- Domestic air cargo soars 34% in Q1 with easing of restrictions
- Philippine Airlines dislodged Cebu Pacific at the top spot for carrying the highest volume in Q1
- Air cargo handled by Philippine carriers improved 34% in the first quarter of 2022 to 53.607 million kilograms from 39.904 million kg year-on-year
- Only three of nine carriers reported a decrease in cargoes handled during the first three months of the year
Domestic air cargo handled by Philippine carriers soared 34% in the first quarter of 2022 to 53.607 million kilograms from 39.904 million kg year-on-year, preliminary data from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) showed.
Only three carriers out of nine reported a decrease in cargoes handled during the first three months of the year. Local airlines have been increasing their flights this year with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Some airlines have projected a return to their pre-pandemic levels this year.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) carried the most air cargo volume in the first quarter, dislodging Cebu Pacific.
PAL shipped 36.7% (19.667 million kg) of the total, a whopping 113% increase from 9.23 million kg year-on-year.
PAL has been boosting its cargo operations after the business became a lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic. PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng earlier said the airline will continue to develop its cargo business and offer more hybrid flights and last-mile cargo deliveries this year.
Cebu Pacific was a close second to PAL, carrying 34.8% of the total or 18.654 million kg, 33% higher than the 14.036 million kg recorded last year.
PAL Express remains in third place with 13.6% or 7.265 million kg, a 14.4% decline from 8.489 million kg last year.
Climbing to fourth was AirAsia Philippines, which carried 10% or 5.316 million kg, a 162% jump from the 2.029 million kg it handled last year.
Cebgo, which declined to fifth place, posted 1.366 million kg or 2.5% of the total this first quarter, a 57% drop from the 3.214 million kg it posted in the same period last year.
The other domestic airlines in the top spots are:
- Leisure airline Seair International, up one rank to sixth with 1.5% or 811,443 kg, a 7.4% decline from 876,424 kg last year.
- Royal Air Charter Service, Inc., which started reporting cargoes in 2021, handled 0.36% or 194,332 kg, climbing two places to seventh. The latest volume is also 140.7% higher than the 80,722 kg it carried in the first quarter of 2021.
- Charter airline Island Aviation Corp. remains in eighth place with 0.3% or 169,433 kg, 9% up from 155,318 kg last year.
- Boutique airline AirSwift handled 0.3% or 163,494 kg, jumping 274% from 43,691 kg last year. – Roumina Pablo
