Cebu Pacific axes sole US route
Aviation Updates Philippines – Gokongwei-led low-cost airline, Cebu Pacific, will suspend the Manila-Guam route on December 7, 2019. Guam is the only destination for Cebu Pacific in the United States.
Cebu Pacific said that the route is no longer viable to maintain and will now focus on reusing the slots and aircraft to hot routes with higher passenger demand.
“The entry of Cebu Pacific into the market gave the traveling public more choices and a more affordable alternative to fly between these two destinations,” Cebu Pacific said in a statement from a report by the Pacific Daily News.
It added: “However, despite all efforts the Guam route is no longer viable.”
Launched back in March 2016, the Guam route was flown four times weekly with departures from Manila before sunrise. Currently, it is operating the route thrice-weekly.
On-board the 180-seat Airbus A320-200 aircraft, it added 1,440 weekly seats to what was once an underserved market with United Airlines and Philippine Airlines as their direct competitors. Upon inauguration, the airline offered year-round fares that are 40 percent lower compared to other airlines.
The cancellation of flights to Guam will be an advantage for Cebu Pacific since it will free-up some highly sought-after slots in Manila. These slots can be reallocated to launch new flights as the airline slowly continues its route network expansion.
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| LEAVING GUAM. Facing tough competition with United Airlines and Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific is pulling out of the game. Photo by Dirk Salcedo - PPSG/AUP. |
“The entry of Cebu Pacific into the market gave the traveling public more choices and a more affordable alternative to fly between these two destinations,” Cebu Pacific said in a statement from a report by the Pacific Daily News.
It added: “However, despite all efforts the Guam route is no longer viable.”
Launched back in March 2016, the Guam route was flown four times weekly with departures from Manila before sunrise. Currently, it is operating the route thrice-weekly.
On-board the 180-seat Airbus A320-200 aircraft, it added 1,440 weekly seats to what was once an underserved market with United Airlines and Philippine Airlines as their direct competitors. Upon inauguration, the airline offered year-round fares that are 40 percent lower compared to other airlines.
The cancellation of flights to Guam will be an advantage for Cebu Pacific since it will free-up some highly sought-after slots in Manila. These slots can be reallocated to launch new flights as the airline slowly continues its route network expansion.
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