Aviation industry in the Philippines - statistics & facts
As a country divided by islands and island groups, the aviation industry in the Philippines provides an opportunity for Filipinos and foreign tourists to travel and explore destinations inside and outside the country. After the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020, air passenger traffic finally reached as close as the pre-pandemic volume. Recovery was dominated primarily by domestic travel, which has accounted for the majority of air passenger traffic. Meanwhile, has remained lower than its peak value in 2019.
The aviation industry is well on its way to seeing pre-pandemic passenger traffic. Additional investments in the air transport sector in the Philippines are expected to continue to drive the sector’s growth in the coming years.
Air passenger traffic in the Philippines
The aviation industry is a significant contributor to the Philippine economy, generating well over 120 billion Philippine pesos in gross value added in 2024. Following a slump in air travel demand, airlines in the Philippines have bounced back after experiencing losses. The country’s flagship airline, the Philippine Airlines, generated revenue figures surpassing pre-pandemic values as it dominated international passenger traffic in 2024. Meanwhile, its closest competitor, Cebu Pacific, held the highest share of domestic passengers in the Philippines, which contributed to its revenue increase.Status of air cargo
Meanwhile, for domestic airfreight forwarders, AP Cargo Logistics Network Corporation held the majority of the market share at about 33 percent, followed by LBC Express. Among international players, Nippon Express Philippines Corporation registered the highest volume of cargos carried in 2024. Although domestic trade is carried out mostly by water transport, the majority of commodities traded through air were food and live animals.The state of Philippine airports
There are currently 87 airports nationwide that can handle both domestic and international flights. The biggest is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), also known as the Manila International Airport, which consists of four passenger terminals and another one in the pipeline. The airport serves as a hub for the major commercial airlines in the country. In 2023, beyond 45 million passengers were served in the NAIA airport terminals, most of them were traveling domestically. Aside from NAIA, the other leading airports in the country are the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which serves the Central Visayas region, and the Clark International Airport, which serves Central Luzon and the Greater Manila area.The aviation industry is well on its way to seeing pre-pandemic passenger traffic. Additional investments in the air transport sector in the Philippines are expected to continue to drive the sector’s growth in the coming years.
