PH airlines gear up for Q4 volume surge

Local airlines are gearing up to take advantage of the seasonal volume surge of passengers during the fourth quarter by increasing their flight capacities in both domestic and international networks.

The last quarter is expected to be more vibrant compared to last year with the easing of mobility restrictions and return of passengers’ confidence to travel.

Cielo Villaluna, Philippine Airlines spokesperson, told the Inquirer that an increase in passenger numbers was anticipated by mid-October up to January. The flag carrier projects the restoration of 86 percent of its prepandemic flight capacity by December.

It is set to provide more flights to several domestic destinations, including Puerto Princesa, Cebu, Iloilo, Caticlan and Tacloban.

Villaluna said that North America and Australia flights would achieve prepandemic levels before the year ends.

Cebu Pacific is implementing the same strategy.

Carmina Romero, director for corporate communications at the Gokongwei-led budget carrier, told the Inquirer that their international short-haul flights were up by more than 70 percent while passenger volume nearly doubled in the previous quarter.

As such, Cebu Pacific is set to operate more flights to Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, among others.

AirAsia Philippines, meanwhile, is projecting a “steady growth” in terms of forward bookings in the last quarter after registering an average of 85-percent passenger load by end-September.

Top domestic destinations in the last three months were Tagbilaran, Tacloban, Puerto Princesa and Cebu. The most booked international flights were for Seoul, Osaka, Bangkok, Taipei and Kuala Lumpur. INQ