Cebu Pacific carries 428,000 more passengers in Q1 2009, Registers 28% growth

Despite the ongoing global downturn, Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ largest domestic airline, carried 428,431 more passengers this year. In the first quarter of 2009, passengers carried by the airline totaled to 1,970,004, as compared to last year’s carriage of 1,541,573 for the same period. This is equivalent to a 28% growth.

For the first quarter of 2009, CEB’s domestic passenger base grew by 32 percent, 1,590,759, up from last year’s 1,205,327. CEB’s international passenger traffic also reached 379,245, from last year’s 336,246.

“We will continue to grow our domestic and international operations by adding frequencies and opening new destinations.” Candice Iyog, CEB VP for marketing and distribution, said. “We hope to encourage more Filipinos and foreigners to take CEB’s flights because of affordability, wide connectivity and convenient schedules.”

CEB’s continued fleet expansion and low fares are the main drivers of the company’s growth. The airline started 2009 with a fleet of 25 aircraft and took delivery of two brand-new Airbus A320 and two ATR 72-500 aircraft in the first quarter.

CEB added flights to 11 strong performing domestic destinations and five international cities including Shanghai, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Hong Kong. It also opened four new domestic destinations and added four routes from its Cebu hub.

Iyog explained that CEB also broke its record of most passengers carried in a single day last March 30 when the airline carried a total of 27,740. The previous highest passenger carriage in a single day was last January 4 when the airline carried 25,987.

“Our efforts are geared towards making air travel even more accessible for everyJuan. The public can count on CEB as their partner in stimulating business and tourism, in all destinations we service” she concluded.

Now on its 14th year, CEB continues to have the youngest aircraft fleet in the Philippines, comprised of 11 Airbus A320, 10 Airbus A319, and eight ATR 72-500.

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