Cargo volume carried by Philippine airlines in the first quarter of 2015 rose 9.4% to 58.9 million kilograms from 53.82 million kilos in the same period last year, latest data from the Civil Aeronautics Board showed.
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air remained as the top performer, carrying 43.9% of the total. During the first three months of 2015, Cebu Pacific shipped 25.86 million kilos of air cargo, a slight 0.1% lower than the 25.88 million kilos handled in the same period last year.
Staying in second spot was PAL Express, carrying 28.6% of the total with 16.85 million kilos, which is 39.5% higher than the 12.08 million kilos recorded last year.
PAL Express’ sister carrier, Philippine Airlines, airlifted 8.026 million kilos or 13.6% of the aggregate. This is 9.7% less than 2014’s 8.88 million kilos.
Cebgo, formerly Tigerairways Philippines, moved one place higher with a 7.9% share of the total. It carried 4.67 million kilos during the first quarter, a whopping 155% surge from last year’s 1.83 million kilos.
Budget carrier Air Asia Zest fell one spot to fifth place with a 5% share or 2.96 million kilos, 29% lower than the 4.17 million kilos it posted last year.
Accounting for 0.7% of the total was Air Asia with 421,997 kilos, 48.6% down from the 821,484 kilos it recorded in 2014.
Island Transvoyager, which offers scheduled daily services to El Nido, Palawan, contributed 0.17% or 102,618 kilos, a 15.8% decline from 121,872 kilos last year.
Leisure airline Magnum Air (Skyjet) handled 14,964 kilos or 0.03% of the total, which is 18.7% lower than the 18,404 kilos it lifted last year.
All local carriers have recently been taken off the list of carriers banned from operating direct flights to the European Union, opening up more opportunities for them in the passage and cargo businesses. – Roumina Pablo
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