2011: It Only Took This Airline 15 Years to Fly 50 Million Passengers

January 6, 2011

The Philippines-based airline Cebu Pacific (CEB) achieved a major milestone by flying its 50 millionth passenger. CEB, which in 2010 had become the Philippines’ largest airline based on the number of passengers flown on both domestic and international routes, began operations in 1996.

The airline’s 50 millionth passenger was Harold Toifl, who flew from Beijing to Manila. The Thursday night ceremony honoring him was held in Terminal 3 of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Toifl was given a one-year unlimited pass to any of CEB’s international or domestic destinations. Those taking part in the ceremony included Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and CEB President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Gokongwei.

“As the first low-fare airline in Asia, Cebu Pacific considers this a major achievement,” said Gokongwei. Aquino, for this part, commended the airline for demonstrating “the well-known warmth and genuine Filipino hospitality to tourists throughout the years.”

About four years later, CEB flew its 100 millionth passenger. She was Yelen Bontuyan, who flew from Mactan-Cebu International Airport in the Philippines’ Central Visayas region to NAIA.

Additional information on Cebu Pacific is available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cebu_Pacific.