CEBU: The familiar red and white of AirAsia will return to Cebu skies as the airline resumes its direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Cebu, the Philippines, beginning Nov 15, 2025, with 14 weekly flights.
The Malaysian-based carrier is reviving the link to the city famously known as the Queen of the South after nearly a decade of absence, with the launch held here today.
AirAsia group chief commercial officer, Amanda Woo said the route is being reinstated following the group’s full recovery of capacity across ASEAN.
"We paused the route to prioritise domestic services in Manila, but now, with demand back and resources in place, Cebu is the right market to return to.
"We are starting with two aircraft and plan to increase the number to five next year due to the growing demand we are seeing for these routes,” she told Bernama after the launch.
She added that Cebu remains an underserved market with strong growth potential, especially in tourism and connectivity across ASEAN.
Philippines AirAsia chief executive officer Suresh Bangah added that the route will bring significant benefits to Malaysian travellers and businesses.
"At present, passengers often spend more than 12 hours transiting via Manila to reach Cebu. With this direct service, travel time is reduced to under five hours, saving half a day for businessmen.
"For them, time is money, so we are here to solve these connectivity challenges for them," he said.
He also noted that AirAsia is collaborating closely with the Cebu local government, airport authorities, and business community to ensure the route’s success.
"There is great excitement for the route due to the tourism attraction, and this connection will further enhance people-to-people ties between Malaysia and the Philippines,” added Suresh.
Cebu is the Philippines’ second-largest metropolitan hub after Manila and a rising tourism destination, boasting pristine beaches, thriving resorts and a rich cultural heritage.
The access also opens onward connectivity to other regions and popular destinations such as Boracay and beyond. - Bernama
