Cebu Pacific, a low-cost airline in the Philippines, is evaluating the possibility of extending its long-haul flight operations. The airline’s considerations are influenced by its expanding fleet and robust economic growth in the Philippines, which creates a favorable environment for travel demand, particularly from overseas Filipino workers and increasing inbound tourism.

Angela Lugtu, the director of network planning at Cebu Pacific, indicated that the airline is contemplating service routes that fall within a nine-hour flight radius. These new routes would be serviced using the airline’s Airbus A330-900 aircraft, accommodating 459 passengers.

Current Operations

Cebu Pacific currently operates flights to 26 international destinations, having transported over 24.5 million passengers by the end of 2024, supported by a fleet of 99 aircraft. Presently, 73% of their operations focus on domestic routes, while 27% serve international destinations, with only a handful of long-haul routes to Dubai, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Despite challenges in the global aviation sector, there is increasing pressure to expand long-haul services given the growing Filipino population abroad, prompting Cebu Pacific to consider routes that could include countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar.