DOMESTIC passenger traffic in the first nine months of the year grew 23 percent to 7.69 million from 6.23 million aided by the airlines’ aggressive pricing strategies.

Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) data showed that Cebu Pacific continued to lead the industry as it overtook Philippine Airlines (PAL) with 3,331,902 passengers from January to September this year, compared with the flag carrier’s 2,971,041.

In the first half of the year, Cebu Pacific carried 2,256,289 passengers as against PAL’s 1,981,267. This meant that during the third quarter Cebu Pacific added slightly over one million passengers while PAL added 989,774.

Comparing it with last year’s figures, PAL transported 2,874,756 passengers as against Cebu Pacific’s 2,126,333 from the period January to September 2006. Load factor for PAL hit 76 percent compared with Cebu Pacific’s 75 percent in the first nine months of last year.

The Gokongwei-owned budget carrier attained an 83-percent load factor out of a possible 4,037,915 seats during the first nine months of the year, compared with PAL’s 79 percent.

Cebu Pacific’s growth may be attributed to its continuing expansion, aggressive pricing strategy, and active search for and opening of new domestic routes.

Air Philippines, meanwhile, carried 835,071 passengers for the first nine months of the year from 724,086 in the same period last year. Load factor remained unchanged at 72 percent. 

Air Philippines is 99-percent owned by the Lucio Tan Group. PAL, however, is 95-percent owned by Tan.

Asian Spirit registered 366,443 passengers from 321,241 in the same period a year ago. Load factor rose to 57 percent this year from 51 percent last year.

Seair posted 185,573 passengers, down from 189,688 in the same period last year. As a result, load factor dropped to 62 percent from 70 percent last year.

During the period, the number of domestic passengers carried by all the carriers reached 7,681,030 from 6,236,104 last year. Cargo also rose by 7 percent while the number of seats allocated for the period also grew by 16 percent.

DOMESTIC passenger traffic in the first nine months of the year grew 23 percent to 7.69 million from 6.23 million aided by the airlines’ aggressive pricing strategies.

A JOINT-venture agreement was signed Tuesday between Global Business Power Corp., a member of the Metrobank Group of Companies, and Formosa Heavy Industries (FHI) Corp. for the construction of power-generation plants using the latest clean-coal technology in Toledo City, Cebu.

THE Cebu tourism market is expected to benefit from the partnership between Accor Asia-Pacific—a unit of the leading European hotel management firm—and SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) in the establishment of Sofitel Cebu.

The Davao region is now more determined to push for its economic targets for 2010 as the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Davao urges its legislators to take part in the efforts to curb poverty.

TURKISH Ambassador to the Philippines Adnan Basaga said the authorities from the two countries are in the “final stages” of establishing a direct flight from Istanbul to Manila.

WITH the demand in the autogas industry growing by leaps and bounds, the country’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Industry Association (LPGIA) is set to host a conference that aims to come up with policies that will help govern the local industry.

WHEN Mrs. Esmer Lim bought an electric fan from an authorized appliance store dealer, she expected the product to be in excellent condition. However, after only a week of usage, the electric fan produced a recurrent screeching sound from its engine side.