Cebu Pacific (CEB), the only low-cost carrier servicing Manila and Sydney in Australia, has captured the largest market share for both passenger and cargo services on the route as of April 2017 and wants to increase its flight frequencies to this destination.
Data from Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) showed that CEB flew 16,441 passengers in April alone, representing 41.8% of the total market share for the Manila-Sydney route, the highest among the three carriers flying this route.
This brings the total number of passengers flown by CEB to 59,953 – representing 41.7% market share. Its closest competitor, on the other hand, captured 33.5% market share. Load factor for CEB for the Manila-Sydney route was at an average 80% for the first four months of 2017.
Year-on-year, total passenger volume for the first four months of 2017 of all three carriers plying the Manila-Sydney route reached 143,765, up 12% versus the 128,352 passengers flown in the same period in 2016.
For cargo service between Manila and Sydney, CEB captured 43.8% market share of the total 789 tons carried in April 2017. From January to April 2017, CEB had 47.4% market share of the total 3,114 tons of cargo carried for that route. The total cargo volume for the first four months of 2017, however, is 30.6% lower than the 2,128 tons carried in the comparable period last year.
“Since opening the Sydney route in 2014, we have contributed to the growth of trade and tourism between the Philippines and Australia, through year-round low fares. Today, Sydney is one of our top international routes and bodes well for our future expansion plans in the Australian market,” according to Atty. JR Mantaring, Vice President for Corporate Affairs of Cebu Pacific.
Cebu Pacific currently offers the most number of seats between Manila and Sydney, operating up to five weekly nonstop services between Sydney and Manila, departing every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from Sydney at 11:35 a.m. and arriving Manila at 5:50 p.m.
The flights from Manila to Sydney, on the other hand, depart at 12:05 a.m. and arrive Sydney at 10:05 a.m.
Recently, the airline expressed interest to increase frequency between Manila and Sydney, noting strong demand for this route.
Cebu Air, Inc. is the largest carrier in the Philippine air transportation industry, offering its low-cost services to more destinations and routes with higher flight frequency within the Philippines than any other airline. It also offers flights to over 60 destinations including Dubai, Tokyo, Beijing, Bali and Sydney.
CEB’s 61-strong fleet, comprised of 4 Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320, 8 Airbus A330, 8 ATR-72 500 and 5 ATR 72-600 aircraft, is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2017 and 2022, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 7 Airbus A321ceo, 32 Airbus A321neo, and 11 ATR 72-600 aircraft.