CEBU: Filipino low-cost-carrier Cebu Pacific says it wants to launch services to Australia.

Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and distribution, said CEB is continuing to lobby for increased entitlements between the Philippine and Australian governments. The airline hopes to get a market share of business and tourist sector from the Australasia and Oceania. “The Philippines’ strategic regional location makes it possible for Cebu Pacific to interconnect North Asia with Australasia and Oceania. It takes approximately four hours to get to Osaka, Japan or Darwin, Australia from the Philippines,” Iyog explained. Cebu has beaten its regional rivals in flying to the three major North Asian countries - China, Korea and Japan. The Philippines’ strategic location in the region allows Cebu Pacific to offer low-fare flights to and from North Asia while keeping operational expenses manageable. CEB will be flying to Osaka, Japan starting November 20. The airline has regular services to and from Canton (Guangzhou), Hong Kong, Macau, and Shanghai in China and regular services to and from Incheon and Pusan in South, Korea. Iyog said no other ASEAN budget airline to date services all three countries except Cebu Pacific. “We are aware of the importance of these regions to our country’s tourism agenda. Now that we are about make the Philippines a virtual gateway between North and Southeast Asia, we hope to stimulate travel activities between these two big markets with our trademark low fares.” Osaka, approximately 2678km from Manila, is CEB’s the farthest northern destination. CEB maintains operational hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao. Now in its 13th year, CEB has the youngest aircraft fleet in the Philippines. It will fly to 27 domestic destinations with the addition of Ozamiz, and Surigao this month and 15 international destinations, counting Osaka, Japan.