Emirates to add new daily flight from Dubai to Cebu and Clark in Philippines

Emirates is to launch a new daily circular service from Dubai to Cebu and Clark in the Philippines as it looks to strengthen tourism and trade links.

The new service, which will feature a Boeing 777-300ER, will start from March 30 and will provide more options for Filipino workers living overseas - of which there are nearly 900,000 living in Dubai.

“This new service will help to enhance the Philippines’ trade links with the rest of the world and boost incoming tourism, supporting the Department of Tourism’s ‘Visit the Philippines Again 2016’ campaign,” said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

“It will also expand travel options for Filipinos from the Central Luzon region as well as the Visayas region and offer more flexibility for overseas workers departing Philippines or looking for options to fly home.”

Popular Philippine exports on this route are expected to be perishables, such as dairy products, fruit and vegetables, meat, seafood and electronic equipment, the Dubai carrier said.

Last month, Etihad announced it would add three new weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Manila from May 1.

“The Abu Dhabi-Manila route is one of our strongest in terms of demand and has been capacity-constrained over the past few years,” Etihad president and chief James Hogan said.