The figure smashes the 22 million volume achieved just before the tumultuous global pandemic that upended the travel industry in 2020.
CEB president Xander Lao told InsiderPH in a previous interview that growth momentum could carry them over the 30 million passenger mark in 2025
Positioned for growth
CEB CEO Mike Szucs highlighted the airline’s strong market positioning, citing stable load factors and rising demand through the year.
“We are strategically positioned to capitalize on the Philippines’ economic growth and travel resurgence,” Szucs said, emphasizing the company’s focus on operational reliability and resolving Pratt & Whitney engine supply issues to meet growing consumer demand.
The airline reinforced its growth trajectory with a historic P1.4 trillion deal for up to 152 Airbus A321neo aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines, the largest fleet acquisition in Philippine aviation history.
Holiday surge
In December 2024, CEB carried 2.6 million passengers, up 31.4 percent year-over-year, driven by a 32 percent jump in domestic trips and a 29.5 percent rise in international traffic.
Seat load factor improved to 85.2 percent, while seat capacity grew by 30.7 percent.
Domestic expansion
Regional expansion also played a key role, with hubs in Davao and Iloilo showing significant growth.
Davao traffic grew 2.4 times, spurred by new routes to Boracay, Puerto Princesa, and Tacloban. Iloilo added five new destinations, boosting its hub traffic by 3.3 times year-over-year.
International momentum
International travel remained a strong growth driver, with a 21 percent increase in seat capacity and a seat load factor of 84.7 percent.
Passenger traffic grew by 29.5 percent, with Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Hong Kong leading the recovery due to additional flights and expanded capacity.
