Emirates to launch daily service to Cebu and Clark in the Philippines

Dubai carrier Emirates said that it will launch a circular daily service to the cities of Clark and Cebu in the Philippines from March 30, 2016.

The route will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and will strengthen connectivity to the country, the airline said in a statement.

Emirates flights to Cebu and Clark will depart daily from Dubai at 02:55 hours arriving at Mactan–Cebu International Airport at 15:50 hours. The service will then depart from Cebu at 17:25 hours and arrive at Clark International Airport at 18:45 hours.

The airline’s capacity expansion follows the renewal of an air service agreement between the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines in August 2015 to increase the number of seats between the countries. The deal allowed both sides to increase the number of weekly flights from 28 to 35.

But the agreement mandated that all Gulf carriers wanting to operate more flights to Manila were also required to service Clark or Cebu, media reports at the time of signing the air service deal said.

Emirates did not specify whether the new services to Clark and Cebu were part of a clause in the air deal.

The Dubai carrier first began services to Clark in October 2013, but abruptly stopped the route seven months after the launch. Emirates said the decision followed a review of its fleet utilisation plans.

But officials say the new circular route offers more merits and will “enhance the Philippines’ trade link with the rest of the world” while also supporting the country’s tourism campaign.

“It will also expand travel options for Filipinos from the Central Luzon region as well as the Visayas region and offer more flexibility for overseas workers departing Philippines or looking for options to fly home,” said Emirates’ executive vice president and chief commercial officer Thierry Antinori.

Emirates’ new service will have 42 seats in business class and 386 seats in economy class. It will also offer about 14 tonnes of cargo capacity on the route.

Gulf carriers have been keen to operate to countries in Asia to cater to growing demand on the routes.