Cebu Pacific sees bellyhold as main cargo strategy

Cebu Pacific is not looking to take dedicated freighters in the near term — even amid a robust cargo market during the pandemic — as it believes a “large chunk” of cargo will be carried as bellyhold freight. Airline CE advisor Michael Szucs acknowledged that cargo had been a good “revenue stream” for Cebu Pacific as passenger travel demand collapsed amid the pandemic. While other carriers have expanded their freighter fleets to capture growing demand, Szucs offers a slightly different perspective, and notes that the low-cost carrier is “primarily a passenger airline”. “We think that the majority…or a large chunk…of the cargo traffic is going to go back into the bellies of the passenger aircraft,” he adds. Cebu Pacific has two dedicated cargo aircraft — a pair of ATR 72 freighters — which Szucs says “have been working well for us…particularly with a boom in e-commerce”. Still, he reiterates his point: “But you know, we see principally going forward that we will carry lots of cargo, but it will be…in the belly of the passenger aircraft.” <br/>