Cargo volume carried by Philippine domestic airlines in the first half of 2016 grew 4.7% to 123.300 million kilograms from 117.813 million kg in the same period of the preceding year, according to the Civil Aeronautics Board.
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air remained as the country’s top cargo carrier, handling 45% or 55.515 million kg of the total. This is 11% higher than the 49.694 million kg it handled in the first half of 2015.
Also holding on in second spot was PAL Express (PALEx), which shipped 23.6% of the total, or 29.063 million kg. However, PALEx’s first-half volume was 9.9% lower than the 32.260 million kg posted in the same period in 2015.
Carrying 20.8% of the total and remaining in third place was flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL). PAL airlifted 25.659 million kg during the period in review, jumping 40% from 18.312 million kg.
Budget carrier Philippine AirAsia, Inc., formerly AirAsia Zest, secured fourth ranking with 8.8%, or 10.88 million kg, a boost of 66.8% from last year’s 6.521 million kg. The increase was due to Philippine AirAsia handling AirAsia’s flights since October 2015.
Cebu Pacific sister airline Cebgo dropped one place to fifth with a 1.4% share or 1.692 million kg, an 83% decline from the 10.156 million kg it carried in 2015.
Leisure airline Magnum Airways (Skyjet) airlifted 327,585 kg or 0.3% of the total. Magnum improved the most during the period with a 2,089% increase from last year’s 14,964 kg, which pushed the airline up one spot to sixth. Skyjet operates flights from Manila to Batanes, Boracay, and Coron.
Cargoes handled by AirSwift Transport, Inc., formerly Island Transvoyager, Inc., dropped 21.7% to 164,213 kg from 209,663 kg in the previous year. The boutique carrier, which rebranded last year, operates scheduled flights from Manila and Cebu to El Nido in Palawan. – Roumina Pablo
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