CEB flies close to 9.8 million passengers from January to September 2012 Posts 12% passenger growth

The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB) flew close to 9.8 million passengers from January to September 2012, an increase of 12% compared to 8.7 million passengers flown in the same period last year.

CEB’s passenger growth from January to September 2012 was driven mainly by the strengthening of the airline’s domestic route network out of Cebu, and additional capacity to key international destinations.

“We were able to increase passengers from Cebu to Visayas by 47%, to Luzon by 42%, and to Mindanao by 30%. This best illustrates the Cebu Pacific effect—whenever we enter new markets or add capacity, we effectively stimulate travel and enable everyJuan to fly with our trademark low fares,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

Notable growth can also be seen in CEB’s international passengers to and from Malaysia (19%), Taiwan (25%), mainland China (29%) and Brunei (24%).

“Cebu Pacific remains on track with hitting its 14 million passenger target for 2012. We launched 10 domestic routes in October, as well as the first international flights out of Iloilo, CEB’s Iloilo-Hong Kong
and Iloilo-Singapore services, in November. We will also launch Cebu-Bangkok and Cebu-Kuala Lumpur services in December,” Iyog said.

Last November 15, 2012, CEB also awarded its 70 millionth passenger, a milestone reached less than two years after President Benigno Aquino III awarded CEB’s 50 millionth passenger.

“We look forward to expanding even further next year, especially when we announce our first long-haul destination,” she added.

CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 22 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 40 aircraft is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take an
additional 19 Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft. It is slated to begin long-haul services in the 3rd quarter of 2013, with the arrival of 2 Airbus A330-300 aircraft.