AirAsia Philippines expands Cebu routes, connects more local communities to global gateways

AirAsia Philippines has strengthened its presence in Cebu by launching 3 domestic and 2 international routes initially, flying out of Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) beginning 15 November 2025.

Building the excitement towards the official route launch, AirAsia Group Executives along with partners from the Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC), operator of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA), regional tourism officials and travel partners shared exciting updates among media partners.

The World’s Best Low-Cost airline is set to revive its Cebu-Davao-Cebu with 18x weekly and Cebu-Caticlan-Cebu with 11x weekly while initiating a new domestic route Cebu-Iloilo-Cebu with 4x weekly.

To bolster connectivity to Asean and beyond, AirAsia will fly back to its mega hub via Cebu-Kuala Lumpur-Cebu with 14x weekly flights and will offer value-driven alternative gateway to Hong Kong and China via Cebu-Macao-Cebu with 3x weekly flights.

Until September 28, 2025, guests may book via MOVE app direct flights going to Caticlan, Iloilo, Davao, Kuala Lumpur and Macau for as low as ₱118, for travel between November 15, 2025 and March 28, 2026.

AirAsia Aviation Group Chief Commercial Officer Amanda Woo said, “Cebu is a cornerstone in our next phase of growth in the Philippines. By linking domestic feeders from across the Visayas and Mindanao into international gateways like Macao and Kuala Lumpur, we are creating a stronger bridge between local communities and the wider region. Through Kuala Lumpur alone, travellers from Cebu can seamlessly connect to more than 3,500 routes across Asia and beyond. We’ve restructured this hub to scale more sustainably, deepen our presence in Asean, and provide more affordable choices for millions of travelers. Beyond Kuala Lumpur and Macao, we are also planning additional international routes out of Cebu to further strengthen its role as another global gateway for the Philippines. With this, Cebu will play its part in realising our ambition to become the world’s first low-cost network carrier.”

Beyond its year-round promo fares, AirAsia underscores its commitment to safety, reliability and overall operational efficiency— anchored to making purposeful journeys among guests.

“Cebu as an international hub is strategically positioned to ease congestion in Manila, and serve the demand from Central Visayas to the southern part of the Philippines. This comeback expansion is about more than connectivity — it’s about encouraging local tourism, creating jobs, and supporting communities that depend on travel and trade. To meet the needs of this hub reopening, we have hired pilots, cabin crew, and ground staff based right here in Cebu. For our guests, every flight is a purposeful journey that connects them to opportunities, experiences, and loved ones — delivered with our commitment to safety, affordability, and world-class service.,” said AirAsia Philippines President and CEO Capt. Suresh Bangah.

Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC) meanwhile lauds AirAsia’s route expansion and calls it a powerful synergy, strengthening Cebu’s position as a vital hub.

“We are delighted to support AirAsia Philippines in launching their new direct flights from Cebu to Kuala Lumpur and Macau at Mactan-Cebu International Airport, giving us better connectivity and further promoting Cebu as a destination and as a tourism transfer hub,” said Athanasios Titonis, Chief Executive Officer of Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC).

To cap off the Cebu hub comeback, AirAsia is inviting Cebuanos to a Music Festival on 15 November 2025 featuring top Original Pilipino Music (OPM) artists — a celebration of local talent and a gesture of appreciation for the community that plays a central role in AirAsia’s journey.