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Philippine air carriers handled 261.505 million kilograms in 2024, 10.1% higher than the 237.534 million kg recorded in 2023
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This is the fourth consecutive year that domestic airlines recorded double-digit growth after declining in 2020 as a result of limited flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic
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Cebu Pacific had the biggest share to the total, handling 43.6% or 114.121 million kg
Philippine air carriers handled 261.505 million kilograms in 2024, 10.1% higher than the 237.534 million kg recorded in 2023, according to data from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).
This is the fourth consecutive year that domestic airlines recorded double-digit growth after declining in 2020 as a result of limited flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is, however, lower than the more than 300 million kg level pre-pandemic in 2018 and 2019.
Of the nine carriers in CAB’s list, six reported increases while three posted declines last year.
Cebu Pacific had the biggest share to the total, handling 43.6% or 114.121 million kg, which was 24% up from 92.019 million kg the low-cost carrier posted in 2023.
Also maintaining its rank at second was PAL Express, accounting for 35.5% or 92.769 million kg of the total. It was also 9.1% higher than the 85.017 million kg it carried in 2023.
Improving one place to third was Philippine Airlines (PAL) with 21.597 million kg or a share of 8.3%. PAL’s 2024 volume was, however, down 12.2% from 24.593 million kg in 2023.
Philippines AirAsia dropped one rank to fourth, sharing 8% or 20.955 million kg, which was a 20.3% decline from 26.297 million kg.
Still in fifth place was boutique airline AirSwift Transport Inc. with 4.977 million kg, a 33.3% climb from 3.734 million kg in 2023.
Charter airline Island Aviation Corp. stepped one place up to sixth with 2.988 million kg, a surge of 64.3% from 1.819 million kg.
Dropping one place to seventh place was leisure airline Seair International, handling 2.335 million kg last year, 2.4% growth from 2.281 million kg in 2023.
Cebu Pacific’s sister airline, Cebgo, fell two ranks to eight with 1.756 million kg, an increase of 7% from 1.641 million kg.
Lastly, boutique charter airline Sunlight Express Airways, which began operations in 2020, handled 7,033 kg, down 94.7% from 133,232 kg in 2023.
In terms of passengers, local carriers reported flying 32.130 million passengers last year, up 10.9% from 28.965 million in 2023 and higher than pre-pandemic levels. – Roumina Pablo
READ: Local air carriers deliver 7.6% more cargo in Jan-Sept
