1 FEB: Another Asian airline may be flying to Australia by the middle of next year, with low-cost Philippines carrier Cebu Air announcing yesterday that this country is among destinations it’s targeting with plans to launch long-haul services. President and ceo Lance Gokongwei told reporters that the airline will lease up to eight Airbus A330-300 aircraft to serve the new markets from about mid-2013.

"The A330-300 would give us the lowest cost per seat, allowing us to drive long-haul fares 35% lower than those currently offered by other airlines and as much as 80% lower with promotional fares", he said.

Popularly known as Cebu Pacific, the airline flies more passengers than the country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines and holds half of the domestic market.

By starting long-haul flights, it will follow in the footsteps of Malaysia’s budget carrier AirAsia X.

Gokongwei said they will offer the lowest fares possible.

Cebu Pacific currently operates 10 Airbus A319s, 19 Airbus A320s and eight ATR-72 500s.