Cebu Pacific confident of serving 14-M passengers

MANILA, Philippines - Budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) of business tycoon John Gokongwei is confident that it would serve a total of 14 million passengers this year after posting a 17.2 percent system-wide growth in the first half of the year.

Cebu Pacific flew more than 6.9 million domestic and international passengers from January to June this year compared to 5.9 million passengers served in the same period last year.

The airline has flown over 65 million passengers in its 16 years of operations and continues to provide access to the most extensive network in the Philippines with 32 domestic and 19 international destinations.

The airline also remains a pioneer in the Philippine aviation industry by being the first to offer Web check-in, self check-in, e-ticketing, and Lite Fares.

It currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 21 Airbus A320 and eight ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 39 aircraft – with an average age of 3.6 years -– is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world.

Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 21 Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders. It is slated to begin long-haul services in the third quarter of 2013, with the arrival of four Airbus A330 aircraft from 2013 to 2014.

Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and distribution, said the airline would continue to offer its trademark lowest fares on new routes.

Iyog said the airline plans to launch five domestic routes in October and three domestic routes and two international routes including Hong Kong – Iloilo and Singapore – Iloilo in November.

She added that the airline’s route network in the Philippines remains the most extensive, allowing foreign and local tourists to visit two to three Philippine tourist spots in one trip.

The new routes include Kalibo (Boracay) - Davao and Cebu - Busuanga (Coron).

Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific was named third best budget airline in Asia in the 2012 Best in Travel Poll edging Tiger Airways, Spice Jet, IndiGo, and Virgin Blue, conducted by readers of SmartTravelAsia.com.

On its 8th year, the 2012 Best in Travel Poll is a three-month poll based on actual experience, word-of-mouth and brand image.

SmartTravelAsia.com is the only dedicated travel magazine for Asia, with over 1 million unique visitors annually.

Those who voted were travelers who took an average 16.22 annual air trips, with roughly 70 percent based in Asia, 15 percent in UK/Europe, and 15 percent in USA/North America.

“We are proud to be the only Philippine carrier recognized in the survey by global travelers, who continue to inspire us to innovate, extend our reach and share the Filipino brand of service,” Iyog said.

Cebu Pacific’s net income plunged 29 percent to P1.735 billion in the first half of the year from P2.44 billion in the same period last year due to higher flying operation expenses arising from more expensive oil prices in the world market.

On the other hand, revenues went up by 17.9 percent to P19.729 billion in the first half of the year from P16.73 billion in the same period last year.