The Philippine daily *Philstar* reported on 21 February that Xiamen Airlines will restart twice-weekly services between Quanzhou, Fujian province, and Cebu in the central Philippines from 29 March. The route was suspended in 2020 and again in 2022 amid fluctuating travel restrictions. Its revival is one of the first concrete airline responses to Manila’s decision last year to grant Chinese tourists 14-day visa-free entry and to Beijing’s broader visa-free programme for outbound business trips. The resumption re-connects two historically linked trading ports—Quanzhou was a departure point for many Chinese migrants to the Visayas—while offering mainland manufacturers a faster logistics option to the electronics and furniture clusters around Cebu. Cebu Airport Authority officials told local media they expect an additional 22 000 Chinese arrivals in the first 12 months, a figure that could grow if flight frequency increases to four services per week as tentatively planned for the winter schedule. For corporate mobility teams the link simplifies rotational assignments. Several Fujian-based footwear and garments exporters operate satellite design offices in Cebu; previously, staff had to route through Manila or Hong Kong, adding costs and mandatory overnight stays. The three-hour non-stop flight will cut door-to-door journey times by almost half. Passengers should note that while Philippine visa-free rules cover tourism and certain business visitor activities, paid employment or stays beyond 14 days still require appropriate Philippine visas. Conversely, Filipino nationals remain subject to China’s ordinary visa rules unless travelling onward under the 24-hour transit waiver.
Source: Philstar Business
