Tigerair launches new domestic routes via NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - Tiger Airways Philippines, a unit of budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) of taipan John Gokongwei, is set to mount flights to three new domestic routes via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The airline filed a petition before the Civil Aeronautics Board for authority to impose fuel surcharges on its domestic passengers tickets going to Tagbilaran, Roxas, and Clark from Manila.

Tigerair Philippines has proposed the imposition of a P300 fuel surcharge for flights to Clark, P400 for flights to Tagbilaran, and P450 for flights to Roxas.

The low-cost carrier is set to launch its Manila Davao as well as its Manila to Gen. Santos routes on Nov. 28 and its Cebu to Davao and Cebu to Cagayan de Oro on Nov. 29.

Tigerair Philippines now operates over 230 flights weekly to one international and 10 domestic destinations. It currently flies to Hong Kong, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Gen. Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Manila, Puerto Princesa and Tacloban.

Last March, Cebu Pacific spent $7 million to acquire the 40 percent share of Tiger Airways Singapore Pte Ltd and $8 million for the 60 percent owned by Filipino businessmen in Tigerair Philippines.

It is now awaiting the approval of the Committee on Franchise of the House of Representatives for the proposed acquisition.

The budget airline is in the middle of a $4-billion massive refleeting program involving the acquisition of close to 50 aircraft. It currently operates over 2,200 flights per week with 50 aircraft to 26 international and 34 Philippine destinations.

Cebu Pacific booked a 125 percent jump in earnings to P3.18 billion in the first half of the year from P1.41 billion in the same period last year on the back of strong revenues and foreign exchange gains amounting to P718 million.

Revenues rose 23 percent to P26.72 billion in the first half of the year from P21.73 billion in the same period last year as passenger revenues jumped 23 percent to P20.85 billion while cargo revenues grew 17.3 percent to P1.44 billion.

Cebu Pacific flew 8.5 million passengers during the six month period or 13.8 percent higher than the 7.5 million recorded the previous year as the number of flights inched up 4.4 percent.

It also cited the 7.9 percent rise in average fares to P2,450 per passenger in the first half from P2,270 as a major contributor to the increase in revenues.

Cebu Pacific’s expenses jumped 25.8 percent to P23.75 billion from P18.9 billion with the launch of its first long haul service to Dubai last October as well as the acquisition of new aircraft under its refleeting program