Holy Week is CEB's "busiest"

CEBU, Philippines - The country’s second flag carrier experienced an increase in passenger volume during the Holy Week, which is its “busiest week” after the peak during the Christmas season.

In an email sent to The Freeman, Cebu Pacific (CEB) vice president for marketing Candice Iyog said the Holy Week is peak travel period and CEB has always experienced a five percent to 10 percent increase in the number of passenger from the usual volume.

She said there was an increase in bookings in a majority of CEB’s destinations with Boracay via Caticlan and Kalibo on top of the list.

“It remains a top tourist draw,” Iyog said.

Superferry vice president for sales and marketing Andrew D. Deyto earlier said the Aboitiz’s-owned shipping company’s average passenger load increased by 80-percent to 100-percent during the long vacation.

Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa director of communications Mildred Amon said the five-star resort-hotel was also fully booked for April 2 and 3 in the last week of March yet.

She said Shangri-La has always experienced full occupancy during the holy week, especially on Easter Sundays. This spells about 25-percent to 30-percent increase from the resort’s average monthly occupancy rate.

CEB’s Iyog said of the many things the airline did was to have extra staff on hand to assist in the airport stations. They also coordinated with its partners with the aviation industry such as airport operations and aviation security through meetings.

“We also go the extra mile by sending advisories for our passengers’ benefit, reminding them to arrive earlier than usual at the airport. This is so they have ample time to clear longer-than-usual queues for security and immigration,” she said.

CEB offered a 70-percent off seat sale on April 1-2 for travel from January 1 to March 15, 2011.

“This (meant) that passengers can avail of P629.70 seats from Manila to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, exclusive of the Philippine Travel Tax. Domestic seats can go as low as P266.40 from Manila to Virac, and P416.40 from Manila to Boracay (Caticlan),” Iyog said in a press statement. – Jessica B. Natad