Insider Spotlight
In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, airline CEO Mike Szucs said the airline anticipates sustaining similar growth levels this year, supported by fleet expansion and ongoing demand for air travel.
Why it matters If realized, a third consecutive record year would signal that Cebu Pacific has fully shifted from post-pandemic recovery to a more durable growth phase. It would also reinforce the airline’s ability to scale operations year after year despite persistent industry headwinds.
Looking back
Cebu Pacific carried nearly 27 million passengers in 2025, a 9.5-percent increase from 2024, according to its latest traffic performance report filed with regulators. The result followed another record year in 2024, establishing back-to-back highs for the airline.
December 2025 capped that run with the strongest single month in the company’s history, as more than 2.7 million passengers flew with the carrier. Growth came from both domestic and international markets, with overseas travel expanding at a faster pace.
Driving confidence
For the full year, domestic passengers rose 8.1 percent to 20 million, while international passengers climbed 14 percent to 6.9 million. Total seat capacity increased by 10 percent, allowing Cebu Pacific to serve more routes and frequencies even as overall seat load factor edged slightly lower.
“Cebu Pacific concluded 2025 on a strong note, achieving its highest-ever monthly passenger traffic with 2.7 million passengers in December. For the full year, the airline carried a record 26.9 million passengers, representing nearly 10 percent growth year-on-year. Delivering these record numbers despite challenges such as fleet reliability issues, supply chain disruptions, and global geopolitical tensions underscores the strength of our low-cost model and the agility of our operations,” Szucs said.
What’s ahead
The airline expects growth to continue in 2026 with the delivery of seven new aircraft during the year. The additional planes are set to support capacity expansion across both domestic and international networks, even as Cebu Pacific marks its thirtieth anniversary.
Between the lines
A third straight record would not come without trade-offs. Faster seat growth has weighed slightly on load factors, particularly on international routes. Still, management appears comfortable prioritizing network scale and long-term presence over short-term efficiency.
The bottom line After record performances in 2024 and 2025, Cebu Pacific is betting that 2026 will make it three in a row. For the airline, repeating success has become the strategy, not the surprise.
— Edited by Daxim L. Lucas
