More flights, seat sales push up Cebu Pac passengers by 5%

MANILA, Philippines - Publicly-listed Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) of taipan John L. Gokongwei Jr. reported yesterday a five percent growth in the number of passengers for the first quarter of the year on the back of the budget airline’s additional flights and aggressive seat sale promotions.

Data released by the Cebu Pacific showed that the airline serviced 3.53 million passengers from January to March this year or 160,000 more than the 3.37 million passengers that it serviced in the same period last year.

Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and distribution of Cebu Pacific, attributed the increase in the number of passengers in the first quarter to seat sales, increased routes and flight frequencies and sustained promotions.

Iyog said the number of international passengers grew in the first quarter with Brunei leading the way with 43 percent followed by South Korea with 34 percent, Malaysia with 18 percent, China with 15 percent, and Indonesia with 13 percent.

She likewise added that the number of domestic passengers likewise posted higher growth from January to March with Iloilo leading the way with 29 percent followed by Kalibo with 22 percent, Davao with 20 percent, and Zamboanga with 17 percent.

“Cebu Pacific continues to link islands and countries, and provide lowest fare options so everyone can travel by air. Passenger growths in countries such as Korea and China, as well as regions like Iloilo and Davao, are particularly fulfilling. We remain focused on driving tourism to and within the Philippines in 2013,” Iyog stressed.

With Cebu Pacific’s extensive route network, she explained that travel between Visayas and Mindanao grew by 13 percent, while travel within Mindanao grew by 45 percent.

The low cost carrier launched multiple flights from Iloilo, Davao and Cagayan de Oro in the fourth quarter last year and is slated to fly between Cebu and Masbate on June 1, Taipei on July 5, and to Dubai on Oct. 7.

Cebu Pacific booked a double-digit 11 percent growth in volume of passengers to 13.26 million last year from 11.93 million in 2011 on the back of robust domestic and international operations brought about by aggressive sales promotions.

Cebu Pacific accepted the delivery of its 43rd aircraft – a new Airbus 320 equipped with fuel-saving wing tip device known as “Sharklets” - last March 7 from the Airbus facility in Hamburg, Germany.

The airline’s fleet now includes 25 Airbus A320, 10 A319 aircraft and eight ATR 72-500 aircraft. It operates the most extensive network in the Philippines and has hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, Kalibo, and Davao.