Cebu Pacific is working to return to its pre-pandemic levels of service. In March, flights will resume to Melbourne. Additional Airbus A330neos are scheduled to be delivered to the airline. And so I found myself thinking whether Cebu Pacific might restart its other routes to the Middle East, including to Doha and Riyadh.
Historically, the airline connected Manila with the Middle Eastern cities of Doha, Riyadh, Dammam, and Kuwait. After thereafter, the airline only operated Dubai as its Middle Eastern destination.
Doha, Riyadh, and Dammam may no longer be on Philippine Airlines’ route map, but the airline still operates flights there. Among the Middle Eastern cities PAL used to serve, Abu Dhabi is the only one it no longer serves.
More A330s than before
I was informed that Cebu Pacific cut Doha and Riyadh from its route map so that its wide-body aircraft could concentrate on more lucrative routes. In that time period, Cebu Pacific operated 8 A330-300s, each of which can carry 436 people. They were utilized for both international and short-haul trips. However, Cebu Pacific is expecting to acquire 4 A330-900neos this year, potentially signaling the end of A330-300 flights.
If all four A330neos are delivered this year, Cebu Pacific’s total fleet size would increase to eight aircraft. A larger number of A330neos are expected to join Cebu Pacific’s fleet next year, providing the company with the means to begin service to more distant locations.
They will have enough planes to launch new routes to the Middle East, allowing the airline to start operating direct flights between Manila and both Doha and Riyadh.
Both Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Qatar Airways (QR) are the only carriers now operating on the Manila–Doha route, while PAL and Saudia (SV) are the only carriers operating on the Manila–Riyadh route.
Sizeable OFW market
There are undoubtedly a significant number of OFWs stationed in Qatar and Saudi Arabia in which Cebu Pacific may take advantage of. Currently, PAL and Qatar Airways provide daily flights between Doha and Manila. Same applies with Riyadh which is serviced by daily flights from PAL and Saudia.
Cebu Pacific will be able to give a low-cost option to OFWs who opts to travel on a budget or would prefer have a more personalized trip. The airline’s flights between Manila and Dubai has so far been successful in which they have daily flights to.
While it may seem like a wonderful concept to me, it may sound-off a different narrative for Cebu Pacific’s route and fleet planners. However, I hope they restart flights to Doha and Riyadh, offering a low-cost carrier service to the two Middle East destinations covered by legacy airlines solely.
Cebu Pacific has the capacity to create such routes, given to the fact that they have 12 additional A330neos entering the fleet shortly. The only issue now is, will it be a wise decision? Keeping my fingers crossed that they will.
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