Cebu Pacific recently celebrated the milestone of transporting its 250 millionth passenger. The guest was flying from Singapore to Manila, and was gifted with a cash prize and free tickets for future travel to mark the occasion. The achievement is an important stepping stone in the Filipino low-cost carrier’s ongoing growth, which has resumed in recent years after being halted by coronavirus.
250 million not out
Cebu Pacific flight 5J814 from Singapore Changi Airport
(SIN) to Ninoy Aquino International (MNL) in Manila is, on most days, one of the many intra-Asia flights that form the core of the airline’s network. However, last week, on December 11th, there was considerable fanfare surrounding the service, which received much more attention than would otherwise be the case, and with good reason.
Photo: Airbus
Specifically, this flight was carrying the airline’s 250 millionth passenger, a milestone achievement worthy of celebration that sees Cebu Pacific
end the year on a high. According to Great Travel Philippines, the passenger in question was an overseas worker named Russel Capaniarihan who was returning to Manila to spend the holidays with family. Xander Lao, the airline’s President and CCO, stated that:
“This 250 million passenger milestone is a testament to the trust and loyalty of every Juan [a play on words tied to the airline’s branding campaign] who has chosen to fly with us. It represents countless stories, reunions, and memorable moments made possible over the years. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to making every Juan’s journey affordable, accessible, and unforgettable – not only across the Philippines but beyond.”
A celebratory flight
The special flight was marked with celebrations at both ends of its journey, and the airline got the party started at Singapore Changi Airport before the service took to the skies. Indeed, its passengers were greeted by a photo wall detailing the milestone, which informed them that the 250 millionth passenger was on the flight without saying who exactly it was, building an air of mystery and excitement.
Photo: David Velupillai | Airbus
Onboard the flight, the crew engaged the passengers in a series of related games, with prizes including free tickets on the airline. However, there could only be one 250 millionth passenger, and Russel Capaniarihan was welcomed by a delegation of local representatives upon arrival in Manila. According to Insider PH, Cebu Pacific’s Chief Marketing & Customer Experience Officer, Candice Iyog, stated that:
“Today, we flew our 250 millionth passenger, Russel Capaniarihan, on our Singapore – Manila flight. She’s spending Christmas with her family for the first time in 11 years and we’re so happy to be part of her homecoming story. She’s the 250 millionth reason our teams show up every day.”
Photo: Airbus
While passengers onboard the special flight had the chance to win free tickets with Cebu Pacific, Russel Capaniarihan was guaranteed a more extensive offering as a result of being the airline’s 250 millionth passenger. Indeed, in addition to receiving 25 free round trips with the Filipino low-cost carrier, Capaniarihan also took home a cash prize worth some 250,000 Philippine Pesos (equivalent to $4,238.76).
A big year for Cebu Pacific
Hitting the milestone of its 250 millionth passenger means that 2024, which has already been a momentous year for Cebu Pacific, has ended in a celebratory fashion for the low-cost carrier. Indeed, recent months have seen it hit the headlines for various good reasons, such as its order for 70 Airbus A321neo jets, and the 10th anniversary of its flights to Sydney. It has also added more flights to Melbourne.
There is even a chance that 2024 could end up being Cebu Pacific’s busiest year ever in terms of passenger traffic. 2019 currently holds the record, with 22.47 million passengers carried. However, data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, shows that, this year, the airline has scheduled a similar number of seats to 2019 (26,006,101), meaning that a load factor of 86.5% or above would see it top this.
