Phl air traffic up 4.6% in 9 mos

MANILA, Philippines - Volume of passengers travelling by air climbed 4.6 percent in the first nine months of the year on the back of higher volume of international passengers, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) reported yesterday.

Data from the CAB showed that volume of domestic and international passengers reached 28.46 million from January to September this year or 1.26 million higher compared to 27.2 million in the same period last year.

Volume of domestic passengers was flat as it reached 15.42 million from January to September this year from 15.51 million recorded in the same period last year due to inclement weather as well as the incident at the Davao International Airport that led to the closure of the international airport for three days.

Listed budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) of taipan John L. Gokongwei Jr. ferried 7.83 million domestic passengers in the first nine months of the year followed by national flag carrier Philippine Airlines and sister firm PAL Express with 5.3 million.

Zest Air ferried 1.51 million domestic passengers while Southeast Asia Air (SEAir) serviced 731,630 and AirAsia Inc. with 98,269. Seair is now known as Tiger Airways Philippines while AirAsia Philippines bought into Zest Air to form AirAsia Zest.

 On the other hand, volume of international passengers posted a double-digit growth of 11.6 percent enough to wipe out the slight decline in the volume of domestic passengers.

 International passengers reached 13.05 million in the first nine months or 1.36 million more compared to a year-ago level of 11.69 million.

 PAL, jointly owned by taipan Lucio Tan and diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp., ferried 3.01 million international passengers in the first nine months of the year followed by Cebu Pacific with 2.14 million, Cathay Pacific with one million, Emirates with 639,970; ZestAir with 470,667; Singapore Airlines with 470,555; Korean Air with 470,473; Etihad with 418,661; and Asian Airlines with 413,218.

 PAL has transferred most of its domestic flights to PAL Express last Aug. 1 as it focuses on international routes. PAL has embarked on a massive refleeting program aimed at acquiring 100 new aircraft since the infusion of $500 million by SMC for a 49 percent interest in the airline in April 2012.