Total air cargo volumes uplifted by all Philippine flagged carriers in the first quarter of 2015 rose 9.4 per cent to 58,900 tonnes from 53,820 tonnes in the same period last year, according to the latest data from the country’s Civil Aeronautics Board.

Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific remained in top position with a 43.9 per cent share of the total uplifted cargo. During the first three months of 2015, Cebu Pacific carried 25,860 tonnes of air cargo, a slight 0.1 per cent lower than the same period last year.

In second spot was budget carrier PAL Express, carrying 28.6 per cent of the total with 16,850 tonnes up a full 39.5 per cent than the 12,080 tonnes carried last year. PAL Express’ parent, Philippine Airlines, uplifted 8,026 tonnes or 13.6 per cent of the total and 9.7 per cent less than 2014.

Cebgo, formerly Tigerairways Philippines, moved 4,670 tonnes during the first quarter, a whopping 155 per cent surge from last year’s 1,830 tonnes. Budget carrier Air Asia Zest with a five per cent share of the total cargo volumes saw its volumes drop 29 per cent to 2,960 tonnes.

Accounting for 0.7 per cent of the total was Air Asia with 421,997 kgs, 48.6 per cent down from 2014.