Philippine Airlines officially launches Cebu-Guam service
- Admin
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Philippine Airlines has officially launched its maiden Cebu-Guam service, opening a new link that is hoped to significantly boost tourism, trade and cultural exchange between the U.S. territory and the Philippines' eastern and southern regions.
Flight PR120 arrived at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport at 3 a.m. on Dec. 17, carrying a Guam delegation led by Gov. Lourdes Leon Guerrero. The inaugural flight was welcomed with a ceremonial water salute at the airport—an aviation ritual reserved for landmark events.
Speaking at the departure ceremony in Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Airport on Dec. 16, Leon Guerrero said the opening of the new route “marks the beginning of a new era, one filled with easier travel, deeper friendships, stronger cultural ties and even greater possibilities for our communities.”
She said the inaugural flight reflected Guam's close ties and long-standing bond with the Filipino community, “whose contributions continue to shape our island's story.”
Filipinos account for about 35 percent of Guam's population, making them the largest Asian group on the island.
The Cebu route, an addition to the daily Manila-Guam flights, is designed to serve the Visayas and Mindanao markets.
“By strengthening our connection with Cebu and the Visayas, we are honoring our shared history while creating new opportunities for families, businesses, and cultural exchange in the years ahead,” the governor said.
Upon arrival at the Guam airport, the delegation joined airport and tourism officials, the Philippine Consul General Rosario Lemque, and executives from PAL and Goodwind Development Corp. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark its first departure from Guam to Cebu and welcome outbound crew and passengers.
"This direct flight between Guam and Cebu is a definite win for our tourism industry," said Regine Biscoe-Lee, president of the Guam Visitors Bureau.
"It helps to open up a new market, making it easier for people from the Philippines to visit family and friends and explore destination Guam. It will help cultivate even more robust business, travel experiences, and cultural connections,” she added.
Officials anticipate that the direct connection will enhance Guam's ability to attract more visitors from the Philippines, a key source market, by leveraging Cebu as a strategic gateway.
“The direct route drastically reduces travel time and stopovers, making Guam an accessible, distinctively American destination for Filipino travelers seeking a unique U.S. experience without a long-haul commitment,” according to GVB.
“The improved accessibility is anticipated to stimulate economic activity and strengthen the long-standing historical and cultural ties between the two territories.
Flight scheule (All times local)
● PR121 – Guam to Cebu: 05:15H – 06:50H, operating Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
● PR120 – Cebu to Guam: 21:40H – 03:25H (+1), operating Tuesdays, Thursdays, and SaturdaysAviation industry leaders in the Philippines noted that Cebu’s growing economy and strategic location make it an ideal alternative terminal to decongest Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Cebu is famous for its sparkling waters, Sinulog Festival and landmarks from its 16th-century Spanish colonial past.
The Guam-Cebu route is part of PAL's ongoing strategy to broaden its international reach beyond Manila.
From Cebu, PAL currently offers direct flights to Ho Chi Minh, Incheon, Narita
and Osaka, alongside domestic connections to Manila, Siargao, Bacolod, Caticlan, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, and Busuanga. These services provide same-day connections for travelers across the Visayas and Mindanao to international markets.
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