Cebu Pacific targets flying 14M passengers

Monday, January 9, 2012

PUBLICLY-LISTED Cebu Pacific is targeting to carry 14 million passengers this year, with the country’s healthy tourism industry.

According to Cebu Pacific vice-president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog, the airline is hopeful it would exceed last year’s number of passengers.

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Iyog said Cebu Pacific flew close to 11 million passengers from January to November last year, an improvement of 14 percent of the same period in 2010. The airline also reported flying one million passengers each for the months of April, May, October, and November last year, the first for any Philippine carrier.

Iyog credited the healthy growth of the airline to its low fare rates and extensive route network, as well as the country’s aggressive push in promoting Philippine tourism to other foreign countries.

With the strong outlook of the industry this year, the airline announced it will increase its capacity, add more flights and open new destinations.

Iyog said the airline expects delivery of six new Airbus A320 this year. The airline will also continue to add manpower, infrastructure, automating systems and airport stations to accommodate their growing fleet and network.

Cebu Pacific also announced a $ 3.8 billion deal last June 2011 for new orders of 30 Airbus A321neo and seven A320 aircraft for delivery from 2017 until 2021.

“As we accept delivery of more brand-new aircraft, we will add more flights and open new destinations and routes such as additional flights from Cebu to Boracay, Dipolog, Legazpi, Manila, Pagadian, and Siargao this year,” Iyog said.

Starting Feb. 8, Cebu Pacific will add flights from Cebu to the following destinations: Manila (11 weekly flights), Boracay (4 weekly flights), Dipolog (3 weekly flights), Legazpi (4 weekly flights), Pagadian (2 weekly flights), and Siargao (1 weekly flight).

Cebu Pacific will also be reopening its Cebu-Kalibo route thrice-weekly starting Feb.24.

Apart from increasing capacity, Iyog said the airline will also be working closely with government agencies regarding E0 29 or the open skies policy, additional seat entitlements to countries they want to open routes or add flights to, and air traffic congestion out of Manila.

“We believe the low-cost carrier model is still a strong business model that fits perfectly with the low-fare, great value travel trend in Asia now. People will always look for the lowest airfare and extensive route network,” Iyog said.