Philippine Airlines (PAL) President and CEO Capt. Stanley Ng announced the airline’s launch of the first-ever nonstop flights between Cebu and Catarman, the latest move in a progressive expansion of the flag carrier’s domestic network.
Ng said the Cebu-Catarman service was feted with a simple pre-launch program and a cake-slicing ceremony last March 1. On hand to mark the special moment were officials of PAL, Aboitiz InfraCapital GMCAC, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), the Department of Tourism (DOT), and other travel industry groups.
“We are proud to open our new Cebu-Catarman route, the latest investment by Philippine Airlines in building new connections to facilitate tourism, local businesses and economic growth,. Travelers from Northern Samar may now use PAL’s Cebu gateway to connect conveniently to Boracay, Coron, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa and Siargao, ”said PAL Express President Rabbi Vincent Ang.
“It is with great pleasure to witness another milestone for PAL. This effort will indeed boost our domestic tourism arrivals as connection with other provinces will improve,” Department of Tourism 7 Regional Director Judy Gabato added.
Ng said that on March 4, Flight PR 2653 Cebu-Catarman departed from Mactan-Cebu International Airport at 9:50 AM, and arrived at Catarman National Airport at 10:50 AM. PR 2654 Catarman-Cebu likewise departed from Catarman at 11:16 AM and arrived in Cebu at 12:08 PM.
The thrice weekly Cebu-Catarman-Cebu service is the 22nd route operated by PAL from its growing gateway hub at Mactan-Cebu airport. The flag carrier links Cebu to 18 other domestic points as well as to four (4) overseas destinations (namely Bangkok, Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul).
Ng also said that from May 2, 2025, PAL will introduce nonstop flights between Cebu and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with an initial schedule of three flights per week every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The Cebu-Catarman service complements PAL’s existing four weekly flights to Catarman from Manila.
According to Ng, the airline deploys its 86-seater De Havilland Dash 8-400 Next Generation aircraft on the Cebu-Catarman route, offering a comfortable journey along with the airline’s trademark Filipino heartfelt service.
The Philippines’ only full-service network airline, PAL was awarded a Top Airline Performer ranking by Cirium as the seventh most punctual airline in the Asia-Pacific region for 2024, he added.
