Budget carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) said the pandemic has forced the group to “pivot” to maximize the use of its planes given that the majority of its passenger services are still suspended due to the lockdowns.
Xander Lao, Chief Commercial Officer at Cebu Pacific, said the group is now focusing on growing its cargo business, which has become more indispensable today that supports the continuous supply chain flow.
“We continue to make sure the transport of essential goods remains unhampered as we ramp-up our cargo operations and capabilities. This past year has enabled us to pivot our business and focus on maximizing the use of our fleet, including our freighters, to ensure logistics support is fully covered,” Lao said.
During the first quarter, Cebu Air Inc. reported a 27-percent growth in cargo revenues to P2.81 billion from P2.22 billion the year prior, with cargo sales accounting for 48 percent of the airlines’ total revenues.
From January to June, Cebu Pacific transported 53.8 million kilograms worth of shipment, and in the second quarter alone, it carried a total of 28.7 million kg of goods across its domestic and international networks.
Lao said international cargo remains a key component. Commodities transported by the airline include electronics, automotive parts, aquaculture products, medical goods, fruits, and flowers.
He added that the budget carrier “continues to transport life-saving vaccines from abroad to the Philippines, and across its widest domestic network.”
So far, Cebu Pacific has carried over 16.5 million vaccine doses from China, on top of over 7 million flown across 23 provinces in the country.
In June, the airline said it is “cautiously optimistic” that it can bounce back to its pre-pandemic operating level by 2022, 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.