Cathay Pacific Airways, the flag carrier of Hong Kong, is planning to increase flight frequencies from Cebu, aiming to return to pre-pandemic operations levels by year’s end, the Inquirer reports.
Vishnu Rajendran, the airline’s country manager, expressed the intention to elevate the Cebu-Hong Kong route from its current five weekly flights to daily, with an optimistic view on air travel’s rebound.
Before the pandemic hit, Cathay Pacific operated twice daily flights on this route and plans to restore this frequency in the future.
Rajendran highlighted that the Manila-Hong Kong flights have already resumed to their pre-pandemic schedule of seven daily flights, often reaching full capacity during peak seasons.
With operations now at 70% of pre-pandemic capacity, Cathay Pacific, which serves over 160 destinations globally, anticipates achieving full operational capacity by the end of 2024.
The resurgence in air travel from the Philippines is largely attributed to robust tourism activities and the significant number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong, estimated at 120,000.
Hong Kong’s strategic position as a transit hub for travelers heading to the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, and India also contributes to the increased demand for flights. – CebuLifestyleChannel.ph