SuperFerry expects zero growth for its passenger business this year owing to a lean season and competition with budget airlines.
Andrew Deyto, SuperFerry assistant vice president for sales and marketing, told reporters that it expects to carry about two million passengers this year or the same as last year.
“We hope it [number of passengers] will grow, that’s why we are focusing on maintaining our low rates, despite the rising prices of fuel,” Deyto said.
He said SuperFerry fares are 50 percent lower than airfares.
SuperFerry also cut its passenger capacity to 40 percent this year from 30 percent last year to expand its cargo operations.
In the first half, Aboitiz Transport System Corp. (ATS), which operates SuperFerry, said passage revenue dropped by 5 percent to P1.4 billion from P1.5 billion last year.
ATS blamed the decline on the overall reduction in passenger ferry capacity brought about by vessel sales and the conversion of excess passage capacity to freight.
The shipping company said the industry continues to face fierce competition from airlines.
In the first six months, passenger load factors on its Roll On-Roll Off (Roro) passenger vessels reached a high of 80 percent compared with 71 percent during the same period last year.
The company’s freight revenues, which constitute the bulk of sales, increased 12 percent to P3.7 billion.
The firm’s capital expenditure for this year is set at P750 million, of which P500 million to P650 million is allotted for vessel renovation and maintenance.
At present, ATS has eight vessels, namely SuperFerry 1, SuperFerry 2, SuperFerry 5, SuperFerry 9, SuperFerry 12, SuperFerry 19, Our Lady of Medjugorje, and Our Lady of Good Voyage.
It sails to 15 ports of call all over the Philippines, including Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Coron, Cotabato, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Manila, Ozamis, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga.
Andrew Deyto, SuperFerry assistant vice president for sales and marketing, told reporters that it expects to carry about two million passengers this year or the same as last year.
“We hope it [number of passengers] will grow, that’s why we are focusing on maintaining our low rates, despite the rising prices of fuel,” Deyto said.
He said SuperFerry fares are 50 percent lower than airfares.
SuperFerry also cut its passenger capacity to 40 percent this year from 30 percent last year to expand its cargo operations.
In the first half, Aboitiz Transport System Corp. (ATS), which operates SuperFerry, said passage revenue dropped by 5 percent to P1.4 billion from P1.5 billion last year.
ATS blamed the decline on the overall reduction in passenger ferry capacity brought about by vessel sales and the conversion of excess passage capacity to freight.
The shipping company said the industry continues to face fierce competition from airlines.
In the first six months, passenger load factors on its Roll On-Roll Off (Roro) passenger vessels reached a high of 80 percent compared with 71 percent during the same period last year.
The company’s freight revenues, which constitute the bulk of sales, increased 12 percent to P3.7 billion.
The firm’s capital expenditure for this year is set at P750 million, of which P500 million to P650 million is allotted for vessel renovation and maintenance.
At present, ATS has eight vessels, namely SuperFerry 1, SuperFerry 2, SuperFerry 5, SuperFerry 9, SuperFerry 12, SuperFerry 19, Our Lady of Medjugorje, and Our Lady of Good Voyage.
It sails to 15 ports of call all over the Philippines, including Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Coron, Cotabato, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Manila, Ozamis, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga.