Philippine air cargo shipments handled by the country’s top five airlines increased 14.9% in the first quarter of the year to 45.74 million kilograms (kgs) from 39.80 million kgs in the same period last year, according to latest data from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).
The bulk or 48% (22.08 million kgs) of cargo shipments was carried by budget airline Cebu Pacific (CEB).
Philippine Airlines accounted for 12.51 million kgs or 27.3% of the market while sister company budget airline Airphil Express handled 13.3% or 6.09 million kgs.
Other low-cost carriers ZestAir carried 4.97 million kg and Seair, 67,631 kgs.
Passenger volume for the first quarter went up 13% to 5.16 million compared to last year’s 4.57 million.
CEB also took top spot in the passage sector, flying 2.374 million passengers from 1.948 million in the first quarter last year.
PAL serviced 1.085 million passengers, down 28.7% from 1.522 million year-on-year.
Airphil Express recorded 1.069 million passengers, up from 890,384 last year.
Zest Airways, formerly Asian Spirit, also posted higher passenger numbers at 626,952 from 517,939.
Seair, on the other hand, recorded a drop in passenger traffic to 10,037 from 46,879.
Last year, CAB data showed domestic and international passenger traffic hit 34.422 million, up from 30.851 million in 2010.
Cargo volume increased 20% to 282.497 million kgs, mainly due to strong performance of the country’s import sector.
