CEO Michael B. Szucs told InsiderPH their travel demand projections are showing healthy growth, buoyed by rising domestic travel and its wide network of international routes, which will soon include long-haul trips to Riyadh on March 1, 2026.
On the sidelines of the inaugural Space Summit 2026, the chief of the country’s biggest carrier by fleet size said he is feeling better and more confident this year, noting that the government is taking key steps including visa-free access for Chinese visitors.
Disciplined growth
For the rest of 2026, the airline expects to maintain or exceed the 10 percent volume growth in 2025, which was much faster than the broader Philippine economy, which expanded at its slowest pace since 2011.
It helps that Cebu Pacific, like other airlines, provides an essential service for the Philippine archipelago, which it aims to continue while keeping fares affordable.
“We’re not embarrassed to say it’s kind of like, yeah, it is a bus service in the sky. It’s a nice bus service in the sky and it’s needed,” he said.
30M passengers within reach
“This year I think we’re more confident about saying it’s going to be maybe 10–12 percent growth,” he said in a chance interview during the event, where the low-cost carrier unveiled its
30th anniversary livery dubbed the ‘Dreamer Plane’.
The target builds on a new record set by Cebu Pacific in 2025 when it served 27 million passengers.
Is 30 million within reach on its 30th year? Absolutely, Szucs shared.
“We’ll grow by at least 10 percent this year. If it’s exactly 10 percent, that’s 29.7 million, but I reckon we will get to 30 million,” he said.
Domestic engine of the business
At the airline’s core is strong domestic operations mainly around its hub in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which is being upgraded by a consortium led by conglomerate San Miguel Corp.
“Domestic tourism, by the way, is stronger in the Philippines than it is anywhere else in Asia. It’s number one on the list for domestic tourism, number six on the list for international tourism,” he said.
Better, longer runways to unlock growth
He hopes the new policy on Chinese visitors would spur demand in what was once a top market for the Philippines.
Also part of his wish list is additional investments in larger runways, and upgraded navigation equipment, especially in provincial hubs.
This would make it more economical for carriers to operate, leading to lower passenger fares.
In turn, hotels and other businesses could expand, which could also address complaints of expensive hotels.
“The country needs tourism to perform even more strongly and it’s had a tough time post-pandemic,” he said.
“I would probably put the focus on getting some runways built in these key tourist destinations which are, in my and most people’s view from living in the Philippines, more beautiful than other places in Asia,” he said.
“If we can get longer runways, we’ll get bigger aircraft, it would be great for tourism, it would be great for the economy and actually airfares will come down,” he added.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
