Cebu Pacific largest Philippine airline in terms of seat capacity

MANILA, Philippines - Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific (CEB) is now the largest airline in terms of seat capacity operating to, from and within the Philippines, according to a recent Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) article.

CAPA named the top 10 carriers in the Philippines by capacity, or seats per week, based on Aug. 22-28, 2011 data.

Publicly listed CEB offers 258,120 seats, with its fleet of eight brand-new ATR 72-500, 10 Airbus A319 and 15 Airbus A320 aircraft.

Meanwhile, CAPA reported the following seat capacity offered by other airlines: Philippine Airlines (220,302), Airphil Express (103,102), Zest Air (77,232), Cathay Pacific Airways (29,170), Asiana Airlines (17,624), Korean Air Lines (12,996), Singapore Airlines (12,600), SeAir (11,436) and Delta Air Lines (10,478).

“CEB is now the largest airline operating to, from and within the Philippines, based on not only the number of domestic and international passengers flown, but also total domestic and international seat capacity,” CEB vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said.

She added that CEB’s first half 2011 profit figures remain in the black despite high fuel costs earlier this year, “a feat we owe to reduced operational costs and higher ancillary revenue.”

“CEB will continue to grow its domestic and international operations for the benefit of more passengers,” she added.

CEB ranked fifth most profitable value airline in the world, according to Air Transport World’s World Airline Report last July 2011.

It is set to open its 50th destination, Tawi-Tawi, and launch its newest domestic route, Cagayan de Oro to Iloilo, in October. This is in time with the delivery of four more brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft in the last four months of 2011.

Between 2012 and 2021, CEB will take delivery of 23 Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders, and two Airbus A320 aircraft on operating lease agreements.