Cebu Pacific reports higher passenger load in Q2

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific Inc. reported higher number of passengers in the second quarter. In a statement to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Cebu Pacific said it flew over 3.1-million passengers from April to June 2011, exceeding its passenger records and load factors in the same period last year. Cebu Pacific said it posted a 15-percent system wide growth, with the number of international passengers up by 15 percent, while domestic passengers climbed 13 percent. "The airline flew over 683,000 international and more than 2.428 million domestic passengers in the second quarter of 2011, compared to more than 2.7 million passengers in the second quarter of 2010. These second quarter figures keep the airline on track in achieving its 12 million passenger target in 2011," the company said. Its load factor, meanwhile, was flat 89 percent from 88 percent in the same period. "We will continue to expand internationally, consistent with our goal to bring more tourists to and from the Philippines. Cebu Pacific's international passengers increased in the second quarter, owing to our increased flight frequencies and direct flights from international destinations to Manila, Cebu and Clark," said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution. The airline will also begin its Tawi-Tawi to Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro to Iloilo flights on October 14 this year. Cebu Pacific currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 15 Airbus A320 and eight ATR-72 500 aircraft. By the end of 2011, the airline will be operating a fleet of 37 aircraft – with an average age of less than 3.5 years – one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 23 Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders, and two Airbus A320 aircraft on operating lease agreements. -- CMA/OMG, GMA News