The aviation industry in the Philippines and the broader Asia Pacific region is experiencing a rapid resurgence following the crippling impact of the global pandemic, according to industry experts.
Yuli Thompson, the Southeast Asia International Air Transport Association (IATA) area manager, said that passenger traffic for international flights in the Philippines reached 75 percent of 2019 levels as of June this year.
Looking at the broader Asia Pacific region, Yuli anticipates that domestic travel will fully recover in 2023, with international travel following suit by 2026. Moreover, the Asia Pacific is poised to lead in traffic growth over the next two decades.
However, achieving full recovery and addressing current challenges will necessitate concerted efforts from all stakeholders in the aviation sector.
Lei Apostol, VP for Customer Service Operations at Cebu Pacific, is focused on encouraging travel by enhancing the passenger experience, an optimization goal spanning all aspects of their operations.
“Overcoming industry complexities and challenges while maximizing growth opportunities is achievable by looking at existing technology, keeping the passenger at the heart of what we do, and communicating to our passengers at every step of their journey,” Apostol said during the 2023 Aviation Summit.
Michael Szucs, CEO of Cebu Pacific, stressed the importance of infrastructure investment. “ Philippine carriers will need to quadruple in size to cater to growing demand.”
He also highlighted the potential of the country’s growing middle class to further boost the aviation industry.
