Cebu Pacific ranks 65th in terms of weekly flights

MANILA, Philippines – Cebu Pacific (CEB) now ranks 65th among world airlines in terms of having the most weekly flights, the June 2009 Official Airline Guide showed.

Topping this list are US carriers led by Delta Airlines, followed by American Airlines and United Airlines. At 72nd place is flag carrier Philippine Airlines.

“This new leadership milestone was a result of the airline’s sustained focus on offering the newest planes and the lowest possible fares to its passengers,” Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and distribution, said.

CEB, also Asia’s third largest low-cost carrier, serves 32 domestic destinations and flies to 14 cities in Asia with a total number of 1,665 flights weekly.

Iyog said CEB is poised to further expand its reach as it takes delivery of more new aircraft. It has ordered 15 new Airbus A320 for delivery from 2010 until 2013 has the option to buy five more.

By 2013, it should have a total of 27 Airbus aircraft and 10 turbo-prop ATRs, the youngest aircraft fleet in the Philippines.

CEB’s rapid rise as the No. 1 domestic carrier, after making its maiden flight in 1996, was largely a result of its going all-out as a low-cost carrier in 2004, offering low fares that other airlines serving the same area were forced to match.

“We are about 40 percent cheaper on average than the other airlines. So with low fares, new planes, and the convenience we offer by flying from four hubs – which allowed direct flights within regions and did away with flying via Manila – we in effect are offering what the people want and need,” she stressed.

The airline has also been innovative, starting with its in-flight fun games and later on being first in offering things such as e-tickets, online booking, and even cheaper fares when traveling without any check-in baggage, among others.

CEB uses its four hubs – Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Clark – to fly a total of 1,401 times weekly within the Philippines and a total of 264 times weekly in Asia. 

“We will continue to seek ways to expand and make more people fly. We have a great business model that has shown domestic growth despite the present global downturn. We are confident that our march to further growth will continue,” Iyog said.

CEB carried 6.7 million passengers last year and expects to carry close to nine million this year. From 2010 onwards, this number should jump as more aircraft are deployed to serve an ever-growing list of destinations. – Mary Ann Reyes