Manila: The robust passenger growth, as well as the improved operational efficiency, mainly contributed to Cebu Pacific's (CEB) PHP8.5 billion net income for the second quarter, the airline announced on Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Gokongwei-led airline flew 7 million passengers during the quarter, marking a 16 percent increase from the previous year, as both domestic and international markets demonstrated double-digit growth.

Domestic traffic rose by 14 percent to over 5.1 million passengers, while international traffic experienced a 23 percent jump to 1.8 million, driven by the April Easter holiday and a strong peak travel season. This surge in demand pushed the seat load factor to 85.9 percent, significantly boosting revenues across the business, according to CEB.

For the first half of 2025, CEB reported generating PHP63.3 billion in total revenue, reflecting a 23 percent year-on-year increase. Passenger numbers climbed 21 percent to 14 million, which in turn lifted passenger revenue by 24 percent to PHP44.2 billion.

Additionally, a 17 percent increase in flights was reported, with the airline operating over 3,300 weekly flights across 124 routes using a fleet of 99 aircraft by mid-year. CEB's operating income during the first half was PHP7.9 billion, representing a 44 percent increase compared to the same period last year, while net income reached PHP9 billion, a significant 153 percent increase from PHP3.5 billion in the same period last year.

CEB chief executive officer Michael Szucs stated, "These results for the second quarter and first half of 2025 reflect the returns from our strategic investments in fleet and network expansion along with the sustained demand for air travel."