The country’s domestic air passenger traffic more than tripled in the first quarter of the year versus the same period last year, as travel restrictions were eased starting last March.
Latest data from the Civil Aeronautics Board show there were 3.3 million domestic air passengers from January to March, up 230 percent from 988,212 passengers recorded in the same period last year.
Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific Inc. (CEB) and its unit Cebgo remain the country’s leading airline, having carried a total of 1.9 million passengers in the first quarter, a significant increase from 467,684 passengers flown in the same period last year.
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) and its unit PAL Express grew passenger traffic by 142 percent to 895,539 in the first three months versus 369,474 passengers recorded in the same period last year.
AirAsia Philippines flew 474,064 passengers in January to March, up 231 percent from the same period last year of 143,370 passengers.
AirSwift Transport Inc. and Island Aviation Corp. have carried 18,805 and 1,518 passengers, respectively, during the first quarter.
Local airline operators have seen a strong rebound in domestic travel in the second quarter this year, with the easing of travel restrictions and reopening of borders.
CEB has restored 100 percent of its pre-pandemic domestic capacity right in time for the summer season, adding more flights across its seven hubs in the Philippines — Manila, Cebu, Clark, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iloilo and Kalibo — and providing passengers with more direct connectivity across the country.
PAL expects to return to pre-pandemic levels in its domestic network within the second or third quarter of 2022, while continually adding flights on key international routes to the United States, Canada and parts of the Middle East and Asia.
Aside from domestic travel, AirAsia Philippines is confident of a strong rebound in the Asean region with the resumption of flights to Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand commencing this June.
Meanwhile, Maria Cherry Lyn Rodolfo, lead convenor of Safe Travel Alliance, said during the virtual airport infrastructure forum that airlines, resorts and hotels reported increased bookings during the summer months of 2022.
In the first quarter of the year, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the country’s busiest gateway, has recovered 70 percent and 58 percent of pre-pandemic flights and passenger volume, respectively, for domestic travel.
Rodolfo said the recovery of domestic travel is driven by the resumption of flights in hubs like Cebu, Davao and Clark, and the increase in domestic flights in Kalibo, Bohol, Caticlan, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod and Batanes.
The International Air Transport Association projectsa recovery in the Philippines’ air travelby early 2026 with passengers reaching around 100 million per year, led mainly by the influx in domestic travel.
The air travel recovery could be earlier or by 2024 if the government will lift additional travel restrictions, it said.
