CEBU Pacific (CEB) was the Philippines’ leading air freight and passenger airline for the first half of the year, according to latest data from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).
For the period, the budget airline handled 37.50 million kilograms (kg) of domestic cargo and accounted for 43% of the country’s 9.72 million total domestic passengers.
It increased its capacity by 5.6% and grew its passenger base by 3.84% to 4.25 million, resulting in an 84% load factor.
CAB did not provide comparative figures for cargo shipments.
Trailing CEB is Philippine Airlines (PAL), reporting a cargo volume of 27.31 million kg from January to June. PAL flew 2.40 million passengers, down 16.6% from last year’s 2.88 million. The airline recorded a 77% load factor following its allocation f 3.10 million seats for the first half.
PAL’s sister company low-cost carrier Airphil Express transported 1.85 million passengers in the first six months of the year, up from 667,686 year-on-year. Airphil’s load factor rose to 77% from 70%. Cargo volume carried was at 9.44 million kg.
Zest Airways flew 1.14 million passengers, soaring 85% from 616,058 last year. Load factor also jumped to 81% from 72%. Cargo shipments reached 6.430 million kg.
While all carriers recorded higher passenger figures for the first half, Seair went in the opposite direction posting a drop to 97,326 from 132,416. Its load factor inched down 77% from 78%. Seair handled 101,387 kg of cargo for the period.
In another development, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea revised their air services agreement last week, increasing Manila seat entitlements by 450 weekly seats to 600 seats per week.
Both countries also agreed to sign new traffic rights to airports outside Manila to avail of the Aquino administration’s open skies policy.
Air Niu Guniea, the flag carrier of Papua New Guinea, currently flies to Manila twice a week; the Philippines has no direct flights to the region.
