Hokkaido will just be a plane ride away from next year.
Starting January 16, 2025, low-cost carrier (LCC) Cebu Pacific (CEB) will be introducing its new route between the Philippines’ capital Manila and the northern Japanese city of Sapporo.
As per the airline, they will be operating from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to New Chitose International Airport (and vice versa) in a thrice-a-week schedule on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
This will also be the fifth Japanese destination where CEB currently has direct flights to, with the first four being Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.
Cebu Pacific President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao said that “[t]he launch of this route is a testament to Cebu Pacific’s mission of expanding its international network and making air travel accessible to a wider range of passengers.”
The opening of the new route also coincides with the popular Snow Festival in Sapporo, which takes place every February.
CEB’s Manila-Sapporo flights will also mark the return of a direct connection between the two cities, as legacy carrier Philippine Airlines previously served the area prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cebu Pacific also continues to grow its network, as it adds more to the current 35 domestic and 26 international destinations in Asia and Australia that it serves.
Recently, CEB closed the landmark Php 1 trillion deal with Airbus, where the LCC will be acquiring 152 units from the European plane manufacturer — the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history.
The LCC also bought boutique airline SwiftAir from the Ayala Group for Php 1.75 billion. The small company helps Cebu Pacific boost its presence in or link areas like El Nido and Coron in Palawan, Boracay in Aklan, and Bohol to Manila and Clark.