Cebu Pacific February traffic up 7.9% as capacity rises

Insider Spotlight

• Passenger traffic rose 7.9 percent year-on-year to 2.34 million in February.
• Seat capacity expanded faster at 9.5 percent, slightly easing load factors.
• International traffic outpaced domestic growth during the month.
• Management flags rising fuel prices tied to Middle East tensions as a key risk.
  
  
  

Cebu Air Inc., operator of low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific, reported a 7.9-percent increase in passenger traffic in February as the airline continued expanding capacity to meet resilient travel demand.

The carrier flew about 2.3 million passengers during the month, up from roughly 2.17 million a year earlier. 

Capacity growth outpaced traffic, however, as available seats increased 9.5 percent year-on-year, leading to a modest dip in the systemwide seat load factor to 85.6 percent from 86.8 percent previously.

The big picture

Domestic operations remained the backbone of Cebu Pacific’s network. Domestic passenger traffic climbed 7.6 percent to about 1.73 million, while seats grew 9.4 percent. That pushed the domestic load factor slightly lower to 86.6 percent.

International travel grew faster. Passenger volumes increased 8.8 percent year-on-year to about 610,000 as the airline expanded seat capacity by 9.7 percent. The international load factor stood at 82.6 percent.

By the numbers

For the first two months of 2026, Cebu Pacific carried nearly 5.07 million passengers, a 7 percent increase from the same period last year. 

Domestic travelers reached about 3.74 million, up 6.2 percent, while international passengers rose 9.2 percent to around 1.33 million.

Seat load factor for the January-to-February period averaged 84.5 percent as total seats expanded 9.7 percent, indicating demand continued to absorb the airline’s growing capacity.

What they’re saying

"Our February performance underscores Cebu Pacific’s continued growth, supported by healthy bookings and resilient demand across both domestic and international markets,” said Mike Szucs, chief executive officer of Cebu Pacific.

“At the same time, we remain cognizant of the ongoing crisis and uncertainty in the Middle East, and the potential impact of sharply increasing fuel prices on our business," he added. 

Why it matters

Fuel is one of the airline industry’s largest operating costs, meaning any sustained increase in oil prices could pressure margins even as passenger demand remains strong.

Szucs said the company’s operating fundamentals—including a large domestic network, modern fuel-efficient fleet, and low-cost structure—should help cushion the impact. 

The airline added it will continue reviewing pricing and network strategies to mitigate the effects of higher fuel prices. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma