Further improving connectivity between the two leading tourist destinations.
Recently, regional budget carrier AirAsia Philippines announced a new addition to its growing network from its hub in Cebu, which had just launched last November.
With the aim of making it a “strategic international gateway,” the airline will launch a new direct route to Bangkok, which will further expand the connectivity from Central Visayas to key destinations across ASEAN and beyond.
The service will commence on June 11, 2026, with AirAsia connecting the Queen City of the South to the Thai capital with once-daily flights (7x weekly) that will depart Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) at 4:05 am and arrive in Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (DMK) at 7:05 am (local time)—allowing travelers to maximize their time by flying directly from Cebu.
Meanwhile, thd return Bangkok-Cebu flight will depart daily from 7:35 am and arrive at 12:30 pm in Cebu.
As per the airline, this new route will also strengthen inbound travel to the country’s most visited region by foreign tourists.
According to a recent review conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), it reported that Central Visayas welcomed 31.5 million international visitors between 2000 and 2024.
Cebu, being the key driver in the region, offers a mix of vibrant city life, rich historical heritage, world-class diving destinations, and stunning islands and waterfalls.
AirAsia launched its Cebu hub in November 2025, AirAsia Philippines has connected the province to Macao, Kuala Lumpur, Caticlan, and Davao.
As for the Don Mueang Airport, it is one of the mega hubs of the AirAsia Aviation Group. Hence, the connection to it will enable travelers from Cebu to seamlessly connect to a wide network of onward destinations across Thailand’s domestic 42 routes with 25 destinations and 60 international destinations across Asia.
In addition to growing its Cebu hub, AirAsia Philippines is expanding its Manila international network with additional flight frequencies to meet rising travel demand, with the list including additional capacity in its Manila-Taipei, Manila-Kaohsiung, and Manila-Macao routes.