Cebu Pacific reported on Friday that its passenger traffic rose 4.7 percent in July this year, with robust domestic performance offsetting a drop in international volumes. The Gokongwei-led carrier carried over 2.2 million passengers during the month, compared with 2.1 million in the same period last year.
Seat capacity grew 6.2 percent year-on-year, lifting the overall seat load factor to 84.4 percent. Domestic passenger numbers climbed 9.1 percent to 1.73 million, bringing the domestic seat load factor to 84.5 percent. International traffic fell 8.6 percent to 531,000 following a 16.9 percent reduction in international seat capacity. These capacity adjustments pushed the international seat load factor up 7.6 percentage points to 83.8 percent.
For the first seven months of 2026, the airline transported more than 16.7 million passengers, a 4.3 percent rise from the 16 million recorded a year earlier. Domestic passengers increased 5.5 percent to 12.6 million, while international passengers edged up 1 percent to 4.1 million. Total seat capacity expanded 9.3 percent to 20.5 million, with an average seat load factor of 81.6 percent for the period.
“We delivered continued passenger growth in July supported by a strong rebound in the domestic market,” said Xander Lao, president and chief commercial officer of Cebu Pacific. Lao noted that domestic gains stemmed from steady demand across its network, while the international decline aligned with planned capacity cuts that improved load factor efficiency.
Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, Cebu Pacific will launch new services to destinations including China, Vietnam and Japan. The new routes aim to boost connectivity while giving passengers more accessible and cost-effective travel choices. The airline currently serves 36 domestic and 25 international destinations, operating the widest network among Philippine carriers and maintaining one of the world’s youngest fleets.
