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International air cargo and mail traffic rose 16% to 124.457 million kilograms (kg) in the first quarter of 2026 from 107.33 million kg in the same period last year
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Incoming traffic handled by 44 carriers grew 10.4% to 66.789 million kg while outgoing traffic improved 23% to 57.669 million kg
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Flag carrier Philippine Airlines continued to handle the biggest volume, accounting for 17.1% or 21.331 million kg of the total
International air cargo and mail traffic rose 16% to 124.457 million kilograms (kg) in the first quarter of 2026 from 107.33 million kg in the same period last year, according to data from the Civil Aeronautics Board.
Of the total, incoming traffic handled by 44 carriers accounted for 53.7% or 66.789 million kg, 10.4% up from 60.477 million kg in 2024.
Outgoing traffic also improved 23% to 57.669 million kg from 46.853 million kg.
READ: PH’s international air cargo, mail rose 7.4% in 2025
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines continued to handle the biggest volume, accounting for 17.1% or 21.331 million kg of the total and 22.5% higher than the 17.4134 million kg it recorded in the first quarter of last year.
Budget carrier Cebu Pacific again placed second with 18.606 million kg or a share of 14.9%. It was also a 23.8% increase from the 15.027 million kg Cebu Pacific handled in the first quarter of 2025.
Royal Air Philippines ranked third with 9.248 million kg or 7.4% of the total. No comparative figure was available as Royal Air commenced its cargo operations only last year with the deployment of a new freighter.
In fourth place was Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, handling 6.2% or 7.665 million kg, a 40% growth from the 5.470 million kg last year.
Another flag carrier, Singapore Airlines, ranked fifth with a share of 5.2% or 6.425 million kg. It was also 32.7% up from the 4.842 million kg the carrier handled in the first quarter of last year.
All cargo airline Air Hong Kong accounted for 4.8% or 5.969 million kg of the total, placing sixth. It also recorded a 13.7% improvement from the 5.251 million kg it carried last year.
Transportation and logistics company Federal Express was in seventh place with 5.717 million kg or a share of 4.6% to total and up 18% from the 4.843 million kg posted last year.
Placing eight was Taiwanese carrier EVA Air, carrying 5.617 million kg or 4.5% of the total. It was, however, down 12% from the 6.388 million kg it recorded in the first quarter of last year.
With 4.556 million kg or a share of 3.75 top total, flag carrier Korean Air placed ninth for the first quarter. It also handled 30.3% more cargo from the 3.496 million kg in the same period last year.
Completing the top 10 was flag carrier Emirates with a share of 3.4% or 4.174 million kg, down 19.7% from the 5.2 million kg last year.
The 34 other carriers in the list according to volume handled are:
Japan Airlines (3.368 million kg); United Parcel Service (3.208 million kg); China Airlines (2.914 million kg); All Nippon Airways (2.761 million kg); Qatar Airways (2.615 million kg); Etihad Airways (1.9 million kg); Turkish Airlines (1.878 million kg); Asian Airlines (1.853 million kg); United Airlines (1.775 million kg); China Southern Airlines (1.57 million kg); YTO Cargo Airlines (1.521 million kg); Thai Airways (1.517 million kg); Oman Air (1.414 million kg); Saudi Arabian Airlines (1.255 million kg); Jiangsu Jingdong Cargo Airlines (983,193 kg); Gulf Air (760,409.6 kg); Air Canada (616,607.44 kg); Kuwait Airways (581,602.90 kg); Qantas Airways (467,188 kg); AirAsia Philippines (302,808 kg) Malaysia Airlines (273,482.40 kg); Vietnam Airlines (228,275.15 kg); Societe Air France (225,267 kg); Xiamen Airlines (215,728 kg); KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (211,325 kg); Starlux Airlines (210,314.90 kg); China Eastern (182,755 kg); PAL Express (103,990.31 kg); Ethiopian Airlines (63,089.80 kg); Air India Ltd. (51,613.50 kg); VietJet (48,681 kg); Royal Brunei Airlines (38,334 kg); Air Niugini (34,446.40 kg); and Air China (907.46 kg).
