Cebu Pacific has unveiled plans to launch direct flights between Manila and Melbourne, Australia starting August 14, 2018.
The airline will fly between Manila and Melbourne three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays. Flight 5J 049 is scheduled to depart Manila at 06:05 and land in Melbourne at 15:50. The return flight, 5J 050, is scheduled to pull back from the gate at Melbourne at 17:05 and land back in Manila at 23:15.
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“We share the excitement of the Filipino community in Melbourne and Australian travelers who want to experience the Philippines,” said Candice Iyog, Vice-President for Marketing and Distribution of Cebu Pacific. “The launch of our service between Melbourne and Manila will give travelers from Australia seamless connections to other destinations in the Philippines at year-round low fares. More importantly, we hope to strengthen trade between the Philippines and Australia through more cargo capacity on direct flights that are more affordable. This will benefit importers and exporters, as well as retailers bringing products in both countries.”
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Melbourne will be Cebu Pacific’s second destination in Australia following the launch of direct Manila-Sydney flights in 2014. Tourist arrivals from the Philippines have since become one of the fastest-growing source markets for Australia, with an average 16% increase over the past four years. Prior to the entry of Cebu Pacific, tourist arrivals from the Philippines were at about 70,000. Since 2014, that number has steadily climbed to over 120,000.
“The opening of the Manila-Melbourne route is a testament to growing trade and people-to-people links. Melbourne is a great city to explore and increased flights will also bring more Australian tourists to the Philippines. This will also be welcome news to a quarter of a million Filipinos who now call Australia home and the more than 10,000 students who travel there each year,” said Amanda Gorely, Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Philippines.
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