The Philippine Airlines (PAL) is significantly expanding its Cebu hub in response to the summer travel surge, increasing both flight frequency and seat capacity. In April, the airline will operate 287 domestic round-trip flights weekly from Mactan-Cebu Airport, linking the hub to 18 destinations across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao—representing a 10 percent increase in flight frequency.
In addition to more flights, PAL is upgrading to larger aircraft, such as the 199-seat Airbus A321s, on select routes, replacing smaller aircraft like the 86-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 NGs. This will raise the airline’s seat capacity by over 39,000, or a 17 percent increase, benefiting summer travelers heading to popular destinations like Boracay, Siargao, Coron, and Palawan.
Notable increases in flight services include 21 weekly Cebu-Caticlan flights (up from 14), and 26 weekly Cebu-Siargao flights (up from 18). Services to Palawan will also expand, with flights to Puerto Princesa doubling to 14 weekly, and Coron seeing an increase from 14 to 17 weekly flights.
PAL’s expanding Cebu network also features new international routes, including Cebu-Osaka (launched in December 2024) and upcoming Cebu-Ho Chi Minh City (starting May 2025). These moves align with PAL’s strategy to enhance connectivity, stimulate tourism, and support regional economies.
“This expansion reflects our commitment to boosting tourism and driving economic growth across our inter-island network,” said Rabbi Vincent Ang, PAL Express president.
