Australia Philippines Air Link Grows, Perth Manila And Brisbane Cebu Flights Unlock New Island Adventures, Get the Details Here

Published on December 1, 2025

Western Australians now have access to the new direct flight service from Perth to the Philippines. Passengers from Manila can now access all the surrounding islands as well. This new service allows Perth Australia residents to travel to the Philippines without having to go through a lengthy transit competing hub in Asia. This now makes the Philippines a practical travel location for getaways that include beaches, diving, or a culture-oriented travel experience, as well as from Bali, Thailand, or Fiji.

Western Australians now have access to the new direct flight service from Perth to the Philippines. Passengers from Manila can now access all the surrounding islands as well. This new service allows Perth Australia residents to travel to the Philippines without having to go through a lengthy transit competing hub in Asia. This now makes the Philippines a practical travel location for getaways that include beaches, diving, or a culture-oriented travel experience, as well as from Bali Thailand, or Fiji.

Brisbane–Cebu: Direct Access to the Queen City of the South

Cebu, long popular with Australians, is set to gain even more visibility with Jetstar’s first-ever Brisbane–Cebu seasonal route.

The service will operate from December 3 until May 16, 2026, with flights every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday—perfectly aligned with Australia’s summer holidays and the southern autumn shoulder season. Brisbane travellers will now be able to arrive in Cebu without passing through Manila, landing closer to iconic spots like Mactan’s beach resorts, the heritage streets of Cebu City, and gateway ports to Bohol, Siquijor, and other islands.

By flying directly into Cebu, Australians can save several hours in transit and start their holidays in the “Queen City of the South” almost as soon as they land, whether they are chasing whale-shark encounters in Oslob, canyoneering in Badian, or beach breaks in nearby island provinces.

Why Australia Matters So Much to Philippine Tourism

Australia remains the Philippines’ fifth-largest source market, with 271,207 arrivals recorded as of March 2025. More telling than the volume, however, is the behaviour: about 53 percent of Australian visitors are repeat travellers.

Many return again and again to Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Puerto Princesa, and Boracay—destinations that offer a mix of beaches, adventure, nightlife, and relaxed local culture. The Department of Tourism’s visitor survey also shows that 66 percent of Australians travel mainly for vacation, underscoring the leisure-driven nature of this market, while 58 percent purchase Filipino delicacies, boosting food and retail businesses in airports, malls, and neighbourhood shops.

With such strong repeat patterns, easier access from Perth and Brisbane is expected to encourage multi-trip loyalty—Australians may visit Cebu one year, Palawan the next, and Boracay or Siargao after that, often bringing friends or family along.

More Than Tourism Numbers: Communities, Culture, and Connectivity

Tourism officials emphasise that these new routes are not only about lifting arrival figures. They support a broader vision of the Philippines as a destination defined by culture, community, and quality experiences.

New international flights mean more jobs in airports, hotels, transport services, and attractions—from Cebu’s tour guides and island-hopping boat crews to Manila-based travel agencies and regional tourism enterprises. Direct links from Australia also make it easier to attract sports groups, incentive travellers, destination weddings, and content creators who showcase the country’s beaches, food, and festivals to global audiences.

For Australians, the routes create fresh possibilities for twin-centre holidays—Perth or Brisbane residents can pair Philippine island escapes with onward trips in Southeast Asia. For Filipinos, better connectivity strengthens family ties with overseas relatives and opens doors for small businesses targeting the Australian market.

Part of a Bigger Push Under the National Tourism Development Plan

Focusing on locations such as Cebu as primary access points, the Philippines seeks to exapand the the distribution of tourism benefits to non-conventional areas of the country as well as encourage tourists to explore th areas’ hidden islands, heritage towns, and eco-tourism attractions.

As more visitors from Australia, especially repeat tourists, disembark from Jetstar flights to Manila and Cebu, the Philippines is no longer perceived as merely a one-time destination from a bucket list, but as a welcoming, recurrent destination that travelers continue to explore.