Cebu Pacific beat prepandemic numbers, flew 24.5M passengers in 2024

Cebu Pacific saw its passenger volume last year surpass pre-pandemic level amid the continued recovery of air travel demand and expansion of routes here and abroad.

The budget airline, in a statement on Thursday, reported that it flew 24.5 million passengers last year, showing a 17.6-percent growth from 20.9 million in 2023.

Bulk of the volume was accounted for by domestic passengers, which grew by 15.5 percent to 18.5 million. International passengers, meanwhile, rose by 24.6 percent to 6 million.

With this level of operation, the Gokongwei-led airline not only met its 2024 target of servicing at least 24 million guests but it also exceeded the 22.5-million volume it registered in 2019 or prior to the pandemic.

The aviation sector, like any other industries, was severely battered by the COVID-19 pandemic when lockdowns were imposed in 2020. Cebu Pacific’s passenger volume, at the time, plunged by 78 percent to 5 million.

The low-cost airline has been regaining ground since, returning to profitability, relaunching routes and establishing new destinations and acquiring more jets.

“Cebu Pacific is strategically positioned to take advantage of the Philippines’ economic growth and robust travel demand,” Cebu Pacific CEO Mike Szucs said.

The airline’s overall capacity in seats soared by 17.1 percent to 29.1 million last year.

Cebu Pacific has been opening up more routes, including Davao-Hong Kong and Iloilo-Singapore flights. It also introduced flights from Davao to Bangkok, Caticlan, Puerto Princesa and Tacloban.

Along with this, the airline launched routes from Cebu to Don Mueang, Osaka, Masbate and San Vicente.

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Cebu Pacific also launched last year the Manila-Chiang Mai route, the only direct flight to the popular northern Thai city from the country.

As it expands its network, Cebu Pacific has also been growing its fleet to beef up capacity, lining up 18 aircraft deliveries last year.

By 2029, it will also start receiving the first batch of jets it ordered from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The airline finalized a P1.4-trillion order of up to 152 jets last year.

Cebu Pacific currently operates 10 A330s, 40 A320s, 25 A321s and 15 ATR turboprop aircraft.