It seems like there is no stopping Cebu Pacific from growing and dominating. Since 2022, the airline has pushed the boundaries not only to rebuild its pre-pandemic capacity but also to go beyond it. In a recent report from OAG analysis for the month of February 2025, Cebu Pacific is seen as the fastest-growing airline in Southeast Asia based on a year-on-year comparison of seat numbers. They have even surpassed airlines like Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines in seat capacity growth.
This is not surprising given the speedy delivery of aircraft, both brand new and leased, in 2024. Cebu Pacific took in a total of 17 aircraft that year, which played a major role in the rapid growth in capacity and network.
Based on the chart below prepared by OAG, Cebu Pacific’s seat capacity grew by 32.2%, from 1,553,688 seats in February 2024 to 2,053,696 seats in 2025 based on a year-on-year comparison. This is even higher than AirAsia, which has the highest number of seats in February 2025. The growth rate is also higher than other low-cost airlines like Vietjet and Lion Air.
| Rank | Airline | Seats This Month 2024 | Seats This Month 2025 | YoY Variance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AirAsia | 2,316,704 | 2,541,028 | 9.7% |
| 2 | Lion Air | 2,675,786 | 2,290,890 | -14.4% |
| 3 | Vietnam Airlines | 2,532,883 | 2,240,781 | -11.5% |
| 4 | Vietjet | 1,936,950 | 2,213,528 | 14.3% |
| 5 | Cebu Pacific Air | 1,553,688 | 2,053,696 | 32.2% |
| 6 | Thai AirAsia | 1,695,166 | 1,811,270 | 6.8% |
| 7 | Singapore Airlines | 1,538,519 | 1,586,656 | 3.1% |
| 8 | Philippine Airlines | 1,354,133 | 1,323,994 | -2.2% |
| 9 | Malaysia Airlines | 1,314,970 | 1,308,014 | -0.5% |
| 10 | PT. Super Air Jet | 1,036,800 | 1,269,900 | 22.5% |
Expansion from Five Hubs
Cebu Pacific launched 24 domestic and international routes from its five hubs: Manila (NAIA), Clark, Cebu, Davao, and Iloilo. This resulted in a systemwide flight count increase of 24%, from 12,000 to roughly 16,000. Capacity from all five hubs increased by at least 60%, with Clark seeing the highest increase at 102%.
Cebu Pacific was able to achieve these numbers through effective fleet planning. The airline currently operates 95 planes, making it the largest airline in the Philippines in terms of fleet size. This large fleet has allowed it to expand its network. Aside from long-term fleet planning and accurate demand forecasting, Cebu Pacific’s aircraft are well-suited for congested airports around the region. Its A330neos have 459 seats, while its A321neos are configured with 236 seats, allowing the airline to carry more passengers in slot-constrained airports.
Sustaining Growth
Cebu Pacific plans to take delivery of seven aircraft in 2025, which would mean receiving a new plane every two months if evenly distributed. There are also rumors that it will open more destinations, though this has yet to be confirmed.
The airline is keeping up with demand and increasing capacity to serve more routes and destinations. Cebu Pacific’s current fleet is well-suited for its operations, and long-range jets like the A350 may not be necessary, as it focuses on destinations within a four-hour radius from the Philippines.
Based on CAB data from January to September 2024, Cebu Pacific has captured 52% of the domestic market share.
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