Cebu’s New Nagoya and Shanghai Flights Now Start in December
Cebu Pacific moved both new routes out of Mactan from mid-November to 1 December 2026. Nagoya flies four times a week, Shanghai three, and nobody else flies either nonstop from Cebu.
Reported by Suroy Newsdesk. Edited by Janette Arceo. Editorial standards.
Cebu Pacific’s two new routes out of Mactan, to Nagoya and to Shanghai, now start on 1 December 2026 instead of mid-November. The change was filed in late September and reported on 1 October 2026. Nagoya flies four times a week and Shanghai three, and on both routes Cebu Pacific is the only airline flying nonstop from Cebu.
PHOTO · SUROY.PH ARCHIVE
What moved
| Route | First announced | Now starts | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cebu to Nagoya (Chubu Centrair) | 19 November 2026 | 1 December 2026 | 4 a week: Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun |
| Cebu to Shanghai Pudong | 17 November 2026 | 1 December 2026 | 3 a week: Tue, Thu, Sat |
When Cebu Pacific announced the routes in August, it said Nagoya would become its third Japanese city served nonstop from Cebu, after Tokyo Narita and Osaka, and that it would be the only Philippine airline flying Cebu to Shanghai nonstop.
The flight times, as filed
| Flight | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| 5J5010 Cebu to Nagoya | 02:35 Cebu | 08:00 Nagoya |
| 5J5011 Nagoya to Cebu | 09:00 Nagoya | 13:15 Cebu |
| 5J5322 Cebu to Shanghai | 19:45 Cebu | 00:05 Shanghai, next day |
| 5J5323 Shanghai to Cebu | 01:05 Shanghai | 05:40 Cebu |
The Nagoya departure at 02:35 is the detail that shapes the trip. It means checking in at Terminal 2 close to midnight, so anyone coming from the north or south of the island is better off arriving in the evening than leaving home at 10 PM. The Mactan-Cebu airport guide covers the terminals and the queues, and the layover plan covers what to do with the hours before a late flight.
The other Cebu Pacific changes in the same filing
- Manila to Xiamen: the resumption planned for 23 November 2026 was canceled. It is now tentatively scheduled for 29 March 2027 at the earliest.
- Iloilo to Singapore: resumes 2 December 2026, moved from 23 November.
- Iloilo to Bangkok Don Mueang: the resumption planned from 23 November was canceled.
- Davao to Bangkok Don Mueang: resumes 2 December 2026, moved from 26 October.
- Cebu to Ho Chi Minh City: unchanged; it resumed on 26 October 2026 as planned.
If you booked a November date
Any ticket on either route for a date before 1 December is on a flight that no longer exists. Check the booking in Cebu Pacific’s Manage Booking for the rebooking or refund options the airline is offering, and do it before the December holiday fares fill the alternatives.
Why Nagoya matters for Cebu
Japan was the third-largest foreign market for Cebu Province from January to September 2026, with 22,597 visitors, behind South Korea and the United States, according to the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office figures reported on 29 October. Those numbers cover the towns and component cities the provincial office counts and leave out Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu, where most hotels are, so the real figure for Japanese arrivals is higher. A nonstop from central Japan removes the change in Manila for that market, and for Cebuanos it puts a second Japanese gateway a single flight away.
For the rest of the routes out of Mactan, see every direct flight from Cebu, and for the paperwork before an international departure, the departure requirements guide.
Suroy Wear · Global Collection
For the 2:35 AM departure out of CEB.
The Airport Series CEB Tee, from the Global Collection. ₱1,299.
Wear the story
Frequently asked questions
When does the Cebu to Nagoya flight start?
1 December 2026, four times a week on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. It was first announced for 19 November.
When does the Cebu to Shanghai flight start?
1 December 2026, three times a week. It was first announced for 17 November.
Which airline flies Cebu to Nagoya nonstop?
Cebu Pacific, which is the only airline on the route.
What time does the Cebu to Nagoya flight leave?
02:35 from Cebu, arriving in Nagoya at 08:00, as filed in August 2026. Confirm the time on the booking.
Which terminal do the Nagoya and Shanghai flights use in Cebu?
Terminal 2, the international terminal at Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Sources
AeroRoutes, “Cebu Pacific Revises Planned NW26 International Network Expansion,” 1 October 2026. AeroRoutes, “Cebu Pacific NW26 Asia Network Additions,” 11 August 2026. Inquirer.net Business, “Cebu Pacific expanding service network in Asia,” August 2026, reporting the airline’s announcement of 7 August 2026. SunStar Cebu, “Santa Fe leads Cebu tourist arrivals with 130,553 visitors,” 29 October 2026.
AeroRoutes, “Cebu Pacific Revises Planned NW26 International Network Expansion,” 1 October 2026. AeroRoutes, “Cebu Pacific NW26 Asia Network Additions,” 11 August 2026. Inquirer.net Business, “Cebu Pacific expanding service network in Asia,” August 2026, reporting the airline’s announcement of 7 August 2026. SunStar Cebu, “Santa Fe leads Cebu tourist arrivals with 130,553 visitors,” 29 October 2026.
