PH air travel smashes pre-pandemic records

The Philippines’ air passenger volume exceeded pre-pandemic levels last year, soaring to a new record of more than 62 million passengers as travel demand maintained its upward trajectory, according to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

- By DEXTER BARRO II

Based on CAB data, the country’s passenger traffic rose by four percent to 62.34 million in 2025, compared with 59.91 million passengers in the previous year.

Travel demand last year reached the highest level on record, surpassing the 60.06 million milestone set in 2019. The new peak signals the strong recovery of the local aviation sector after years of steep decline during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Still, the rebound remains incomplete, as international passenger traffic has yet to return to its 2019 high of 30.53 million. Nevertheless, last year’s volume of 29.1 million—just five-percent short of the record—signals that a full recovery is well within reach.

Foreign carriers accommodated 15.01 million international passengers last year, or 51 percent of total, while domestic carriers served 14.09 million.