LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu - Cebu Pacific will increase flights to Cebu by 20 percent next year, the airline's chief Lance Gokongwei said Thursday as the Queen City of the South inaugurated its new "resort-airport" terminal.

The new 65,500-square meter Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 is expected to cater to 12.5 million passengers annually, airport officials said in a statement.

"Cebu Pacific will be adding aircraft here so we can serve the growing tourism industry, probably 20 percent at the minimum next year," Gokongwei told ABS-CBN News.

The country's largest carrier will also come up with special packages "to celebrate" the opening of the new airport and to entice passengers to choose Cebu as the point of entry to the Philippines, Gokongwei said.

Cebu Pacific will also "add more routes to North Asia to serve the big market in China, Korea, and Japan," he said.

Gokongwei said the budget carrier also intends to reach 22 million passengers by the end of 2018, 3 million seats higher than the 19.4 million seats Cebu Pacific sold last year.

Cebu Pacific is also eyeing more flights to Panglao in Bohol and San Vicente in Palawan in 2019, Gokongwei said.