The Philippine air travel market rose 2.1 percent year-on-year in 2017, according to the Civil Aeronautics Board.
Data from CAB showed that the combined domestic and international passengers reached 49.23 million last year, up from 48.21 million passengers in 2016.
Domestic passengers increased to 24.81 million last year from 24.42 million passengers in 2016, while total international passengers grew to 24.43 million from 21.78 million.
Cebu Pacific remained the country’s leading domestic carrier last year with 11.95 million passengers, followed by PAL Express with 5.94 million passengers and Philippines Airlines with 1.26 million passengers.
Philippines AirAsia and CebGo recorded 3.44 million passengers and 1.77 million passengers, respectively. Airswift transport Inc. and Magnum Air Inc. flew 179,337 passengers and 250,807 passengers, respectively.
Philippine Airlines was the number one carrier in the international market with 6.88 million passengers last year, up from 6.05 million passengers in 2016.