Cebu Pacific sets daily record high

MANILA, Philippines — Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific has set its highest passenger volume in a day, reaching more than 83,000 as propelled by the holiday spike for air travel.

Cebu Pacific is cruising toward arguably one of its best years in history, as the airline sets a new high for passengers flown in a single day.

Cebu Pacific COO Javier Massot said the carrier surpassed the 80,000 mark for the first time on Dec. 20, ferrying 81,243 passengers to their respective destinations.

As the airline was celebrating the milestone, it went back to back on the pages of its own history book, resetting the bar the very next day. On Dec. 21, Cebu Pacific achieved a new all-time high of 83,100.

Massot said Cebu Pacific was able to attain these records due to the strength of booking demand for the holiday season.

The airline committed to raise the level of service it provides to guests, especially as most flights are fully booked.

“We’ve just surpassed 80,000 passengers in a single day for the first time, reaching 81,243 flown passengers last (Dec. 20) and the very next day we achieved an even greater milestone with 83,100 passengers,” Massot said.

Prior to this, Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Alexander Lao had estimated that the carrier owned by the Gokongweis would surpass the 80,000 level soon.

Lao said that Cebu Pacific used to celebrate recording 12,000 passengers in a day, and now it has the capacity to break the 80,000 mark with its expanded network and growing fleet.

For 2024, Cebu Pacific is expected to bring in 18 aircraft to strengthen its fleet. So far, the airline has received 16 of the jets, with the latest being an Airbus A330neo, which is a widebody able to reach longer routes like Australia and Dubai.

Cebu Pacific is making a case as the most aggressive airline not just in the Philippines, but in the region as well. In October, the carrier placed an order for as many as 152 aircraft from Airbus, marking the biggest jet order in Philippine aviation.

The transaction, valued at $24 billion, ensures that Cebu Pacific would have enough jets to serve the future demand for air travel, considering that multiple airports may soon serve Mega Manila.

Cebu Pacific currently offers the widest domestic reach among Philippine carriers, reaching 35 local routes, on top of 27 international cities spanning Asia, Australia and the Middle East.