Cargo volume handled by Philippine-based airlines rose to 63.672 million kilograms in the first quarter of 2017, up 7% from 59.513 million kg in the same period last year, data from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) showed.
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific maintained its top position as the carrier with the biggest share, accounting for 45% of the total with 28.706 million kg. This figure is 4.5% higher than the 27.468 million kg the airline carried in the first quarter of last year.
PAL Express (PALEx) kept its no. 2 position by contributing 35% of total volume. It also registered the biggest improvement of 65% for the period, as volume lifted rose to 22.01 million kg in the first quarter of 2017 from 13.314 million kg a year ago.
PALEx’s sister carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) airlifted 7.454 million kg or 11.7% of the total. This is 38% lower than the 12.101 million kg the flag carrier handled in the first quarter of last year.
Low-cost carrier Philippines AirAsia, Inc., while maintaining its spot in fourth with a 6.6% share of the total, posted a decline of 22.6% to 4.202 million kg from 5.427 million kg last year.
Contributing 1.4% of the total was Cebu Pacific’s wholly owned Cebgo, with 902,334 kg, which is 5.8% lower than the 957,721 kg it carried last year.
Leisure airline Magnum (Skyjet) Air, meanwhile, had the second highest growth in the first quarter, carrying 252,546 kg, or 63.7% more than the 154,305 kg it handled in the first quarter of 2016.
Boutique airline AirSwift also posted an increment, up 25% to 112,348 kg from 89,801 kg last year.
Charter airline and seaplane operator Air Juan Aviation, Inc. posted 31,590 kg for the first quarter of 2017. CAB noted that the carrier started cargo operations in October 2016. – Roumina Pablo
