MCIA welcomes PAL’s new route to Calbayog, and Cebu Pacific’s route to El Nido

LAPULAPU CITY – The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) welcomed new flight routes of Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) direct service connecting Cebu (CEB) and Calbayog (CYP) and Cebu Pacific Air daily direct flight from Cebu to El Nido with both airlines launching their respective maiden flights on October 26, significantly enhancing the connection between the Visayas and the province of Samar and Palawan thus strengthening regional connectivity.

To commemorate both launches, a departure ceremony was also given to passengers departing for Calbayog in the morning and to El Nido in the evening with cake-cutting ceremonies and water cannon salutes to celebrate new flights.

Philippine Airlines will operate the Cebu-Calbayog service four times weekly and is designed for convenient morning travel, allowing passengers to make the most of their day:  PR2668: Cebu (CEB) to Calbayog (CYP) | ETD: 0730H (7:30 am) and PR2669: Calbayog (CYP) to Cebu (CEB) | ETA: 1000H (10:00 am).

"This new link reinforces MCIA's role as the premier regional transfer hub, creating vital bridges between Cebu and other key destinations in the country.  This is a vital route that bridges the Visayas with Samar, opening up significant opportunities for regional economic development, tourism, and trade,” Athanasios Titonis, Chief Executive Officer of Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC) said at the event today.

Cebu Pacfic Air on the other hand launched its first flight on October 26 at 6:50 pm to 8:35 pm, Cebu to El Nido, complementing the existing services by AirSwift and to offer more frequency and options and enhancing connectivity within the Philippines.

Cebu Pacific will now operate the Cebu-El Nido service once daily, with a convenient evening schedule perfect for travelers with DG6254: Cebu (CEB) to El Nido (ENI) | ETD: 1850H (6:50 PM) and DG6081: El Nido (ENI) to Cebu (CEB) | ETA: 1825H (6:25 PM).

“This maiden flight event underscored Cebu Pacific's role in linking key Palawan destinations, including Coron, Puerto Princesa, San Vicente, and now El Nido, from Cebu. The initiative aims to boost tourism in secondary cities, benefit local businesses, and provide affordable travel options, with fares starting as low as PHP3,200,” Michelle Eve de Guzman, marketing director of Cebu Pacific Air said at the launching event.

The expansion was celebrated with partners and stakeholders, highlighting the airline's commitment to regional growth and accessibility, de Guzman said that Cebu Pacific announced its huge expansion of its Cebu hub with 108 additional flights to 16 destinations plus the launching of the Cebu–El Nido route starting October 26, perfect timing for the holidays with more flights coming this December and January.

De Guzman highlighted the importance of the new route in making it easier for passengers to experience the natural wonders of Palawan from a single strategic hub, MCIA.  The new route connects Cebu directly to four key Palawan areas, Coron, Puerto Princesa, San Vicente, and El Nido, enhancing Cebu Pacific's presence in the region.

"We are delighted to support our partners at ACAC and Philippine Airlines in launching this new direct flight to Calbayog and Cebu Pacific Air direct flight to El Nido.  We are thrilled to welcome these new routes,” Julius Neri, Jr., General Manager and CEO of Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) said.

Neri added that this expansion is a testament to MCIAA’s shared commitment to enhancing domestic connectivity and solidifying MCIA's role as the primary gateway for the southern and central Philippines.

With the addition of these new routes, MCIA is connected to 28 domestic destinations and 13 international destinations with five Philippine-based and 16 foreign airline partners. The launch of the Cebu-El Nido service underscores MCIA's continuous efforts to expand its network, providing passengers with direct access to key leisure destinations across the country.

 According to the Department of Tourism (DOT) here, these new direct flight routes create positive impact to tourism and local businesses in tourism-dependent communities like Samar and Palawan and the spread of tourism more evenly across regions in the Philippines. (Photos: MBCNewman/MCIA-ACAC)