Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ leading carrier, has taken a significant step toward expanding its domestic network by acquiring boutique airline AirSWIFT Transport Inc. in a PHP 1.75 billion deal with ALI Capital Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Land, Inc., the Philippines’ largest property developer. This acquisition aligns with CEB’s mission to boost connectivity across the country by offering cost-effective travel options, supporting the Philippines’ economic growth and tourism development goals.
The transaction, approved by the Boards of Directors of both Cebu Pacific and ALI Capital, enables both organizations to sharpen their focus on their core businesses. For AirSWIFT, this means continuing to provide seamless travel experiences to key domestic leisure destinations, while for CEB, the integration of AirSWIFT into its network enhances its ability to serve local and international travelers with greater efficiency.
Despite the acquisition, AirSWIFT will maintain its existing flight schedules and services. The boutique airline, known for serving the domestic leisure travel market, operates flights from Manila and Clark to El Nido, Palawan, as well as inter-island routes from El Nido to Cebu, Boracay, Coron, and Bohol. By adding AirSWIFT to its portfolio, Cebu Pacific ensures increased accessibility to these top-tier tourist destinations, further strengthening its role in promoting travel and tourism within the Philippines.
ALI Capital President Alfonso Javier Reyes emphasized the strategic impact of this transition. “Our investment in AirSWIFT has been a key enabler in the growth of El Nido as a world-class tourist destination. With this transaction, we are hopeful that the expertise of Cebu Pacific will bring lower cost options and greater accessibility to El Nido,” he said.
Cebu Pacific President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao echoed this vision, stating, “Cebu Pacific continues to undertake measures to boost connectivity to various Philippine destinations while offering low fares, thus contributing to economic growth and tourism development goals.”
Once integrated, CEB will add El Nido to its routes, widening its network and connectivity for domestic and international travelers which will contribute to growth opportunities for local communities and businesses in key tourist destinations.
Turboprop Relocation and AirSWIFT’s Continued Presence at Terminal 2
In a related move to optimize its operational efficiency, Cebu Pacific announced in January its plans to gradually shift its turboprop aircraft operations away from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 to alternative hubs such as Clark International Airport. This strategic decision follows a resolution issued by the Manila Slot Coordination Committee of the Department of Transportation on December 3, 2024.
As part of this shift, flights from Manila to Masbate and Siargao will be transferred to depart from Clark beginning March 30, 2025. In addition, direct flights from Manila to Surigao will be discontinued, with passengers having the option to connect via Cebu instead.
With the relocation of its turboprop flights, CEB aims to optimize operations at NAIA and enhance the overall travel experience for passengers. However, while CEB’s turboprop services transition out of Terminal 2, AirSWIFT flights will continue to operate from the terminal until March 2026, ensuring uninterrupted access to its exclusive leisure destinations.
Cebu Pacific operates 37 domestic and 26 international routes spanning Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. For more information, visit cebupacificair.com
To learn more about AirSWIFT, visit air-swift.com
