Cebu Air Inc., the parent company operating the budget carrier Cebu Pacific, has announced a significant uptick in passenger numbers for the first month of 2026. According to a recent filing, the airline experienced a 6.2 percent year-on-year increase in passenger traffic, reaching a total of 2.73 million travelers in January. This growth is primarily attributed to sustained holiday travel demand and a strategic expansion in seat capacity.
Capacity Expansion and Load Factor Details
The airline's seat capacity saw a notable rise of 9.9 percent, climbing to 3.27 million seats. However, this expansion led to a slight decline in the system seat load factor (SLF), which stood at 83.6 percent, down from 86.5 percent recorded in the same period a year earlier. This decrease reflects the challenges of balancing increased capacity with passenger demand.
Domestic and International Performance
Breaking down the figures, domestic passenger traffic increased by 5.1 percent to 2.01 million, supported by a 7.9 percent rise in available seats. Consequently, the domestic SLF settled at 84.7 percent. On the international front, traffic surged by 9.4 percent to 723,000 passengers, driven by a substantial 15.5 percent increase in capacity. The international SLF, however, eased to 80.7 percent, indicating a more competitive landscape.
Key Operational Metrics
In terms of operational efficiency, revenue passenger kilometers grew by six percent to 2.93 billion, while available seat kilometers expanded by 10.8 percent to 3.57 billion. These metrics highlight the airline's efforts to optimize its fleet utilization and capture emerging growth opportunities in the aviation sector.
Executive Insights on Performance
Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao commented on the January results, stating that the performance underscores resilient consumer demand and effective capacity deployment. He emphasized the carrier's ongoing strategy to fine-tune fleet operations and seize market opportunities, positioning Cebu Pacific for continued success in the dynamic airline industry.
