Domestic travel beefed up CebuPac traffic
international passenger traffic was in line with planned capacity reductions, as it offered only 579,000 seats on international flights in July, down 16.9 percent from a year earlier.
Greater capacity
In the same comparative period, Cebu Pacific increased its domestic seat capacity by 15.3 percent.
“We delivered continued passenger growth in July supported by a strong rebound in the domestic market,” said Xander Lao, president and chief commercial officer of Cebu Pacific.
“International traffic was lower but aligned with planned capacity reductions, which resulted in stronger load factors,” Lao said.
As Cebu Pacific navigates the lean travel season, it is banking on new and returning flights across Asia to help sustain demand.
Starting this coming October, the airline will restart its Cebu-Ho Chi Minh, Cebu-Shanghai, Cebu-Nagoya, Clark-Hanoi and Manila-Xiamen routes.
Lao said these route additions are meant “to further strengthen connectivity while providing passengers with more convenient and affordable options.”
Net loss
Cebu Pacific ended the first half in the red as soaring jet fuel prices and foreign exchange losses pushed its net loss to P5.9 billion. This during what the firm described as “one of the most challenging operating environments we have faced post-pandemic.”
Still, the airline has said it was confident that demand will stay resilient and market conditions will improve in the second half of the year.
