By Roderick T. dela Cruz

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific yesterday said it will take delivery of six new planes that will enable it to fly 9.3 million passengers this year.

The Gokongwei-owned airline said passenger volume rose 23 percent to 6.7 million in 2008, cementing its leadership position in the industry, despite the impact of the global economic downturn.

Cebu Pacific said it would use the six new planes to expand its route network in the country and in Asia.

The latest delivery consists of three Airbus A320s and three ATR 72-500s.

?We carried 5.38 million domestic passengers last year, up 20.7 percent from 2007, while international passengers rose by 33 percent, from one million to 1.4 million,? Cebu Pacific president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei said in a statement.

Gokongwei attributed the growth in passenger traffic to the increase in the airline?s seat capacity, coupled with introduction of low fares.

?We were able to successfully convince more Filipinos to travel by air despite economic uncertainties. 2008 challenged us to look for ways to stimulate travel and sustain our domestic and international operations,? he said.

Cebu Pacific introduced all-inclusive fares in the domestic air travel market and launched ?Go Lite? fares that gave discounts to travelers without check-in luggage.