AFP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The country’s largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific, flew its 70 millionth passenger on Thursday.
Cebu Pacific vice president for airport services Antonio Jose Rodriguez, and Candy Iyog, vice president for marketing and distribution, awarded Rubia Jallaludin, 21, a Tawi-tawi resident who took a Manila-Zamboanga flight, with free tickets for 70 domestic flights during a ceremony held around 2:30 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 check-in area.
“Last January 2011, President Aquino awarded Cebu Pacific’s 50 millionth passenger, an Austrian named Harald Toifl. In less than two years, Cebu Pacific flew 20 million passengers more. This definitely shows how Cebu Pacific’s trademark lowest fares have revolutionized air travel, giving every Juan the chance to fly for the first time or more often,” Iyog said.
Iyog recognized Terminal 3’s contribution to Cebu Pacific’s expansion, being the only airport terminal that, according to her, can accommodate the airline’s growth. The airline bases majority of its operations in Manila, with additional hubs in Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, Kalibo and Davao.
“We will end the year with the largest aircraft fleet in the Philippines, and we expect delivery of seven Airbus A320 and two A330 aircraft next year. This is part of the incremental delivery of over 50 aircraft until 2021. It is truly an exciting time for Cebu Pacific, and we look forward to when we fly our 100 millionth guest,” she added.
Attending the event were Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines director-general William Hotchkiss III, Civil Aeronautics Board deputy executive director Porvenir Porciuncula and Manila International Airport Authority Terminal 3 Manager Octavio Lina.
To celebrate Cebu Pacific’s 70 millionth passenger milestone, the airline announced it was offering a 75-percent-off seat sale to any of its 32 domestic and 19 international destinations. The seat sale is from November 15 to 17, 2012, or until seats last, for travel from January 1 to March 31, 2013.
International destinations on sale at 75-percent off are: Bangkok, Beijing, Brunei, Busan, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Incheon, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Osaka, Shanghai, Siem Reap, Singapore, Taipei and Xiamen.
For bookings and inquiries, guests can go to www.cebupacificair.com, or call the reservation hotlines (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888. The latest seat sales can also be found on CEB’s official Twitter and Facebook pages.
The airline currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 22 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 40 aircraft – with an average age of 3.6 years – is the largest aircraft fleet in the Philippines. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific said it would take delivery of 19 more Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders. It is slated to begin long-haul services in the 3rd quarter of 2013.