Philippine airlines reflected the impact of slowing trade as the total cargo volume they handled dropped 11.11% in the first half of the year.
Local airlines shipped 117.813 million kilograms for the period from 132.541 million kilos in the same period last year, latest data from the Civil Aeronautics Board showed.
The decline is in sync with analysis of the International Air Transport Association that global air cargo demand in the first half of 2015 was not encouraging, with only a 1.2% growth in June 2015 over June last year. IATA said airfreight markets expanded by 5.8% in 2014; year-to-date growth for 2015, however, stands at only 3.5%.
Budget carrier Cebu Pacific remained the top airline with 49.694 million kilos ferried in the first half of 2015 or 42.18% of the total volume. But this is down 10% from the 55.21 million kilos reported in the first half of 2014.
Ousting sister carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) from second place was PAL Express, which accounted for 32.260 million kilos or 27.4% of the total volume, 2.4% higher than last year’s 31.517 million kilos.
PAL, which dropped to third place, handled 18.312 million kilos or 15.5% of the total in the first half—a 43.9% drop from last year’s 32.668 million kilos.
Continuing to improve its cargo share is Cebgo, formerly Tigerair Philippines, which contributed 10.156 million kilos or 8.6% to the total. This is 220% higher than the 3.17 million kilos carried in the first half of 2014.
Cebgo also dislodged budget carrier AirAsia Zest, which slipped to fifth place with 6.521 million kilos or 6% of the aggregate. AirAsia Zest handled 18.7% fewer cargoes compared with the 8.016 million kilos carried year-on-year.
Another budget carrier, Air Asia, likewise posted lower volumes with 645,484 kilos, 61.4% less than last year’s 1.673 million kilos, leading to a dip in market share to 0.5%.
Island Transvoyager, which started operating late 2013 with direct flights to and from Manila and Palawan, remained in seventh place with 209,663 kilos carried, or 0.2% of the total but 9.5% lower than the 231,628 kilos it lifted last year.
Leisure airline Magnum Air (Skyjet), Inc. flew 14,964 kilos in the first quarter of 2015; no data for the second quarter is available, according to CAB. In the first half of last year, Magnum Air shipped 55,930 kilos of air cargo. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of hywards at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
