Cebu Pacific Air (CEB), the Philippines’ top budget airline, has resumed its direct flights between Melbourne and Manila after many months of hiatus due to COVID-19.
On March 27, 2023, CEB’s resumption flight 5J050 departed Melbourne International Airport at 2:11 am AEDT. It arrived at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 at 7:01 am, marking a successful resumption of the airline’s Melbourne-Manila service.
The Melbourne-Manila route followed the relaunch of its Sydney-Manila service in July 2022.
Despite experiencing some turbulence during the flight, passengers were thrilled to be a part of this historic flight.
“The flight was calming. I really like the music. In terms of the ambience, it helped me get into the spirit of coming to the Philippines. The crew were really nice. And the food was great,” said Kim Panti, who was travelling with her mother Sylvia.
Another passenger, Robert Siddins, was just happy to be back in Manila again.
Brand New Aircraft
For the Melbourne-Manila route, CEB utilized the new A330 neo aircraft, which features ergonomically designed seating by Recaro and charging ports for all seats, providing passengers with improved seating comfort.
Weekly Flight Schedule
The airline’s schedule between Melbourne and Manila is three times weekly, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Meanwhile, its flight from Manila departs every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
CEB now flies to 34 domestic and 26 international destinations, spanning across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
Cebu Pacific Air continues to implement a multi-layered approach to safety, operating with a 100% fully vaccinated crew, 95% of whom have been boosted, to ensure safety and convenience while travelling.
Promotions and Collaborations to Boost Travel
To stimulate travel across its flight network, Cebu Pacific Air continues to offer its guaranteed low fares.
The airline has also collaborated with Manila St. to give away free ice cream in Melbourne Central as part of its Mel-Mnl flight resumption marketing blitz.
To show appreciation for The Philippine Times readers and the wider Filipino community who have been affected by the changes, CEB gave away three pairs of return flights from Melbourne to Manila. The lucky winners were also given the opportunity to join them on the first flight on March 27.
Attractions in the Philippines
Carmina Romero, Cebu Pacific Director for Corporate Communications, expressed excitement to offer services from Melbourne again, providing both Filipino and Australian travellers with the opportunity to explore the beautiful country of over 7,000 islands offering everything from amazing swimming and diving locations to trekking and adventure-style holidays, as well as unique food and culinary treats. Leisure travellers can visit popular attractions in the Philippines and enjoy beautiful islands featuring a wide array of unique outdoor activities such as scuba diving, visiting a UNESCO-listed heritage underground river, canyoneering through waterfalls and many other adventure-related pursuits.
Romero also noted that the airline’s expansive network offers flights to 34 domestic destinations, including popular islands such as Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Coron, and Siargao, as well as 26 international destinations.
Passengers can refer to the CEB Travel reminders page for the latest updates and complete travel guidelines for their destination. Australian nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a period of 30 days.
