Cebu Pacific flies 16.87M passengers in 2014

MANILA, Philippines – Budget carriers Cebu Air Incorporated (Cebu Pacific) and Tiger Airways Philippines flew 16.87 million passengers last year, short of the 17 million passenger volume goal by the carriers.

A higher load factor of 83.9% from 81.9% was reported by the carriers. That translated to a 17.5% increase compared to 14.35 million passengers flown in 2013.

The Gokongwei-led carriers achieved notable passenger growth in both domestic and several international markets, thanks to its increased presence in the Middle East and Japan, and its entry into Australia.

In the domestic market, Tigerair Philippines launched flights to Butuan, Clark, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, General Santos, Roxas, and Tagbilaran from its hubs in Manila and Cebu.

To date, Cebu Pacific flies to 62 international and domestic destinations.

For December alone, Cebu Pacific and Tigerair Philippines flew 1.54 million passengers or 23.5% higher compared to 1.24 million in the same month in 2013.

The number of flights also increased 12.2% to 10,974 in December from 9,783 in December 2013.

Cebu Pacific also increased its aircraft to 52 last year from 47 in 2013.

The number of flights increased by 6.9% to 122,994 in 2014 from 115,005 in 2013.

The budget carrier paid last month the P52.11 million ($1.18 million) record fine by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) due to massive complaints about delayed and cancelled flights during the Christmas holidays.

A total of 10,400 passengers were affected by the flight delays and cancellations. The CAB Board decided to impose a P5,000 ($112.97) fine for every affected passenger.

But the fine went straight to the national coffers with nothing to compensate the affected passengers. – Rappler.com




US$1 = P44.26