Cebu Pacific prepared to compete with low-cost carriers

MANILA, Philippines –  Gokongwei-controlled Cebu Pacific (CEB) announced that it is ready for more competition with international low-cost carriers here and in the region.

“We are lean-and-mean efficient, with a very young fleet of Airbus aircraft and a highly motivated team. This year, our financial performance ranks among the best in the world. We are ready for more competition in our own country and in theirs,” CEB vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said.

She added that their Airbus fleet will significantly increase in size by 2014, “positioning CEB for further growth and stronger output, and of course for fair and legitimate competition, which ultimately benefits the public.”

CEB’s 13th brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft arrives last week, and the airline will take delivery of its 14th Airbus A320 before the end of this month.

It will end 2011 with 10 Airbus A319, 19 Airbus A320 and eight ATR 72-500 aircraft. This fleet of 37 aircraft will be the only 100 percent brand-new aircraft fleet in the Philippines. An additional 16 Airbus A320 aircraft will be delivered from 2012 to 2014.

“For November alone, we flew approximately 895,000 passengers, with an 89 percent load factor. Our on-time performance is at 88.3 percent, sustaining its streak above the global industry average.

We will remain consistent in offering the lowest year-round fares in all 33 domestic and 16 international destinations we operate in, and provide our passengers fun service and a high-quality travel product,” she added.

CEB reported a net income of P4.8 billion for the first nine months of 2010, up 153.8 percent from the same period last year. The airline also flew the most number of domestic and international passengers in the first half of 2010, based on Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board data.