Passenger boom lifts CEB H1 profits to P9B

Budget airline Cebu Pacific (CEB) took off in the first half of the year, with net income soaring 153 percent to P9.0 billion from P3.5 billion on the back of surging passenger demand, higher revenues, and an expanding fleet.

In a stock exchange report on Wednesday, the Gokongwei-led airline said total revenue climbed 23 percent year-on-year to P63.3 billion, as passenger numbers rose 21 percent to 14 million.

Passenger revenue jumped 24 percent to P44.2 billion, while ancillary and cargo revenues grew 19 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

Increases in flights and available seat

The airline’s growth was supported by a 17 percent increase in flights and a 22 percent rise in Available Seat Kilometers. This was aided by its shift to a more fuel-efficient, and higher- capacity NEO fleet.

By midyear, Cebu Pacific was operating over 3,300 weekly flights across 124 routes with a fleet of 99 aircraft. Operating income for the first half reached P7.9 billion, up 44 percent year-on-year.

“These results for the second quarter and first half of 2025 reflect the returns from our strategic investments in fleet and network expansion along with the sustained demand for air travel,” CEB chief executive officer Michael Szucs said.

Growing economy

“With the Philippines’ growing economy, favorable demographics and expanding tourism sector, we remain well-positioned to drive long term growth in low-cost travel,” he added.

In the second quarter alone, CEB earned P8.5 billion in net income as passenger volume rose 16 percent to 7 million, with domestic traffic up 14 percent to over 5.1 million and international traffic surging 23 percent to 1.8 million.

Passenger revenue for the quarter grew 29 percent to P23.1 billion, ancillary revenue increased 16 percent to P8 billion, and cargo revenue jumped 32 percent to P1.8 billion.

Operating income climbed 110 percent to P6 billion from P2.8 billion a year earlier.