United is confident of growing its passenger and cargo businesses in the Philippines with the expected transfer of the US military base from Okinawa to Guam in 2014.
Philippine country manager Clodelsa Ty said the airline, formed from the merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines, offered the largest network to the US mainland by way of Tokyo or Guam from Manila.
“We expect revenues to grow by 10% next year from this year for our flights to and from Guam,” Ty said.
“We are tapping the business, leisure and tourism market. Besides there are a lot of Filipinos living in Guam. There is good opportunity for employment and construction since there is a plan to transfer the US military base in Okinawa to Guam in 2014,” she added.
About 30% of the 179,000 total population in Guam are Filipinos.
“We see a lot of opportunities for expansion and I think there is enough market for everyone,” Ty said, adding the airline is eyeing offering promo fares.
She is also confident of the cargo business, on the back of high-value shipments and perishables. The US remains one of the Philippines’ top trading partners.
About 95% of the airline’s revenues come from the passage sector and the rest from cargo.
United flies Manila-Guam nine times a week and Manila-Palau twice a week using the 155-seater Boeing 737. The airline also offers daily flights to Honolulu and Guam-San Francisco, and has a joint venture with All Nippon Airways which flies to the US from Manila via Tokyo.
Photo from http://www.united.com/page/
