The load factor is defined as the percentage of available seats filled on a flight. It indicates an airline’s operational efficiency and profitability, as well as whether an airline is over or under capacity. For Cebu Pacific (CEB), the company has demonstrated continuous growth in its network and fleet, along with an increase in load factor, especially for 2025. Recently, CEB released data for January 2025, indicating that its load factor rose to 86.5%, up from 85.1% in January 2024.
International passenger traffic also saw significant growth, increasing by 29.9% year-over-year. The airline added 17% more seats, resulting in an 8.4 percentage point increase in the seat load factor (SLF), which reached 85.1%. CEB expanded its international network to 40 routes, compared to 36 in the previous year. Weekly flights increased by 16%, with 648 flights operating each week, up from 561 during the same period last year.
Cebu Pacific Domestic Load Factor
Cebu Pacific particularly excelled in domestic travel, showcasing strong performance with passenger traffic increasing by 34.6% compared to January 2024. The airline added 37% more seats on domestic routes, achieving a seat load factor of 87%. The surge in demand during the New Year holiday and the introduction of additional routes throughout 2024 contributed to this growth. The airline expanded its domestic network to 84 routes, up from 68 in the prior year. Weekly flights rose by 29%, reaching 2,912 compared to 2,260 in the same period last year.
According to data from the Philippines’ Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for January to September 2024, CEB captured 52% of the domestic market share across all its hubs, including Manila, Cebu, Clark, Davao, and Iloilo. With a fleet of 95 aircraft, CEB continues to open more routes, providing better interconnectivity for both domestic travelers and inbound international travelers, who may prefer to avoid the congested NAIA by flying directly to a nearby hub.
This year, CEB is continuing to take delivery of new aircraft while also opening more routes. The addition of new aircraft may increase capacity, potentially affecting the load factor. However, it remains a challenge for the airline to maintain a high seat load factor to ensure operational efficiency. Given Cebu Pacific’s track record, it is likely that the airline will implement strategies to prevent significant drops in their load factor with the introduction of new aircraft. Will the load factor improve further? Absolutely.
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