GUAM—The operator of Cebu Pacific said the opening of new destinations such as this US island territory in Western Pacific will enable the airline to increase passengers by 9 percent to nearly 20 million in 2016.
“This year, I think in terms of target, we are looking at close to 20 million passengers,” Cebu Air Inc. vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog told reporters.
Cebu Pacific carried 18.4 million passengers, including those of unit Cebgo in 2015.
Iyog said the growth in passenger volume this year would be driven by the airline’s new domestic and regional routes.
Cebu Pacific launched flights from Cebu to Taipei, Davao to Singapore and Manila to Fukuoka, Japan in the latter part of 2015.
Iyog said the airline was also looking at flying to New Delhi in India, Hokaido in Japan and Perth in Australia.
“Perth is accessible with our A330 aircraft, but for Hokaido and New Delhi routes would have to wait until we get the A321 NEOs and we take delivery of the new NEOs starting next year,” she said.
“But, I’m not saying that we will start in 2017. It’s one of those things that will be in our radar by then,” Iyog said.
Cebu Pacific on Tuesday mounted four-times weekly flights to Guam from Manila.
The airline was the only low-cost carrier operating the Manila-Guam route, offering fares at 48 percent lower than the other airlines.
Total seat capacity between Manila and Guam is currently at 5,900 per week, on top of the 1,440 seats that will be added to the market by Cebu Pacific.
Cebu Pacific expects delivery of three more brand-new Airbus A320, 30 Airbus A321NEO and 16 ATR 72-600 aircraft between 2016 and 2021.
Cebu Pacific’s 57-strong fleet is comprised of 8 Airbus A319, 35 Airbus A320, 6 Airbus A330 and 8 ATR 72-500 aircraft.
Cebu Pacific recorded a net income of P3.56 billion in the first nine months of 2015, up 71 percent from last year’s P2.08 billion.
Revenues amounted to P42.26 billion in the nine-month period, or 9.9 percent higher than P38.45 billion posted in the same period last year.