5J Settles For Riyadh, Gives Up Jeddah

21 August 2014

Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) is finally giving up the fight for slots in Jeddah held by flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) after a protracted battle with the Flag carrier before Philippine and Saudi regulators.

Cebu Pacific will take the seven remaining slots out of the 21 granted by the Air Services Agreement with the Philippines, while the remaining fourteen entitlements are held by PAL.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has granted the Philippines 21 traffic rights per week between Riyadh and Jeddah to Manila, while both countries offers no flight restrictions between Dammam and Manila.

Cebu Pacific said that they will use all the seven entitlements to Riyadh while propose to begin introductory flight at leat thrice a week to Dammam and Riyadh using Airbus A330-300.

The airline said they will launch services to Saudi Arabia after opening flights to kuwait in 2 September hopefully around November or December this year. 

CEB spokesman Alex Reyes said it can launch flights to Saudi Arabia within a few weeks from regulator's approval to start ticket sales to the Philippines.

Cebu Pacific first flew to the Middle East last year with Dubai as its first destination. Dammam and Riyadh will be its 3rd and 4th destination in the gulf region.

Meanwhile, PAL which currently serves Riyadh and Damman with four and three weekly A330 flights to Manila respectively, is expected to add two more flights to this Cities in the coming months while the long awaited flights to Jeddah is fortcoming with introductory flights at three times a week.