Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) is planning to launch flights to US islands in the Pacific - including Guam International, Saipan, and Honolulu - before the end of 2014. According to the Philippine Flight Network, the airline only begin to service mainland US and European destinations once it has acquired long-haul aircraft.
Both the US and the European Union recently lifted sanctions on the Philippines allowing the country's airlines unfettered access to destinations in each bloc.
"Given our fleet composition of A330-300s and Airbus A320s, I think the most likely initial routes will be some place which is closer," Lance Gokongwei, President & CEO of Cebu Pacific, said. "We don't have any aircraft that can reach the West Coast right now direct."
Last year, Alex Reyes, the head of Cebu Pacific’s long-haul operations division, said the airline was considering adding either the Boeing 787 or the Airbus A350 to its fleet.
Subject to US and Filipino regulatory approvals, the airline is targeting the launch of its US flights before the end of this year.
Cebu is also reportedly considering serving New Zealand following the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the countries last week. In a regulatory filing with the Civil Aeronautics Board, Cebu Pacific requested an allocation of seven weekly flight slots to New Zealand.
Among the BASA's terms are provisions for fifth freedom rights which will allow Filipino carriers to pick up passengers in New Zealand for onward transport to Australia. In return, Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) will be able pick up passengers in the Philippines for onward transport to China.
