The Manila–Dubai corridor is one of the most important in Cebu Pacific’s international network, and not primarily for leisure travellers.
The UAE is home to one of the largest Filipino diaspora communities in the world, and the suspension reduced budget flight options for the large Filipino expatriate population based there.
The return of Cebu Pacific’s low-cost service restores an alternative to full-service carriers on the route, which has historically been one of the busiest Philippines-Middle East connections.
Data from Skyscanner shows the cheapest available round-trip on the route in July costs around US$450 with Cebu Pacific, compared to approximately US$675 with Emirates.
Cebu Pacific’s Riyadh-Manila service, which continued throughout the suspension at four weekly flights, will complement the returning Dubai operations to give the carrier eight weekly Middle East departures in total.
Passengers with cancelled Dubai bookings can rebook through the Cebu Pacific website.