Cebu Pacific in General Santos City - Philippines

In July 2008, low-cost airline company Cebu Pacific added three additional weekly flights from General Santos to Manila in responses with the growing demand for budget air travel. According to Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing and Product of Cebu Pacific, the addition of three weekly Cebu Pacific flights, which commenced July 11, is intended to get a share of the morning cargo as well as passenger traffic, being handled by Philippine Airlines and its sister company Air Philippines.

According to Iyog, the additional flights will be scheduled every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, which will expand Cebu Pacifics weekly flights to 10. The additional flights will increase the carriers capacity by 42 percent.

Candice Iyog said that for the additional Cebu Pacific flights, they will be utilizing an A320 aircraft which will leave Manila at 7:05 am and arrives at General Santos at 8:55 am. From the city, the flights will depart at 9:25 am and will arrive in Manila at 11:15 am.

Iyog added that with the additional morning flights, they are hoping that it will contribute to providing ease and convenience to people who are going to the city for business and leisure. Since offering its services in General Santos in October 2006, Cebu Pacific, the second largest carrier in the country, is presently operating mid-day flights on a daily basis from Manila to the city as well as return trips in the afternoon.

Its biggest competitor, Philippine Airlines, operates direct flights from General Santos to Manila with its sister airline Air Philippines providing daily connecting trips from General Santos to cities like Manila, Iloilo, and Bacolod via Cebu City. Iyog added that offering three extra Cebu Pacific flights from General Santos will provide passengers with low-cost fares catering to the route.

Every year, Cebu Pacific is offering its lowest promotional fare called Go Lite for single trip and round-trip travels for the General Santos-Manila route is currently at zero so travelers will only be required to pay the P1,499 tax as well as fuel surcharges.

Cebu Pacific expanded its services to General Santos in 2006 for the purpose of handling late cargo coming from the city, particularly the tuna products. General Santos, which is called the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, which transports over 10 tons of freshly chilled tuna daily to Manila before being exported to international markets like Japan and the US.

Cebu Pacific has been in the airline industry for 13 years already. It serves passengers in 24 domestic routes and has flights in 15 international routes.