5J Wants NAIA as hub for long haul

July 2, 2012

Cebu Pacific wants their planned 2013 long-haul flights to originate in Manila instead of the sprawling Clark complex.

Cebu Pacific president and CEO Lance Gokongwei said on Thursday, June 28 that connectivity is the main reason for insisting on operating at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

"Yes we can fly long haul out of Clark but our intention is to fly long haul primarily out of Manila because the market is in Manila," Gokongwei explained, saying it is crucial in planning a route network that combines international flights involving destinations abroad over 4 hours away, and feeder flights.

Passengers travelling to long-haul destinations tend to reach NAIA through a connecting local flight from the provinces, or go home after arrival at NAIA to their final destination in the provinces.

"Most of our OFWs are actualy not based in Manila. They are based [in] Northern Luzon or VisMin (Visayas and Mindanao regions). So with Middle East flights [for example], you have to connect it to Manila," he said.

"Manila is the ideal base for a long-haul operation," he stressed.