Philippine Cebu Pacific Passenger Traffic Increases 493% Year-on-Year to Receive 11 New Aircraft Next Year

On December 6, local time, Cebu Pacific (Cebu Pacific), the Philippines' largest low-cost airline, announced that it was further expanding its aircraft fleet, adding 11 new aircraft, as the company hopes for a further recovery in air travel next year.

Candice Iyog, vice president of marketing and distribution for Cebu Pacific, said the airline was "close to returning to pre-pandemic levels". To date, Cebu Pacific has resumed its pre-pandemic full-system capacity 92%.

She said the company currently flies an average of 355 flights a day, covering 34 domestic and 19 international destinations, equivalent to providing 64,000 seats a day.

From January to November, Cebu Pacific Airlines carried 13.3 million passengers, up 493% YoY, amid further easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

For next year, Xander Lao, chief commercial officer of Cebu Pacific, said, "Our passenger capacity may exceed the pre-epidemic level. If China reopens, the recovery will be faster and there will definitely be more passengers. I would say I think the second to third quarters will be 100%."

To meet the expected growth in travel demand, Cebu Pacific chief strategy officer Alex Reyes said the airline would buy 11 brand new planes next year.

Reyes said, "We expect to deliver about 11 new aircraft next year. They have a delivery schedule associated with it and we are very much looking forward to delivering it every month in 2023."

Cebu Pacific Airlines plans to receive three A320neo, four A321neo and four A330neo.

As part of its sustainability plan, the airline earlier announced plans to modernize its fleet by transitioning to more fuel-efficient neo aircraft by 2028. The new aircraft delivered by Cebu Pacific Airlines will also use mixed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Lao said, "Our system-wide capabilities are now close to pre-pandemic levels. In fact, our growth is basically much more than what we did at home before COVID-19. We are seeing the bud of recovery. It is very encouraging to see more people flying confidently again, not only within the Philippines, but even abroad."