Philippines-based Cebu Pacific says that it increased the passengers it carried in the respective first quarters of 2008 and 2009 by 28%. The airline carried 1,970,004 passengers in 1Q09, as compared to last year’s 1,541,573 for the same period.
For the first quarter of 2009, Cebu’s domestic passenger base grew by 3%, with 1,590,759 passengers, up from last year’s 1,205,327. International passenger traffic reached 379,245, up 12.8% from last year’s 336,246.
“We will continue to grow our domestic and international operations by adding frequencies and opening new destinations,” remarked Candice Iyog, the carrier's VP for marketing and distribution. “We hope to encourage more Filipinos and foreigners to take [Cebu's] flights because of affordability, wide connectivity and convenient schedules.”
The airline puts continued fleet expansion and low fares as the main drivers of the company’s growth. During 1Q09 the airline took delivery of two brand-new Airbus A320s and two new ATR 72-500s to add to the 25 aircraft with which it began the year. The carrier's fleet now comprises 11 Airbus A320s, 10 Airbus A319s, and eight ATR 72-500s.
Iyog added that Cebu Pacific also broke its record of most passengers carried in a single day on 30 March when it carried 27,740.
Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific will add a direct service from Cebu to Roxas City starting on 2 May. Using ATR 72-500s, the thrice-weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) service departs from Cebu at 05:20 and arrives in Roxas at 06:10. The return flight leaves Roxas at 06:30 and lands in Mactan Cebu International Airport at 07:20.
The airline will also add a Sunday frequency to its current thrice-weekly Cebu-Dumaguete service starting on 13 April.
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