Cargo volume handled by Philippine airlines rose 16.11% in 2018 to 323.384 million kilograms (kg) from 278.509 million kg airlifted in 2017 as almost all carriers recorded double-digit increases, data from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) showed.
Of the total volume, budget airline Cebu Pacific remained the top contributor, accounting for 45% or 146.231 million kg. This is 14.9% higher than the 127.296 million kg handled by Cebu Pacific in 2017 and its highest volume handled since hitting the 100 million kg mark in 2013.
Still in second place was PAL Express (PALEx) for carrying 87.255 million kg in 2018, up 6.3% from the 82.083 million kg in 2017.
PALEx’s sister airline, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), likewise stayed put in third place with 53.193 million kg. This was 27.49% more than the 41.722 million kg handled by PAL in 2017.
Remaining in fourth place was low-cost carrier Philippines AirAsia, Inc. with 27.702 million kg, a 37.8% surge from the 20.104 million kg airlifted in 2017.
Also remaining in fifth place was Cebu Pacific’s sister airline, Cebgo, which was the only carrier to record a decline last year. Cebgo carried 3.989 million kg in 2018, which was 3.8% lower than the 4.147 million kg of cargoes handled in 2017.
Posting the highest improvement last year was leisure airline Seair International. Occupying sixth place, it serviced 88.8% more cargoes at 2.628 million kg from 1.392 million kg in 2017.
Leisure airline Magnum (Skyjet) Air was still in seventh place with 1.284 million kg, 20.% ]?[ higher than the 1.066 million kg it carried in 2017.
Boutique airline AirSwift also posted an increment, up 56% to 760,381 kg from 486,940 kg in 2017.
Charter airline and seaplane operator Air Juan Aviation, Inc., meanwhile, posted the second highest growth with a 61% increase to 341,550 kg from 212,150 kg in 2017.
