Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Cebu Pacific, SEAir unfurl fleet expansion

PHILIPPINE budget airlines are upbeat about the industry as they plan to acquire more aircraft.

Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution told The Manila Times that her company plans to double its business over the next five years with firm order for 22 more brand-new aircraft, the first four of which would be delivered from October 2010 to January 2011. Iyog said the other 18 aircraft are scheduled for delivery until 2014.

“Because of this, we will grow the domestic travel market at roughly 15 percent over the next five years, and we expect even stronger growth (up to
25 percent) in the short haul international market. This kind of growth is expected to continue in the coming years,” Iyog said.

In 2008 and 2009, Cebu Pacific’s business grew by 31.1 percent and 18.4 percent, respectively.

In the first six months of the year, the Gokongwei-led airline’s net income amounted to P3.09 million, up by 55.6 percent from the P1.99 billion in the same period last year.

Cebu Pacific’s revenues reached P14.91 billion, a 30.9 percent increase over last year’s P11.39 billion brought about by an increase in number of passengers mainly as a result of additional flights in 2010.

Another budget carrier, Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) is also set to acquire two Airbus A320 to expand its capacity, allowing it to fly to regional destinations.

Carmelo Arcilla, executive director of Civil Aeronautics Board said the board approved the Seair’s lease of two Airbus A320 to Tiger Airways.

“In 2008 we already approved the lease of two Airbus from Tiger Airways but because of the global slump the program was shelved. They’re reviving it now because the market is growing and many of our airlines are looking at expanding,” Arcilla said.

Avelino Zapanta, SEAIR president and chief executive had said that the new aircraft will be used to fly the Singapore and Macau routes from Clark.
At present, the airline has 11 aircraft, of which four are Dornier 328s and seven Let 410 UVP-Es.

SEAIR flies 18 routes including tourist destinations such as Caticlan (Boracay) and Cebu in the Visayas; Clark in Northern Luzon; Busuanga, Cuyo, El Nido,
Puerto Princesa and Rodriguez in Palawan Province; and Camiguin, Cotobato, Zamboanga, Jolo, Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao.

Air Philippine Express earlier announced its direct flights from Manila to Singapore on October 27.

“We are expanding our network regionally to offer our passengers more options at our affordable prices. That, with our customer-centric focus, will be the theme for our expansion into Asia,” Bettina de Vera, Airphil Express corporate communications manager said.

Posted via email from Aviation Professionals dot Org

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