs in the Philippines: Manila, 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.
