Budget carrier Cebu Pacific is making a major move to strengthen its dominance in the domestic travel market, acquiring AirSWIFT Transport Inc. from Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) Capital Corp. for P1.75 billion.
The acquisition, set to be formalized today through a share purchase agreement, will boost Cebu Pacific’s fleet and expand its reach to more island destinations, including the popular El Nido route in Palawan. AirSWIFT, previously owned by the Ayala Group, operates routes to several key tourist spots such as Boracay, Cebu, Coron, and Panglao.
With this buyout, Cebu Pacific will add five new aircraft to its growing turboprop fleet—three ATR 72s and two ATR 42s—bringing the total number of turboprops to 20. This expansion allows the airline to enhance its capacity for regional flights, particularly to remote and underserved areas.
The acquisition cements Cebu Pacific’s position as the airline with the widest domestic network in the country.
AirSWIFT serves Tablas, Romblon twice a week.
