MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY—United Airlines launched its new Cebu-Tokyo/Narita-USA route with the first outbound flight from Cebu at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) at 9:30 a.m. on October 28, marking it with a special ribbon and cake-cutting ceremonies at the departure gate with customers, guests, United executives, staff and crew joining in the event.
The new service departs Cebu daily at 9:30 a.m. and arrives in Tokyo/Narita at 3:15 p.m. the same day. The return flight from Tokyo/Narita to Cebu departs at 5:30 p.m. and arrives on Cebu at 10:05 p.m. United operates the flight with a 737-800 with 166 seats, 16 of which are in business class.
“We are excited to offer even greater travel choice to our customers in the Philippines, with a one-stop connection, via Tokyo/Narita, to destinations in the United States and our unrivalled network of onward connections to destinations across the Americas, including our hub in Newark with fast easy access to Manhattan,” Walter Dias, Director, Asia Pacific, United Airlines told media during the event.
Dias expressed his excitement of the United Airlines launching flights to Cebu, highlighting the long history of operating in the Philippines since 1982. The new service connects Cebu with Narita, Japan, and brings many tourists from Japan, as evidenced by a full flight.
He added that United Airlines aims to integrate Cebu into its network by using Narita as a hub, connecting major U.S. cities to Cebu through Tokyo. The new route is expected to drive economic benefits through tourism, with a focus on serving both Japan and Cebu points of sale.
Dias further explained that United Airlines chose Cebu due to its high tourism activity and the large U.S. frequent flyer community looking for unique destinations. The decision to select Cebu was influenced by its under-connected status to the U.S. in terms of aviation services.
“The airline aims to fill its flights by offering comprehensive travel packages that include ground, hotel, and air component. The new route features seven weekly flights from Tokyo to Cebu, with additional daily flights from San Francisco to Manila and daily services from Guam to Manila,” Dias bared.
Athanasios Titonis, CEO, Aboitiz Infracapital GMCAC, private operator of MCIA emphasized the prestige of having United Airlines and the potential to increase tourism traffic in the Philippines. MCIA’s future plans include developing domestic and international connectivity, with collaborations from various departments in government.
“The goal is to make Cebu a regional hub and eventually to a national one, with plans to increase capacity and improve processes and design at the airport. The arrival of United Airlines as a valued airline partner marks a significant milestone for our Cebu Connect service. This new connectivity to Japan and the United States not only expands travel opportunities for Cebuanos and Filipinos,” Titonis stated.
The entry of United Airlines to Cebu also strengthens Cebu’s role as a gateway, inviting travelers from around the world to experience the natural beauty and vibrant culture of Cebu and other popular destinations across Central and Southern Philippines, including Siargao, Palawan, and Boracay, Titonis added.
The new daily nonstop service provides greater choice for customers in the Philippines to travel to Tokyo and with United connections, to the United States. United is the only U.S. carrier to operate from Cebu, connecting customers from the Visayas and Mindanao regions to Japan via Tokyo/Narita and to more than 200 destinations across the United States through its hubs at Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark and San Francisco.
With this partnership, we aim to foster even greater cultural and economic exchange between the Philippines and the world. Together, we are unlocking new possibilities for tourism, investment, and growth that will benefit our local communities and industries,” Titonis said.
Dias acknowledged the support from MCIA and its marketing airline department over the past eight months which has been crucial in the success of the new flight. “I want to thank everyone for supporting United Airlines and for those getting on the flight, have a fantastic flight back to Tokyo or wherever your destination is,” he concluded.