Tag: Philippines

  • Cebu Pacific eyes 22 million passengers in 2018

    Cebu Pacific eyes 22 million passengers in 2018

    Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific set a high target for passengers this year despite the 6-month closure of Boracay, one of the country’s top tourist draws.

    “Cebu Pacific aims to fly 22 million passengers in 2018, aligned with the increase in domestic and international inbound tourists. The target is 12% over the actual number of passengers flown in 2017,” the airline said in a statement on Thursday, April 26.

    “The target takes into account the Boracay closure which we hope will be offset by redeployment of capacity to other domestic routes, additional frequency for Dubai for their summer travel season, our Batanes route, and the start of our Melbourne route,” Cebu Pacific corporate communications director Charo Logarta-Lagamon told Rappler in a text message on the same day.

    Earlier this month, Cebu Pacific announced it would cancel majority of its flights to and from Boracay due to the closure of the island, which began also on Thursday. The airline said it would maintain only 6 flights to and from Boracay for residents.

    For full-year 2017, Cebu Pacific flew 19.7 million passengers, up 3% year-on-year.

    The airline noted that “growth in domestic travel was relatively flat,” but this was offset by the “number of international passengers expanding by almost 8% in 2017, with strong performance in key markets like Sydney, Dubai, Hong Kong, Narita, Taipei, and Incheon.”

    Cebu Pacific reported a net income of P7.9 billion in 2017, with passenger revenues up 7% and ancillary revenues – including baggage allowance, seat selection, and pre-ordered meals – up 15% year-on-year.

    This came as fuel costs were 20% higher in 2017, while the average fare was up 4%, according to the airline.

    Cebu Pacific also said it was expecting delivery of another 3 new Airbus A321ceos (current engine option) in the coming days to add to its current fleet of 62 aircraft.

    The carrier has invested $4.9 billion for a total of 7 Airbus A321ceos and 32 Airbus A321neos (new engine option), with deliveries starting this year until 2022

  • No baggage theft by staff of Cebu Pacific

    No baggage theft by staff of Cebu Pacific

    Budget airline Cebu Pacific has cleared its staff of any wrongdoing in the alleged pilferage incident on its 5J 113 flight.

    Airline authorities conducted its own investigation on the matter and ruled that its staff could not be held liable for negligence or any criminal activities over the reported lost valuables of a female passenger.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, Cebu Pacific said the package of the woman who flew from Hong Kong to Manila last Sunday was not tampered with while it was with the said airline.

    “After a thorough investigation, which included inquiries with the ground staff, viewing body cam and fixed CCTV footage, we found that there were no discrepancies nor indications of tampering in the baggage of the concerned passenger under the care and custody of Cebu Pacific,” the company said.

    All of the reports and footage would be submitted to the Manila International Airport Authority, Cebu Pacific said.

    Last Sunday, a video of a woman complaining after seeing her package opened and valuable items lost at the baggage carousel went viral on Facebook.

    According to a previous statement from Cebu Pacific, the female passenger flew with a different airline from London en route to Hong Kong, before boarding their plane to Manila.

    “CCTV security footage showed that the baggage container arrived (in) Manila intact, with the passenger’s baggage inside,” the company said.  “CCTV footage further showed ground personnel loading the baggage on the carousel with the lock still in place.”

  • Stars launched a third Milky & Sunny Restaurant

    Stars launched a third Milky & Sunny Restaurant

    Celebrity siblings Maxene and Elmo Magalona have opened a Milky & Sunny restaurant near their home network ABS-CBN in Quezon City.

    “This is actually our third branch,” says Elmo. “The first one was in Kapitolyo and the other in Pangalawa near Greenbelt.”

    Maxene says it was their mother’s idea that they invest in something worthwhile they love. “We love going out to eat as a family.”

    A breakfast and brunch restaurant, Milky & Sunny is on the ground floor of The Ignacia Place in Mother Ignacia. It also serves lunches, dinners and coffee.

