Domestic air travel soars on cheap fares, more seats
Darwin G. Amojelar
Manila Times
DOMESTIC air travel in the Philippines continued to soar at end-September as carriers offer more seat capacity and cheaper fares.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said domestic passengers jumped 23.2 percent to 7.69 million in the first nine months of the year from 6.24 million in the same period last year.
The country’s five major carriers’ seat capacity grew 16 percent to 9.8 million from last year’s 8.51 million, resulting in an average passenger load factor of 78 percent.
The industry’s increasing load factor reflects a steady growth in passenger demand.
In the third quarter alone, 2.53 million passengers were recorded from 2.09 million in the same period last year.
Cebu Pacific again trumped rival Philippine Airlines (PAL), as the Gokongwei family-owned airline carried more passengers at 3.33 million against the Lucio Tan-owned carrier’s 2.97 million.
Cebu Pacific had a load factor of 83 percent during the period, against PAL’s 79 percent.
Cebu Pacific reported revenues of P10.89 billion, a 61.1 percent increase from last year’s P6.76 billion brought about by more passengers. PAL earned a profit of $34.5 million in the April to June period.
PAL’s budget unit, Air Philippines, flew 835,071 passengers; Asian Spirit, 366,443; and Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), 186,573 passengers.
The CAB said the country’s air travel industry is likely to grow 7 percent this year.
Airlines’ cargo business also grew 7 percent to 102.29 million kilograms in the first nine months from 8.52 million in the same period last year.
PAL carried 44.6 million kilograms, followed by Cebu Pacific, 39.18 million; Pacific East Asia Cargo, 9.77 million; Air Philippines, 8.57 million; and Seair, 166,634.
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