Cebu Pacific Reports Stable Passenger Numbers in August 2025 Amid Strategic Capacity Management

In August 2025, Cebu Pacific carried 2.1 million passengers, marking a marginal decline of 0.4% compared to the same month last year. Despite this slight drop, the airline achieved an increased seat load factor (SLF) of 83.7%, up from 81.3%, attributed to disciplined capacity management, as overall seat capacity reduced by 3.2% year-over-year.

Domestic travel experienced a decrease of 4.4% in passenger numbers compared to August 2024, coinciding with a 10.7% reduction in available seats. This adjustment improved the domestic SLF by 5.7 percentage points to 87.6%, indicating more efficient fleet utilization. Conversely, international passenger traffic rose by 13.3%, supported by a 21.4% expansion in seat capacity. This growth temporarily lowered the international SLF to 74.2%, down 5.3 points from the previous year.

From January through August 2025, Cebu Pacific transported 18.1 million passengers, up 15.2% from the same period in 2024. This includes 13.5 million domestic passengers, reflecting a 14.0% increase, and 4.6 million international travelers, a rise of 18.8%. Seat capacity for the year-to-date grew by 15.1% to 21.3 million seats, with an average SLF of 85.2% maintained.

Cebu Pacific CEO Mike Szucs remarked on the August results, explaining, "The softer August numbers reflect the traditional lean travel period in the Philippines, particularly for domestic routes. International demand remains robust, and we expect traffic to pick up strongly in the fourth quarter as peak season begins and aircraft availability improves. Our capacity adjustments in August — including moderated domestic growth, wet-lease arrangements, and scheduled maintenance — are strategic moves to ensure we are well-positioned to capture holiday travel demand."

Key operational metrics show domestic passenger demand remains steady despite capacity cuts, while international markets exhibit strong growth backed by increased offerings. The airline's emphasis on optimizing seat load factor underscores its efforts to maximize efficiency and readiness for upcoming travel peaks.