  • Shopee Philippines assigns a new brand ambassador

    Shopee Philippines assigns a new brand ambassador

    E-commerce platform Shopee Philippines has appointed Filipina-Australian superstar Anne Curtis as its first brand ambassador, timed to coincide with its 5.5 Shopee Super Sale.

    Running until May 5, the sale offers discounts of up to 90 per cent on thousands of products, as well as daily flash sales.

    Shopee COO Terence Pang says Curtis will star in the platform’s first-ever television commercial.

    The 5.5 Shopee Super Sale is the lead-up to the mega 24-hour shopping fiesta on May 5, which will have special deals, daily in-app vouchers and surprises, as well as discounts of up to 90 per cent. There will also be giveaways of Shopee merchandise autographed by Anne Curtis.

    Exclusive deals will be offered from new Shopee Mall brands including Aveeno, Coca-Cola, Coleman, Colgate-Palmolive, Equal, Faber-Castell, Nescafe, Samsung and Unilever.

    Curtis has also launched her own cosmetics line on Shopee via BLK Cosmetics, and has been giving away limited-edition autographed mirrors to qualifying customers.

  • Online retail sales growth stagnates in Philippines

    Online retail sales growth stagnates in Philippines

    The Philippines is lagging behind its neighbours in online retail sales growth, says a new report.

    Despite having the second-largest population of Southeast Asia, the Philippines has turned in the lowest B2C e-commerce sales growth figures, according to Research & Markets’ Philippines B2C E-Commerce Market 2018 report.

    Among hurdles to overcome to foster growth in the online retail sector are comparatively low internet use, few credit card holders and restricted consumer confidence in online shopping.

    Online retail sales in the Philippines are expected to rise at a double-digit rate for the next few years even in the face of challenges, says the report. An increasing share of the large population is connecting to the internet, many though mobile devices.

    M-commerce is contributing to the rise in online retail, with mobile making up about three-quarters of connections to e-commerce websites. The Philippine government has done its part to help expand online retail sales by aiming to create a favourable administrative environment.

    Leading online merchants in the Philippines include Lazada and Shopee, both with headquarters in Singapore. Local companies Ayala Group and JG Summit are expanding their online presence.

  • Security Bank focuses on digitalization

    Security Bank focuses on digitalization

    During the annual stockholders’ meeting of Security Bank Corporation (PSE: SECB) on Tuesday, 24 April 2018, the following were elected to the Security Bank Board: incumbent directors Diana P. Aguilar, Philip T. Ang (independent), Anastasia Y. Dy, Frederick Y. Dy, Takayoshi Futae, Joseph R. Higdon (independent), James JK Hung (independent), Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. (independent), Jikyeong Kang (independent), Napoleon L. Nazareno (independent), Takahiro Onishi, Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr., Rafael F. Simpao, Jr. and Alberto S. Villarosa, and new director Cirilo P. Noel. During the organizational Board meeting, key appointments were for Frederick Y. Dy as Chairman Emeritus, Alberto S. Villarosa as Chairman, Anastasia Y. Dy as Vice Chairman, and Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr. as President and Chief Executive Officer.

    In his report on 2017 operations, President and CEO Mr. Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr. highlighted Security Bank’s 20% earnings growth that resulted in a record-high net income of Php 10.26 billion, versus industry’s 7% earnings growth. In the last five years, Security Bank’s net income grew by a compounded annual growth rate of 20% versus industry’s 3%. The Bank’s revenue growth in 2017 was 20% versus industry’s 11%. Net interest income growth was 22% versus industry’s 17%, while non-interest income growth was 15% versus industry’s 5% decrease. The Bank’s return on shareholders’ equity was 10.2% versus industry’s 9.96%. The Bank’s Core Equity Tier 1 and Total Capital Adequacy ratios of 15.5% and 17.7%, respectively, are among the highest in the industry and well above the minimum regulatory requirements. Total assets grew 9% to Php 757 billion. In the past five years, Security Bank’s total assets grew by a compounded annual growth rate of 21%, versus industry’s 11%.

