Boosting NSW Trade and Tourism: Philippines-based airline announces Sydney service

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Deputy Premier, Minister for Trade and Investment and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Andrew Stoner today welcomed the entry of Philippines-based Cebu Pacific Air to the Australian market.

The low-cost Philippine carrier has announced new services between Manila and Sydney will commence from 9 September 2014.

Mr Baird welcomed the announcement and said the new airline services would bring the two cities closer together.

“It is great to see Cebu Pacific Air has chosen to open a direct link with Sydney, providing more options for those wishing to travel to NSW to visit loved ones and do business,” Mr Baird said.

“There are 70,000 people of Filipino heritage living in NSW and this new air link will make it easier for this community to maintain contact with loved ones in the Philippines.

“The NSW Government continues to work hard to ensure Sydney and NSW is an attractive global destination for people to visit, work, study and invest,” Mr Baird said.

Mr Stoner said Cebu Pacific Air’s decision to offer a direct service to Sydney was a great win for tourism, trade and investment.

“I was delighted to meet with Cebu Pacific Air earlier this year to discuss their plans and I look forward to services starting this September,” Mr Stoner said.

“This decision represents a huge vote of confidence in NSW as a destination-of-choice with tourists, international students and people doing business in our State.

“Today’s announcement will lead to an increase in the number of seats available on this route by more than 226,000 each year. The increased passenger capacity will see more people travel to Sydney as we work toward our goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure by 2020.

“The latest International Visitor Survey shows more than 28,000 visitors from the Philippines contributed about $61 million to the NSW economy in the year to March 2014.”

Cebu Pacific Air will offer four flights each week between Manila and Sydney before expanding to five weekly services by the end of 2014.