Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific, renowned for its commitment to affordable and accessible air travel, has again clinched the title of the country’s premier domestic airline in the first half of 2023.
Data from the civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) showed that Cebu Pacific and its unit Cebgo ferried 7.6 million domestic passengers during the January to June period, solidifying their hold on the top spot.
In comparison, rival Philippine Airlines, along with PAL Express, transported a combined 4.09 million domestic passengers. Another formidable player, AirAsia Philippines, accounted for 2.53 million passengers.
AirSwift Transport flew 202,154 domestic passengers while Royal Air Charter Services Inc., Sunlight Air and Island Aviation Corp. carried 58,448 passengers, 23,820 passengers and 4,887 passengers, respectively.
The Philippines witnessed a significant surge in domestic air travel, with a total of 14.6 million domestic passengers during the first half, up 51 percent from 9.7 million in the same period last year.
Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines retained its prestigious status as the leading carrier for international travelers.
In the first half of 2023, PAL proudly served 2.7 million international passengers, reinforcing its reputation as a global ambassador for the Philippines.
PAL , on the other hand, maintained its status as the leading carrier for international travelers, serving 2.7 million passengers.
Cebu Pacific followed with 906,090 international passengers and Air Asia with 477,616 international passengers.
Royal Air accommodated 44,355 international passengers while foreign carriers transported 4.80 million international passengers during the period.
The total number of international passengers reached 8.92 million in the first six months, more than double the 3.49 million international passengers recorded last year.