    Also highlighted was Security Bank’s healthy loan portfolio growth of 28% versus industry’s 19%. The Bank’s loan growth was driven by corporate loans which increased 25%, middle market loans which grew 24%, and consumer loans which expanded 49%. In the past five years, Security Bank’s loan portfolio grew by a compounded annual growth rate of 22% versus industry’s 18%. The Bank’s three customer segments grew by compounded annual growth rates of 18% for corporate loans, 20% for middle market loans, and 63% for retail loans. Retail loans as a percent of total loans increased to 16% at year-end 2017 from 13% in 2016. Security Bank now has a full slate of consumer loan products consisting of home, auto, credit card, personal and small business loans. Asset quality remained healthy with net non-performing loan ratio at 0.02%, a decrease from 0.17% in 2016, and lower than industry’s 0.47%. NPL cover increased to 239%, versus industry’s 150%. Deposit growth was 19%, faster than industry’s 12%. In the last five years, Security Bank’s deposits grew by a compounded annual growth rate of 19% versus industry’s 12%. The Bank added 12 new branches in 2017, bringing its network to 302 branches. Its ATM network has grown from 622 to 713.

    Security Bank maintained its cost-to-income ratio at an efficient 49.8% compared to industry’s 63.3%, even as the Bank continued to invest heavily in information technology, digitalization, people and branches. Mr. Salcedo stated that these investments are designed to transform the Bank’s infrastructure and way of doing business, and ensure that the Bank stays relevant to shifting customer needs in a fast-changing banking and technology landscape. Security Bank continues to be focused on its medium-term strategic goals which are to regain industry-leading ROE, continue growth momentum to build its retail banking business as the third business pillar, and transform the Bank’s infrastructure to support its growth aspirations and deliver its BetterBanking promise. Key to this transformation is the digitalization of its customer acquisition and servicing channels and operational processes. In 2017, Security Bank increased cash dividends to Php 3.00 per share from Php 2.00 in prior years.

    Highlighted in the President’s report were the major awards that Security Bank received, most recently as The Best Retail Bank in the Philippines for 2018 by The Asian Banker and Best Bank in the Philippines by Global Finance. Mr. Salcedo stated that the execution and results of Security Bank’s retail banking strategy led to the major breakthrough award as The Best Retail Bank in the Philippines for 2018. In 2017, Security Bank was named Best Bank in the Philippines by Alpha Southeast Asia; Best Bank for SMEs in the Philippines by Asiamoney; and Best Digital Bank in the Philippines by Capital Finance International of London. The Bank also received awards for management excellence, industrial peace and harmony, corporate banking and treasury, brand marketing, product innovation, investor relations, and corporate social responsibility.

  • AirAsia Philippines to fly Clark-Taipei from July

    AirAsia Philippines is launching its Clark-Taiwan flights on July 12, 2018, the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) this week announced.

    AirAsia will have thrice weekly flights from Clark International Airport (International Code: CRK) to the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, which serves the capital Taipei and northern Taiwan.

    “This new development is an opportunity to explore the beauty of both the Philippines and Taiwan and will benefit travelers, tourists, OFWs and their families,” remarked CIAC president and chief executive officer Alexander Cauguiran.

    “The Taipei flights are also advantageous to numerous Taiwanese locators and other business travelers based in Clark and Subic,” he added.

    AirAsia also services domestic routes such as Kalibo, Caticlan, Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Tacloban and Davao via Clark airport.

    At present, CRK is serving 158 international and 323 domestic flights making it one of the busiest airports in the country today.

    The airport also serves more than 7,000 passengers daily since President Rodrigo Duterte designated it to become an alternative to Manila’s overcrowded airport.

    “There’s definitely a surge at Clark airport in terms of the number of flights, destinations and passenger volume, along with the improvements of its facilities,” he confirmed.

    The CIAC registered 8,736 passengers last April 23, the highest recorded number of travelers in a day that passed through Clark in the history of CIAC since 1995.

    AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador said, “We are here to provide only the best service possible and massive connectivity across Asean, Asia and, beyond.”

