Cebu Pacific on Thursday is sanguine about achieving its 24 million passenger target this year on new flight routes and the addition of more aircraft to its fleet in the fourth quarter this year.
“We will try to hit or fly P24 million passengers this 2024. The supply chain issue has gotten even better. We are not experiencing as many aircraft on the ground as we did, I would say, maybe 12 to 15 months ago,” Xander Lao, Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer, told reporters in a briefing.
“I do think we look to surpass the 24 million passenger number for next year, but clearly that’s something we will watch out for. So right now, officially, our target is 24 million this 2024. But it feels like, clearly, we will be reaching the 24 million passenger target number that we’ve set,” he added.
Lao attributed the positive outlook to the new routes and destinations and to more available aircraft in the fourth quarter this year.
Cebu Pacific carried 15.84 million domestic and international passengers in 2023.
The budget airline also continues to expand its international network with the introduction of direct flights from Manila to Chiang Mai starting 29 October 2024, its fourth destination in Thailand.
Cebu Pacific also flies from Manila and Cebu to Bangkok, with the option to fly to Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueang International Airport.
“We share the anticipation of many Filipino travelers as we prepare to launch the only direct flights between Manila and Chiang Mai,” Lao said. .
From 1 to 6 August this year, CEB passengers may book flights from Manila to Chiang Mai for as low as P1 one-way base fare, exclusive of fees and surcharges. The travel period is from 29 October 2024 to 30 March 2025.
Cebu Pacific flies to 35 domestic and 26 international destinations across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
