CEB maintains cargo market lead in Q1

MANILA - Budget carrier Cebu Pacific Air took the biggest share of the domestic cargo market in the first quarter of 2012, operator Cebu Air Inc. reported Monday.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the country's largest flag carrier said it carried a total of 22.1 million kilograms of cargo from JanuaryMarch this year, higher than the combined cargo loads carried by Philippine Airlines and Airphil Express.

“We captured 48 percent of the domestic cargo market in Q1. This highlights Cebu Pacific’s extensive domestic network. With multiple daily flights to most key cities in the Philippines, cargo forwarders and shippers trust ( Cebu Pacific) to bring their valuable cargo in the soonest possible time,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Air vice- president for marketing and distribution.

Last year, the airline said it also captured the biggest share of the market with close to 89.5 million kilos carried for the full year.

Cebu Pacific increased domestic capacity in the first quarter of this year with the arrival of one more brand- new Airbus A320 aircraft last January. At present, it operates 52 routes to 32 domestic destinations. Network expansion plans include the arrival of three more Airbus A320 aircraft in the second half of the year, as well as the launch of four times weekly Davao- Kalibo and Davao- Puerto Princesa flights, it said.

“( Cebu Pacific) currently services more than 2,000 accounts, tailor- fitting cargo products to our clients’ domestic and international cargo needs. This includes express cargo service, seamless transshipment and 16 interline partnerships for worldwide reach,” Iyog said.