Given the pace of the vaccine rollout at the local government level as well as the launch of the vaccination programs of the private sector, Cebu Pacific is “cautiously optimistic” that it can bounce back to its pre-pandemic operating levels by 2022.
Cebu Pacific VP Candice Iyog said the average daily vaccination rate of 130,000 jabs is giving the company “hope and optimism that in due time our network will recover to pre-pandemic levels.”
“To be honest, initially when the vaccination started rolling out and we were monitoring the inoculation rate, we were pleasantly surprised with 130,000 a day. Now that A4 is already in and with private vaccinations, we’re cautiously optimistic,” she said.
Iyog added that the group is sticking with its projections that by next year, the budget carrier will have normal operations, but noted that “so many things can still happen.”
“What we do right now is we prepare for the bounce back and do everything that is within our control to support and aid that.”
Currently, Cebu Pacific operates at around a fifth of its pre-Covid network, flying to 32 local destinations and 5 international destinations.
For now, Iyog said Cebu Pacific will focus on the revitalization of domestic travel, as international flights are still marred with various levels of intricacies, including border controls here and in airports abroad.
However, she said the airline is seeking the removal of the arrival caps in Philippine gateways to reintroduce international traffic. The group is also looking at the implementation of the travel pass developed by the International Air Transport Association (Iata) to facilitate seamless international travel.
The Iata pass is a mobile platform that includes a registry of health requirements, specifically for verified certifications of Covid-19 tests and vaccines. Cebu Pacific plans to integrate this by the fourth quarter of the year, should international travel be encouraged.
Cebu Pacific has also amped up its digital initiatives, launching a revamped portal for booking and partnering with Grab, GCash, and PayMaya for more contactless payment options.