Strategy Cebu Pacific expects up to $79 million hit from coronavirus

Cebu Pacific expects the coronavirus outbreak to impact its bottom line by up to Ps4 billion ($79 million).

The low-cost carrier estimates that it will see “a Ps3-4 billion swing on profit” should the outbreak remain unabated over the next six months.

It makes this estimate based on 2003’s Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, which curtailed demand for air travel for six months.

The carrier has canceled flights to China until 29 March, while reducing frequencies to Hong Kong and Macau. Meanwhile, compatriot Philippine Airlines and Philippines AirAsia have suspended flights to China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Cebu Pacific stressed that the Ps4 billion figure is provided against “the context of its 2020 profit outlook,” especially since it posted operating profit of Ps8.9 billion in the first half of 2019.

In its statement to the Philippines Stock Exchange, it confirmed remarks by its chief executive Lance Gokongwei that the impact of the coronavirus remains difficult to forecast as “the situation continues to evolve.”

“We can’t forecast because the situation is escalating so fast,” Gokongwei was quoted as saying in a 2 February report on The Philippine Star.

“We just had an update regarding [the eruption of] Taal volcano three weeks ago and then now, there’s a change in forecast. People don’t want to travel.”