Philippines’ Cebu Pacific stops flights to Siem Reap
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Budget carrier Cebu Pacific has stopped its flights to and from Siem Reap, leaving only one Philippine carrier servicing the Cambodia-Philippines air route.
Difficulties in turning out a profit was the main reason for Cebu Pacific’s departure from the Kingdom, according to Philippine media reports last week. Cebu Pacific ended its Siem Reap flights yesterday.
Cebu Pacific spokesperson Charo Logarta-Lagamon was quoted as saying by Philippine Star that “route viability became a concern” for its Siem Reap service.
The reports confirmed rumors that have been circulating as far as back last year that the Gokongwei-owned airline was contemplating such a move.
The difficulties faced by Cebu Pacific were also a topic of discussion among Filipinos who attended the 3rd Cambodia Travel Mart.
Then last week, Dirk Salcedo, an aviation blogger based out of the Philippines, reported that closure of the route was imminent, citing its online booking platform and data from FlightRadar24.com that show no Cebu Pacific flights beyond Dec 7.
The news saddened many Filipinos in Cambodia. The Kingdom is host to more than 6,000 Filipino nationals.
Cebu Pacific started flying to Siem Reap in 2012 amidst a growing number of Filipinos visiting Angkor Wat, the Kingdom’s leading tourist destination.
The thousands of Filipinos working and residing in Cambodia also factored in Cebu Pacific’s decision to establish a direct flight to Siem Reap, becoming the first such carrier from the Philippines to do so.
Since then, the airline has been flying three times a week from Manila to Siem Reap and vice versa using an Airbus A-320 aircraft.
Cebu Pacific’s decision to close the Siem Reap route means that Philippine Airlines (PAL) will be the sole Philippine carrier with direct flight to Cambodia. PAL re-opened the Phnom Penh-Manila air route last year and now flies five times a week to Cambodia.
A few other Philippine carriers like Royal Air Philippines operate charter flights servicing the Cambodia route.
The Siem Reap service was not the sole casualty of Cebu Pacific’s decision to focus on more profitable air routes. The budget airline also ended its flights to Guam, a United States territory in the Western Pacific.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary reason Cebu Pacific stopped its flights to Siem Reap?
What is the primary reason Cebu Pacific stopped its flights to Siem Reap?
The main reason for Cebu Pacific's departure was difficulties in turning a profit from the route. A spokesperson for the airline stated that route viability became a concern for their Siem Reap service.
Q.Which other Philippine carrier still offers direct flights between the Philippines and Cambodia?
Which other Philippine carrier still offers direct flights between the Philippines and Cambodia?
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is now the sole Philippine carrier offering direct flights to Cambodia. It re-opened the Phnom Penh-Manila air route last year and flies five times a week.
Q.When did Cebu Pacific begin its service to Siem Reap?
When did Cebu Pacific begin its service to Siem Reap?
Cebu Pacific started flying to Siem Reap in 2012. It was the first Philippine carrier to establish a direct flight to the city, aiming to serve Filipino visitors and residents in Cambodia.
Q.Has Cebu Pacific stopped any other routes recently?
Has Cebu Pacific stopped any other routes recently?
Yes, the Siem Reap service was not the only route Cebu Pacific ended. The budget airline also ceased its flights to Guam, a United States territory in the Western Pacific.