Philippine Airlines expects to carry 15 million domestic and international passengers in 2017, higher than the projected 13.5 million passengers this year, a top executive said.
PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said the airline would likely achieve the target of 13.5 million passengers this year.
PAL flew 11.9 million passengers in 2015, up from 9.6 million passengers in 2014.
Bautista said new routes, more destination and frequency and China charters would drive passenger growth in 2017.
PAL, controlled by tycoon Lucio Tan, earlier posted a comprehensive income of P2.96 billion in the nine-month period, lower by 54.8 percent than the previous year’s total comprehensive income of P6.55 billion.
Revenues in January to September hit P85.35 billion, up by 3.5 percent from last year’s P82.48 billion.
Expenses in the third quarter rose 14.9 percent to P29.567 billion from P25.73 billion a year earlier, because of the increase in flights operated.