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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA , Philippines - Its problems notwithstanding, the Philippine aviation industry is seen to post double-digit growth this year as the investment climate improves, with the competitive pricing offered by budget airlines as main driver for people to take to flying again.
This bullish outlook accompanied the release of data at the weekend on the international passenger traffic in the first quarter. The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) reported the number of passengers on international flights grew to 3.83 million in the first quarter, rising from 3.50 million in the same period last year.
Of the total 3,832,092 passengers recorded from January to March this year, 1,832,698 were incoming passengers and 1,999,394 were outbound passengers.
CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla explained that the “traffic improved because the airline industry as a whole is improving. Many airlines also offer cheaper fares and many flights and the appetite to travel via airplane has come back.”
Accounting for the biggest share of the traffic was Philippine Airlines (PAL), which saw its traffic improve to 1,006,251 versus 942,144 ending March last year.
Cebu Pacific was at second, also posting higher numbers---604,175 passengers at end- March this year from 483,182 in the same period a year ago.
New player Zest Air had 39,990 international passengers, more than double its 15,283 in the same period a year ago.
The other carriers on CAB’s list and their passenger traffic are Cathay Pacific Airways, 343,294; Singapore Airlines, 159,222; Asiana Airlines, 156,714; Emirates Air, 134,429; Delta/Northwest Airlines, 94,996; Korean Air, 141,288; Thai Airways, 57,713 and China Airlines, 67,246.
Earlier, Arcilla gave his outlook of the industry, where even market leader PAL is hurting from labor problems caused by its decision to spin off several key aspects of its operations.
“There are no signs of slowing down. The industry is on a continued growth path by double digit still. It will be in the range of 12 to 15 percent, maybe even more,” according to Arcilla.
The growth of international passenger traffic flow in the Philippines was 12.44 percent to 14.01 million in 2010, compared with just 12.46 million in 2009.
Arcilla sees the presence of foreign airlines like Air Asia boosting air travel, citing the case of Air Asia which is putting up Air Asia Philippines in Clark as its hub, and which has slated maiden flights in September this year. “This is an example of investor confidence in our country,” added Arcilla.
Strong competition among local airlines is another factor that is seen to boost air travel.
“When fares go down then naturally many people are entice to travel. We witnessed this last year and there will be more promo offerings this year given the stiff competition among airlines,” said Arcilla.
Air talks with Sri Lanka and Vietnam are scheduled on July 17 and 18, and the additional entitlements will add more capacity, luring more people to travel by air, Arcilla said.
The Philippine air panel negotiates for traffic rights with other countries. The panel members are CAB, the Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, and airline companies’ officials.