    AirAsia has a special promo fare of P990 One Way All-In fare for the Clark-Taipei flights.  Air Asia will start On-Line Booking Period by May 6, 2018 and Travel Period on July 12, 2018 to October 27, 2018.

  • Cebu Pacific targets 12% passenger growth with A321 deliveries

    Cebu Pacific targets 12% passenger growth with A321 deliveries

    Cebu Pacific is targeting for passenger numbers to hit 22 million in 2018, a 12% increase from the year before.

    Last year, the Philippine low-cost carrier handled 19.7 million passengers, a 3% year-on-year increase, largely driven by an 8% growth in the number of international passengers. Performance was strong in its key markets of Sydney, Dubai, Hong Kong, Tokyo Narita, Taipei, and Seoul.

    “To reach our goal of flying 22 million passengers this year, we remain committed to offering a compelling route network where we can meet rising demand and sustain our year-round low fare proposition,” says JR Mantaring, the airline’s vice-president for corporate affairs.

    He adds that despite the higher fuel price, the weakening of the Philippine peso against the US dollar, security concerns and travel advisories, the carrier has “remained relatively resilient”.

    This year, the carrier is scheduled to add seven A321s from March through September, before its first Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered A321neo is delivered in November. These large narrowbodies will add capacity and also free up some A330s that are used on short-haul services to go further afield.

    Two of these A321s have already been delivered, while another three are scheduled to arrive “in the coming days”.

    Last year, operating profit slipped 17.3% to Ps10.1 billion ($194 million), as the growth in expenses outpaced that of revenue. Net profit fell 18.9% to Ps7.91 billion.

  • Aguilas ink pact with Cebu Pacific

    Aguilas ink pact with Cebu Pacific

    THE Davao FC Aguilas travel a lot. With the 2018 season of the Philippine Football League already under way, the Aguilas having a national carrier as one of their sponsors is a blessing indeed.

    General Manager Michael Shaw said the team is very grateful after Cebu Pacific came forward to help as their main sponsor in their coming home-and-away games.

    “In terms of the PFL format, the matches are home and away and definitely signing a sponsorship agreement with Cebu Pacific helps,” said Shaw after a signing an agreement with Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing and Distribution at the Cebu Pacific’s head office (8007 Domestic Rd in Pasay City).

    The Aguilas currently have a 2-2-2 win-draw-loss record and they are close to making it to the AFC Cup Group Stage.

    They have games set in Bacolod, Tagum City, Cebu City, Marikina City, Iloilo City and Binan City.

    “It’s a privilege to partner with a team that represents Davao. We’ve always been associated with Cebu. And it’s important that we spread our wings and sponsor teams that are from other parts of the country,” said Iyog.

    The team’s players include Phil and James Younghusband, goalie Nick O’Donnell, Ronilo Bayan Jr., Matthew Hartmann, Simone Rota, Brad McDonaldo and Jason de Jong.

    They also have James Younghusband, Angel Guirado.Harry Sawyer, Phil Youghusband, Takashi Odawara, Jorrel Aristorenas, Josh Grommen, Omar Khan and James Hall, among others.

    Ceres of Cebu currently leads the standings with three straight wins.

  • Philippines AirAsia adds capital connection

    Philippines AirAsia adds capital connection

    Philippines AirAsia launched a new link between Manila (MNL) and Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) on 22 April. The 2,200-kilometre connection will link the capital cities of the Philippines and Thailand with daily flights operated by A320s. There is no direct competition, but schedules show that multiple carriers (including Philippine Airlines and Thai Airways) will operate a combined 46 weekly flights from Manila to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi during the week commencing 24 April. “AirAsia is a product of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and we are so proud to be part of this region we call home,” said Dexter Comendador, CEO Philippines AirAsia.

