Cebu Pacific Adjusts Operations Amid Middle East Crisis, Significant Network Cuts

Cebu Pacific Adjusts Operations Amid Middle East Crisis, Significant Network Cuts

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | March 24, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Cebu Pacific (CEB) is implementing extensive network adjustments, including widespread flight cancellations and frequency reductions, citing the profound impact of the Middle East crisis on global fuel prices. 

The airline’s advisory reveals a strategic recalibration of its flight operations from April 2026 through October 2026, directly attributing the changes to a more than doubling of fuel costs compared to 2025 averages.

This move marks a significant operational shift for CEB, affecting key international routes and underscoring the severe economic fallout of geopolitical instability on the aviation sector.

CEB’s Network Adjustments

Route Suspensions

    Davao – Bangkok (Don Mueang)

• Suspended from April 13 – October 23, 2026 (Flight numbers 5J 5964/5965).

    Iloilo – Bangkok (Don Mueang)

• Suspended from April 17 – October 24, 2026 (Flight numbers 5J 5970/5971).

    Iloilo – Singapore

• Suspended from June 15 – October 23, 2026 (Flight number 5J 283).

    Singapore – Iloilo

• Suspended from June 16 – October 24, 2026 (Flight number 5J 284).

    Clark – Hanoi

• Suspended from May 2 – October 25, 2026 (Flight numbers 5J 5872/5873).

Frequency Reductions

    Cebu – Singapore

• Reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly (Thursday and Saturday flights affected) from April 16 – October 24, 2026.

    Singapore – Cebu

• Reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly (Friday and Sunday flights affected) from April 17 – October 25, 2026.

    Manila – Jakarta

• Reduced from 7x weekly to 4x weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday flights affected) from April 14 – October 24, 2026.

    Jakarta – Manila

• Reduced from 7x weekly to 4x weekly (Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday flights affected) from April 15 – October 25, 2026.

    Manila – Kuala Lumpur

• Reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly (Wednesday and Friday flights affected) from April 15 – October 23, 2026.

    Kuala Lumpur – Manila

• Reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly (Thursday and Saturday flights affected) from April 16 – October 24, 2026.

    Manila – Melbourne

• Reduced from 5x weekly to 4x weekly (May 14, 28 flights affected).

    Melbourne – Manila

• Reduced from 5x weekly to 4x weekly (May 15, 29 flights affected).

    Manila – Sydney

• Reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly (May 4, 8, 13, 17, 22, 27, 31 flights affected).

    Sydney – Manila

• Reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly (May 5, 9, 14, 18, 23, 28, June 1 flights affected).

Passenger Options

CEB acknowledges the potential disruption to travel plans and has informed affected passengers, offering three options via their “Manage Booking” portal:

Free Rebooking

• Passengers can rebook their flight without a fare difference, subject to availability, up to 30 days before or after their original flight.

Travel Fund

• The value of the fare can be converted into a non-expiring Travel Fund for future bookings, usable for anyone.

Refund

• Passengers may request a refund, with processing times varying by payment method.

The airline emphasizes that these network adjustments are “carefully implemented to address the current impact,” with the rest of its network expected to operate as scheduled. 

CEB advises customers to keep contact details updated and monitor their social media channels for the latest advisories, thanking passengers for their understanding and support amidst these challenging operational changes.