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Home / Features / Philippines largest carrier achieves over 1 million passengers flown in Dubai-Manila-Dubai route

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Philippines largest carrier achieves over 1 million passengers flown in Dubai-Manila-Dubai route

Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ largest carrier, has announced its latest landmark achievement – having flown over one million passengers between Dubai and Manila. The development coincides with the company's fifth year of operations in the United Arab Emirates. Cebu Pacific, one of the oldest and largest low-cost carriers (LCC) in the Asia-Pacific region, is the only LCC flying directly between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates. Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing and Distribution of Cebu Pacific, said: "These are truly wonderful times for Cebu Pacific, now celebrating five years of operations in Dubai. This translates to a landmark achievement for us as we have now flown over one million passengers on this route, from the maiden flight in October 2013 to September 2018. This reflects our strong commitment to serve the UAE residents including the significant and growing Filipino community residing in the country.

“The UAE represents an important market for Cebu Pacific. And since we opened the route five years ago, the Dubai-Manila-Dubai route has become one of the strongest performers in the company's entire network,” Iyog said.

In terms of Seat Load Factor, or the percentage of seats filled by passengers, the numbers have remained consistently above 85 per cent. The company is also widely recognised for its efficiency in operations, being listed as the sixth most profitable airline in terms of net margin and the tenth most profitable in terms of operating margin for 2017 by the Global Earnings Scoreboard of leading industry publication Airline Weekly.

At the time of its launch, Cebu Pacific was the first Filipino carrier to land in Dubai in 15 years. Dubai is its first long-haul destination.

The success of the Dubai-Manila-Dubai route paved the way for similar success in other long-haul routes, including Melbourne-Manila and Sydney-Manila. The strong response received for this route has given Cebu Pacific the strategic opportunity to offer travelers a value-for-money flight option from a leading Middle East destination to the Asia-Pacific region, while also highlighting the Philippines as a highly preferred and emerging tourist destination in the Southeast Asian region.

In celebration of the anniversary, Cebu Pacific hosted a milestone gala dinner and a homecoming night with popular social media personality Kulas of Becoming Filipino. Present during these events were H.E. Deputy Consul General Renato Dueñas, Jr., members of the Philippine Diplomatic Corps, leading UAE-based companies in the travel trade industry, representatives of the Filipino community and media.

With base fare as low as AED459, flying via Cebu Pacific from Dubai is as much as 65 per cent lower than fares offered by other airlines flying the same route. Even including other fees, taxes and charges, year-round low fares on Cebu Pacific are still over 50 per cent below its competitors, while consistent with its concept of “no-frills flying.”

In a move to help attract more passengers to the Dubai-Manila-Dubai routes, Cebu Pacific has continued to offer seat sales. It has expanded its value additions to its services—including new inter-island connections, strategic fare bundle options, new halal certified in-flight meals, convenient transfer choices and key payment options. Customers can pay through UAE establishments PayRemit, UAE Exchange, Al Rais Travel and Shipping Agencies and Abu Dhabi Travel Bureau.

“We continue to offer the lowest fares for the Dubai-Manila-Dubai route, including products that are deemed relevant to the market. We know the importance and care that our overseas Filipinos have placed in making these trips--flying home to their families after being away for so long. We understand that, which is why we make sure that we offer them the best and safest flights with ease and connectivity,” concluded Iyog.