Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) flew close to 12 million passengers from January to December 2011, an increase of 14 percent over 10.5 million passengers in 2010.
CEB’s passenger growth was mainly driven by a 22-percent increase in international passengers, which numbered over 2.72 million in 2011. CEB added flights to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Brunei, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Seoul and Bangkok since the start of 2011 to meet travel demand.
The airline flew 9.22 million domestic passengers, up by 12 percent from 8.23 million in 2010.
CEB officials attributed these increases to capacity additions to key destinations, lower fares due to the unbundling of baggage allowance, and the arrival of five brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft in 2011.
Domestic load factoDomestic load factor in 2011 was 88 percent, 2 percentage points higher than in 2010. The average load factor for the year for both domestic and international routes was 86 percent, an increase compared to 85 percent last year. Load factor refers to how full the flights are.
“CEB was able to add 13 percent more seat capacity in 2011, and this translates to more flights for passengers and the continuous expansion of the airline within the Philippines and Asia,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.r in 2011 was 88 percent, 2 percentage points higher than in 2010. The average load factor for the year for both domestic and international routes was 86 percent, an increase compared to 85 percent last year. Load factor refers to how full the flights are.
Last January 2011, President Benigno Aquino III and CEB president and CEO Lance Gokongwei awarded its 50 millionth passenger with an unlimited one-year travel pass.
It also bagged the Budgies Friendliest LCC Award at the 2011 Low-Cost Airlines World Asia-Pacific Conference in Singapore, and bested others with a 3rd Best Budget Airline rank in Smart Travel Asia’s 2011 Best in Travel Poll.
“We look forward to serving 14 million passengers this year. Cebu Pacific will continue to boost tourism and trade in the destinations we fly to, and offer the most innovative travel services for the convenience of our guests,” she added.
CEB will be the only airline to operate a Manila-Hanoi service starting March 17, 2012. It will also reopen its Manila-Xiamen service and begin its first international flight from Kalibo, international gateway to world-renowned Boracay Island with its Kalibo-Hong Kong flights on March 23, 2012.
CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 19 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 37 aircraft – with an average age of 3.6 years – is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take an additional 23 Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft.
Reynaldo G. Navales, Sunstar.com.ph