    “We are the only airline that carries “I love Asean” painted on our aircraft including the ASEAN logo. AirAsia loves Asean is a commitment to help bridge communities and economies as we move toward even greater integration and mutual understanding.” Kajorndet Apichartrakul, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand, said: “We want to bring people across the Asean region closer together and further expand our Asean footprint to serve more and more communities. We have 100% load for this inaugural flight and we hope to do more inter-Asean routes to serve every Filipino traveller’s needs and enable them to connect, do business and build socio-economic ties with neighbouring economies.”

  • Cebu Pacific passes IATA safety audit

    Cebu Pacific passes IATA safety audit

    For the first time, Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific passed the globally recognized safety audit of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

    “Cebu Pacific has achieved full compliance with IATA’s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), joining a roster of 429 airlines worldwide that have strictly complied with the most stringent of international standards governing aviation safety,” the airline said in a statement on Thursday, April 12.

    Though Cebu Pacific is not a member of IATA, which represents some 280 airlines comprising 83% of global air traffic, it is now listed in the IOSA Registry, which lists those who have met the benchmark for airline safety management.

    The IOSA, which is conducted for each airline every two years, is described by IATA as “an internationally recognized and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline.”

    “We are committed to upholding the highest possible standards for the benefit of our passengers. Hence, we chose to undergo the rigorous and stringent audit requirements for IOSA,” said Cebu Pacific president Lance Gokongwei.

    “Since it is considered the internationally recognized and accepted benchmark for airline safety, we wanted to be sure that our protocols and regulations meet IOSA standards,” he added.

    Gokongwei also said Cebu Pacific “invested in safety technology over the past several months… to better manage safety risks.”

    These include the on-board Runway Overrun Prevention System (ROPS) cockpit technology for its Airbus fleet, which monitors runway conditions before landing and calculates where the aircraft can safely stop, as well as Area Navigation (RNAV) data for more accurate navigation and approaches to various airports.

    It also invested in a Fatigue Risk Management System for pilots to minimize safety risks and ensure they are at adequate levels of alertness.

    Philippine Airlines and its subsidiary PAL Express are also included in the IOSA Registry, with the latter passing its latest audit back in March.

  • Philippines franchise business matching event planned next month

    Philippines franchise business matching event planned next month

    The latest Philippines franchise business matching event is scheduled for Manila in May.

    Organised by VF Franchise Consulting on May 14 at the Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event will showcase leading international franchise brands from the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan.

    Executives from Little Caesars, Presotea, First Code Academy, The Edge Learning Centre Sureclean, Mennya Kokoro, and Pronto, will attend to meet with potential franchisees and investors.

    “These franchise brands represent a broad spectrum of segments, including food and beverage, education, and services,” said VF Franchise Consulting CEO Sean T Ngo.

    “The Philippines has nearly 95 million people and one of the fastest growing GDP per capita in Asia. US News recently ranked the Philippines as the number one country for investment based on a survey of more than 6000 business decision makers. The franchising sector in Philippines is also the largest in ASEAN, with more than 2000 franchise systems, and is expected to grow by 10-15 per cent each year for the next five years,” said Ngo.

    Franchise sales in the Philippines contribute about 25 per cent of all retail sales and added more than 1.5 million jobs to the Philippines economy.

    “We have had fantastic meetings last year in Manila, and look forward to even better meetings this year given the broader spectrum of franchises in food and beverage, education and services.”

    F&B franchises

    Bill Schreiber, VP of international development with Little Caesars says pizza is widely accepted in the Philippines.

    “When you look at the number of restaurants that exist in the market, it shows how much the people of the Philippines love pizza. After doing research on the market, Little Caesar’s strongly believes that our pizza has a place in the market and we know from other countries that we do business in, that our hot and ready product offers all of our customers great convenience, quality and value.

    “When customers realise that they can get a high quality pizza in their hands in one minute or less, they realise how convenient that is. We are proud to be able to bring our great tasting pizza to the Philippines.”

    According to Jackson Kah, Presotea’s international franchise manager, Filipinos have the same sweet-tooth habits like other Asian country and bubble milk tea is definitely a preference.

    “With Presotea entering the Filipino market, we will be able to fulfill the craving for bubble milk tea with healthier, brew-to-order, teas for the more sophisticated tea drinkers.”

