CEB Flies Close to 9.8 million Passengers Systemwide From January to September 2012

The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB) flew close to 9.8 million passengers from January to September (Q3) 2012, an increase of 12% compared to 8.7 million passengers flown in the same period last year.

CEB’s passengers to and from mainland China also increased by 29%, from 126,000 passengers in Q3 2011 to over 163,000 passengers in Q3 2012.

“This best illustrates the Cebu Pacific effect-whenever we enter new markets or add capacity, we effectively stimulate travel and enable everyone 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%), 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 operates thrice-weekly services from both Xiamen and Guangzhou to Manila. It also flies to Manila four times weekly from Beijing and daily from Shanghai.

CEB’s international destinations extend to Bangkok, Brunei, Busan, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Incheon, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Osaka, Singapore, and Taipei.

CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 23 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 41 aircraft is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take an additional 18 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.

Sourced: etravelblackboardasia