Cebu-LA link to boost tourism, investments

FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will offer starting March 15 direct flights between Cebu and Los Angeles, California.

This direct international service is expected to boost tourism and investments in Cebu and in the rest of southern Philippines, Cebu being a jump off point for other destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao.

PAL introduced its latest international service in a roadshow across the Visayas, including Cebu on Tuesday.

In a statement, Jaime J. Bautista, PAL president, said the Cebu-LA flights will provide more travel options to and from Los Angeles.

“PAL patrons from the Visayas and Mindanao may hop to Mactan (Cebu) via our domestic flights and then take the flight to LA. Travelers from Los Angeles who need to fly to Cebu for business or leisure stand to benefit from the new service, which promises that distinct brand of Filipino hospitality,” Bautista said.

PR122 (Ceb-LAX) departs Cebu every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:25 p.m. and arrives in Los Angeles at 5:55 p.m. local time.

PR123 (LAX-Ceb) leaves Los Angeles on the same days at 8:40 p.m. local time and touches down in Cebu at 4:40 a.m.+2.

The thrice weekly service coincides with PAL’s 75th founding anniversary and is part of the airline’s ongoing route expansion in response to market demand.

At present, the airline has 11 weekly flights between Manila and Los Angeles; 10 weekly flights between Manila and San Francisco; and four weekly flights between Manila and New York.

PAL’s other international destinations from Cebu are Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo (Narita) and Seoul (Incheon).

The airline also operates flights between Cebu and the cities of Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan, Davao, Iloilo and Tacloban.