    This year’s business matching will also include franchises from Japan: Mennya Kokoro and Pronto. Mennya Kokoro is known for its no-soup, dry-ramen noodle dishes that are hugely popular in Japan and has recently been franchised in Indonesia and Thailand. Pronto, also hailing from Japan, is an Italian-themed cafe and bar concept with a diverse menu of fusion Italian and Japanese dishes. There are currently more than 300 Pronto units in Japan and it has recently been franchised to Shanghai, China.

    Education opportunities

    The Philippine franchise business matching event will also include brands outside food.  Asian consumers are continuing to invest in education for children between the ages of four and 18.

    Michelle Sun, CEO and founder of First Code Academy, says that since her company launched in 2013, it has grown to be the leading K-12 coding education brand in Asia with a presence in six different cities in the region.

    “We continue to see great potential for coding education regionally. The Philippines has a rapidly growing technology sector, driven by government initiatives, and has one of the highest penetration rates of social media regionally. There is a lot of opportunity to fill the gap in Stem education for its future generation.”

    Duc Luu, CEO of The Edge, adds: “The Edge sees the rising trend in education industry in the Philippines, especially in the market of test preparation. Over the last 10 years, we have proven to students and parents that we provide the best experience in Asia to help students enroll in the best universities in the US and the UK.”

    Another company to participate is Sureclean. Its CEO and founder Alvin Tan says the World Bank projects the Philippines to remain the fastest-growing economy in Asean – which means the need for good quality hygiene in various premises such as schools, hospitals, offices and residences will also grow.

    “With a tried-and-proven business system with evergreen demand, training and marketing support, Sureclean’s franchise program is an ideal opportunity to tap into this fast growing economy.”

  • Cebu Pacific to cancel flights during 6-month Boracay closure

    Cebu Pacific to cancel flights during 6-month Boracay closure

    Cebu Pacific will cancel its flights to and from Caticlan and Kalibo over the 6-month period that Boracay Island, the world-famous tourist destination, will be closed.

    The airline made the announcement close to midnight of Thursday, April 5, a few hours after President Rodrigo Duterte announced in a Cabinet meeting that he had accepted the recommendation of 3 agencies to shut down the island amid environmental concerns.

    In a statement on April 5, Cebu Pacific listed 19 flights – mostly catering to tourists – that would be stopped from April 26 to October 27.

    However, there are 6 flights it would retain “to serve local residents and ensure continuity of commerce in Northern Panay island” during the period.

    Flights canceled from April 26 to October 27:

    Manila-Caticlan-Manila (daily)

    • 5J 891/892
    • 5J 895/896
    • 5J 899/900
    • 5J 901/902
    • 5J 905/906
    • DG 6241/6242
    • DG 6243/6244
    • DG 6247/6248

    Cebu-Caticlan-Cebu (daily)

    • 5J 132/133

    Caticlan-Clark-Caticlan (daily)

    • DG 6298/6299

    Manila-Kalibo-Manila (daily)

    • 5J 331/332
    • DG 6317/6318

    Manila-Kalibo (Sunday-Thursday)

    • 5J 339

    Kalibo-Cebu

    • 5J 413 (daily)
    • 5J 415 (Sunday/Friday)

    Cebu-Kalibo-Cebu

    • 5J 416/417 (Sunday)

    Clark-Kalibo

    • 5J 351 (Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday)

    Kalibo-Clark

    • 5J 352 (Monday/Wednesday/Friday)

    Kalibo-Incheon-Kalibo (starting June 1)

    • 5J 180/181 (daily)
    • 5J 182/183 (daily)

    Cebu Pacific will operate the following flights from April 26 to October 27:

    • Manila-Kalibo 5J 337 – daily (except May 1-4)
    • Kalibo-Manila 5J 338 – daily (except May 1-4)
    • Manila-Caticlan DG 6245 – daily
    • Caticlan-Manila DG 6246 – daily
    • Cebu-Caticlan DG 6272 – daily
    • Caticlan-Cebu DG 6273 – daily

    The airline advised affected passengers to take any of the following options:

    • Get a full refund
    • Place the full value of the ticket in a travel fund for future use
    • Rebook the flight, subject to seat availability (via the ”Manage Booking” section in the Cebu Pacific website)
    • Reroute to any domestic destination, subject to seat availability

    “Guests who booked through a travel agent or any other third party are encouraged to provide us with their own contact details so they are directly advised about any flight changes,” Cebu Pacific said.

