Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific is optimistic about sustaining its record-high passenger count of nearly 27 million in 2025 despite challenges such as rising fuel prices linked to the peso’s depreciation.
At the airline’s 30th anniversary kickoff, Cebu Pacific president and COO Alexander Lao noted that the 2025 figure marked the highest for any local airline, representing nearly a 10% increase from 2024.
He said the airline expects a similar growth trajectory this year as they finalize targets for 2026.
“On a year-on-year basis, we grew roughly 10% in terms of capacity, so we’re looking maybe for 2026 something roughly similar,” Lao said.
Key growth drivers include a new route to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the expansion of existing hubs, including Clark International Airport, where all turboprop planes will operate starting late March 2026.
“It’s really focusing on the routes that we currently have, which is Riyadh, and secondly, it’s developing a lot of the hubs we opened back in 2024—strengthening really Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, and Davao,” he said.
Lao also highlighted the potential return of Chinese visitors, who can now travel visa-free to the Philippines for up to 14 days.
Cebu Pacific’s flights to mainland China have dropped from 35 weekly flights pre-pandemic to just seven today.
“If we do see a buildup in terms of traffic from China, then clearly we have the capacity to add flying. It was a key market for the Philippines back in 2019, and clearly that’s something we’d love to reestablish,” he added.