Philippines Domestic Airlines

Domestic passenger traffic in the first quarter rose 13 percent to 5.16 million from 4.57 million passengers a year ago, according to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).  The regulator attributed the growth in domestic air travel to the aggressive expansion and price wars.

Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Airphil Express, Zest Airways and Seair have flown a combined number of 5,166,886 passengers out of the 6,938,907 seats offered during the period.

Cebu Pacific led the market with 2.37 million passengers, followed by AirPhil, with 1.06 million; Zest Airways, with 626,952; and Seair, with 10,037.  PAL, carried 1.08 million domestic passengers.

However, total load factor or the number of seats occupied during a flight declined to 74 percent in the first three months from 78 percent over the same period last year.