  • Cebu Pacific Less Profitable in 2017

    Cebu Pacific Less Profitable in 2017

    Cebu Air operator of the country’s largest carrier Cebu Pacific, said net income in 2017 dropped by 18.9 percent to P7.91 billion from P9.75 billion in 2016 due to higher fuel prices and operating expenses.

    Operating expenses swelled by 16.6 percent to P57.90 billion in 2017 from the P49.65 billion recorded in the previous year.

    “The increase was primarily due to the rise in fuel prices in 2017 coupled with the weakening of the Philippine Peso against the US Dollar,” the company said in a disclosure.

    Cebu Air Inc is the parent company of airline brands Cebu Pacific and Cebgo.

    Cebu Air said that the Philippine peso ended 2017 at an average of P50.40 per US dollar compared to the previous year’s P47.50 per US dollar.

    “The growth in the airline’s seat capacity from the acquisition of new aircraft also contributed to the increase in expenses,” Cebu Air added.

    The airline company said revenues went up by 9.9 percent from P61.90 billion in 2016 to P68.03 billion in 2017, as passenger revenues increased by 7.2 percent to P49.931 billion.

    “This was mainly attributable to the 3.2 percent growth in passenger volume to 19.7 million from 19.1 million last year, driven by the increase in number of flights by 3.6 percent in 2017 as the Group added more aircraft to its fleet,” the company said.

    Cargo revenues reached P4.60 billion, increasing by 29.2 percent from the previous year, while ancillary revenues went up by 14.9 percent to P13.49 billion.

  • Jollibee offers the best summer fun for kids

    Jollibee offers the best summer fun for kids

    Kids are in for one of the best fun and learning experiences this summer as Jollibee welcomes them to the best summer activity – the Jollibee Kids Club Mini Managers Camp, happening until May 31, 2018.

    Through the six-day camp, kids aged 4-12 years old can learn the important values and key roles of a Jollibee Manager such as hard work, leadership, and responsibility through various fun and engaging learning activities.

    Wearing their Jollibee Mini Managers uniform, complete with nameplates, the kid managers will greet customers as they enter the store, work behind the counter to take orders, and hand out take-out bags via the Drive-Thru window to discover and experience first-hand Jollibee’s values, the Alagang Jollibee service heritage, and learn the store’s best practices. They will also engage in arts and crafts, Yumburger making, ice-cream making, fun games, and dancing, all while interacting with other kids and meeting new friends.

    “We at Jollibee believe that even at a young age, kids need to develop a sense of discipline, hard work, and responsibility in a fun learning environment, to become future leaders and managers. These are the values and lessons we want our Mini Managers to learn and experience as these will be pivotal in their growth, said Charisse Sumulong, Jollibee senior brand manager and head for Channels and Kids Marketing, “That is why the Jollibee Kids Club Mini Managers Camp is the best summer activity for Jolly Kids as it provides a fun and engaging atmosphere for kids to enjoy their vacation.”

    For only P650, parents and guardians can enroll the kids to the Mini Managers Camp at any participating Jollibee store nationwide. Non-JKC members are also welcome to enroll. Participants will get a Mini Managers Camp workshop kit that includes a set of Mini Managers uniform and name plate, activity materials and a camp bag, snacks for the six days of the program.

    The Jollibee Kids Club Mini Managers Camp is already accepting participants to the best summer workshop so, hurry, and sign up your aspiring Mini Managers today! Visit your nearest Jollibee store or follow /Jollibee Philippines on Facebook for more details.