A commemorative group photo with (L-R) Johann Zhang, Financial Comptroller, Juneyao Airlines; Steven Zhou, Station Manager-Philippines, Juneyao Airlines; Aines Librodo, Head of Airline Marketing, GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation; and Juneyao Airlines HO1392 flight crew.
A ceremonial water cannon salute welcomed the arrival of two new Chinese airlines at Mactan Cebu International Airport on November 1.
At 2:40 AM, Juneyao Airlines arrived at the Mactan International Airport shortly followed by Okay Airways. Juneyao Airlines and Okay Airways are the newest Chinese airline partners of MCIA.
About 110 passengers from Shanghai and about 180 passengers from Xianyang were aboard the inaugural flights of Juneyao Airlines and Okay Airways, respectively. Representatives of GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corporation, together with the Department of Tourism Region 7, welcomed and greeted the passengers with leis and tokens.
Juneyao Airlines and Okay Airways are mounting thrice-weekly flights to Shanghai Pudong International Airport and to China’s historic city Xianyang, respectively, starting November.
Juneyao Airlines is a major full-service airline based in Shanghai, China operating both domestic and international services from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Cebu is the first destination which the airline operates in the Philippines.
“Cebu is the second largest city and they have lots of opportunities and chance to establish a long-term cooperation with Shanghai and Cebu so that’s why we chose Cebu as our first destination,” said Steven Zhou, Cebu station manager of Juneyao Airlines.
Meanwhile, Okay Airways’ Xianyang-Cebu-Xianyang is its second flight service in the Philippines. OK Air is China’s first privately owned Chinese carrier and is based in Tianjin, China.
“The market of Okay Airways is more on the tourists and Cebu is a destination near the cities where there are many tourist spots as well,” said Jo Zablan, OK Air’s Airport Service Manager.
A traditional water cannon ceremony is held for Okay Airways, MCIA’s latest addition to its flight roster.
According to GMCAC President Louie Ferrer, destination marketing is their main strategy in strengthening Cebu’s connectivity.
“Promoting the province and its surrounding areas to other Asian countries, especially China, is among our highest priorities,” said Louie Ferrer, GMCAC President. “Studies have shown that China is the highest spending tourist market in the world – we want to bring this high-spending Chinese market to Cebu.”
GMCAC is also looking to promote Cebu to other untapped markets and this includes other provinces in China, Australia and other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand are also high on the list. Ferrer confirms the company is also targeting new flights to North Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Europe.
MCIA will also launch new flight services to Beijing and Bangkok, and more domestic flights in the succeeding months. /PR
