PAL to boost tourism with Cebu-Osaka comeback

Business & Technology

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is thrilled to announce the revival of its nonstop flights between Mactan-Cebu and Osaka Kansai, set to begin December 22. This move significantly expands PAL’s network in Japan, which stands as the Philippines' fourth largest source of tourist arrivals and is home to a vibrant community of over 300,000 overseas Filipinos.

The new route will offer three weekly flights, providing direct access for tourists and business travelers from western Japan to the picturesque Cebu and the central Philippines. In response to growing demand, PAL plans to increase the frequency to four weekly flights starting February 26, 2025.

PAL President & COO Captain Stanley K. Ng expressed enthusiasm about the relaunch, saying, "We are excited to reintroduce our service on the Cebu-Osaka route, just in time for the festive Christmas season. Our direct flights from Mactan to Kansai will boost Cebu's tourism industry and support local businesses in the Visayas region. This service will also strengthen bilateral relations and cultural exchanges between Japan and the Philippines. We look forward to offering travelers from Western Japan the chance to explore Cebu’s renowned resorts and heritage sites or reconnect with family in the Philippines.”

Osaka, a vibrant city known for its rich history, dynamic food scene, and bustling shopping areas, serves as a gateway to nearby destinations like Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. Highlights include the iconic Osaka Castle, the lively Dotonbori district, and Universal Studios Japan.

Travelers arriving from Osaka can easily connect to a range of domestic destinations in the Philippines via PAL’s extensive network, including Bacolod, Borongan, Busuanga (Coron), Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan (Boracay), Clark, Cotabato, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Tacloban, and Zamboanga.

Cebu remains a top choice for Japanese visitors seeking both leisure and English language learning experiences.

For this route, PAL will utilize a 199-seater Airbus A321 CEO. The reintroduction of the Cebu-Osaka flights complements PAL’s twice-daily services between Manila and Osaka Kansai and its daily flights between Cebu and Tokyo Narita.

With this expansion, PAL continues to offer the most extensive network of direct flights connecting the Philippines and Japan, including services to Osaka Kansai, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Tokyo Haneda, and Tokyo Narita. Additionally, PAL maintains other international routes from Cebu, with daily flights to Seoul (Incheon) and thrice-weekly flights to Bangkok.

FACTS ON THE NEW CEBU-OSAKA SERVICE:

Starting December 22, the Cebu-Osaka (Kansai)-Cebu route will operate three times weekly:

• PR 410 Cebu-Osaka – every Monday, Thursday and Sunday, departing Mactan-Cebu at 11:45 AM, arriving in Osaka Kansai at 05:00 PM

• PR 409 Osaka-Cebu – every Monday, Thursday and Sunday, departing Osaka Kansai at 06:00 PM, arriving in Mactan-Cebu at 09:40 PM

PAL will offer one additional weekly Cebu-Osaka-Cebu service from February 26th, 2025, increasing frequency to four times weekly. Full schedule below:

• PR 410 Cebu-Osaka – every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, departing Mactan-Cebu at 11:45 AM, arriving in Osaka Kansai at 05:00 PM

• PR 409 Osaka-Cebu – every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, departing Osaka Kansai at 06:00 PM, arriving in Mactan-Cebu at 09:40 PM

| Press Release