TRAFFIC within the Cebu Pacific network rose by 9 percent to 13.7 million passengers in the first nine months of the year, as the dominant budget carrier increased its capacity in key domestic and long-haul routes.
Capacity, meanwhile, rose by a faster 12.6 percent to 16.752 million seats, bringing load factor to 81.5 percent, down by 2.7 points from 84.2 percent in the same period the year prior. “Growth in passengers carried by the Cebu Pacific group from January to September can be attributed to an increase in capacity in key domestic and long-haul routes. As of September 30, the Cebu Pacific group operates 2,530 weekly flights in 62 destinations and 93 routes,” Cebu Pacific Spokesman Paterno S. Mantaring Jr. said on Monday.
In the month of September alone, the carrier flew 1.44 million passengers, a 13.6-percent rise from the 1.27-million passenger mark the year prior. Capacity, however, increased by a faster 15.3 percent to 1.77 million, bringing load factor for the month of September down by 1.3 points to 81.3 percent.
Mantaring noted his company is poised to launch new routes soon.
“We look forward to expanding our operations to even more domestic and international markets soon,” he said.
Cebu Air Inc. President Lance Y. Gokongwei said traffic within the Cebu Pacific network should rise by about 6.5 percent to 18 million passengers this year.
The pace by which the carrier aims to expand, however, was slower than the growth rate posted in 2014. The airline of taipan John L. Gokongwei flew 16.9 million passengers last year, a few notches away from its 17-million passenger target for 2014, but still an increase of 17.5 percent from 14.4 million passengers served in 2013.
Cebu Pacific has a 55-strong fleet, composed of 10 Airbus A319, 31 Airbus A320, six Airbus A330 and eight ATR 72-500 aircraft.