Visayas & Mindanao · about 40 minutes in the air
Private flight from Cebu to Bacolod
Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) to Bacolod-Silay Airport (BCD). Whole aircraft from ₱60,000 ($1,000), up to 3 passengers.
Bacolod is the sugar capital and the MassKara city, and it is one of the pairs the airlines do fly from Cebu, daily, in about 40 minutes. The surface route is the reason people still charter it: road to Toledo, a ferry across the Tañon Strait to San Carlos and the drive over the mountains to Bacolod, most of a day for a city an hour away by air. The private aircraft is for the days the jets do not fly, the MassKara week when they are full, and the group that wants its own timetable.
The flight is about 40 minutes in a Cessna 172, west across the strait and over the Negros ranges into Bacolod-Silay Airport, half an hour north of the city. The price is for the whole aircraft, three seats, live in pesos and dollars; a booking is a request the operator confirms, usually within hours, and nothing is charged until they do.
Both directions are priced below. If your dates are loose, check the empty legs page as well: repositioning flights on Cebu routes appear at short notice at a steep discount.
Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Bacolod-Silay Airport: your options compared
| Option | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private aircraft (Avian) | About 40 min | ₱60,000 | Whole aircraft, up to 3 passengers; lands at the airport. |
| Scheduled airline | About 40 minutes | Per seat | Daily jets; full during MassKara in October. |
| Road and ferry | Most of a day | Lowest | Cebu to Toledo, ferry to San Carlos, road over the mountains. |
Flight time is a typical block time for the aircraft shown and is confirmed at booking; surface times are typical and vary with weather and season.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the price per person or per aircraft?
- Per aircraft. The price shown covers the whole aircraft from Cebu to Bacolod for up to the passenger limit on the price card, so splitting it between travellers is where charter starts to make sense.
- How much luggage can we bring?
- Each price card shows the aircraft's total luggage allowance in kilograms. Light aircraft take soft bags far more easily than hard cases; if you are travelling with dive gear, a surfboard or camera cases, mention it when you book and the operator will confirm it fits.
- How far in advance do we need to book?
- A booking on Avian is a request: the operator confirms availability, usually within hours, and you then receive a secure payment link by email. Nothing is charged until the operator has confirmed. Same-day flights are sometimes possible; a few days' notice is safer in peak season.
- What happens at the airport?
- Charter departures use the small general-aviation side of the airport. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure, meet the crew, and walk to the aircraft. There are no boarding groups and no long security queues.
- What if the weather turns?
- Light aircraft fly in visual conditions, so heavy weather can move a departure. If the operator needs to change your time they will propose a new one and you accept or decline it from your booking link; a flight that cannot operate is not charged.
- Can children and infants fly?
- Yes. Every person on board, including an infant on a lap, counts towards the aircraft's passenger limit, so choose your passenger count accordingly when you search.