Cebu Pacific to receive more Airbus Neo jets next year

PHOTO FROM CEBU PACIFIC

Cebu Pacific is taking deliveries of additional 11 new engine option (Neo) Airbus aircraft next year, which is part of its refleeting initiative as the budget carrier pushes for sustainability.

Alex Reyes, chief strategy officer at the Gokongwei-led airline, said in an event on Tuesday in Quezon City they would be receiving three A320neos, four A321neos and four A33neos in 2023. It received six Neo aircraft this year.

At 2018 list prices, the A320neo costs $110.6 million; A321neo, $129.5 million; and A330neo, $259.9 million. The 11 aircraft cost about $1.89 billion, excluding discounts.

“The transformation of our fleet into an all-Neo fleet is happening,” Reyes said. The airline aims to complete this goal by 2028.

Reyes said the Neo is “most efficient aircraft in the world” as it emits 20 percent less carbon.

Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and customer experience, said the carrier has restored 92 percent of its overall network capacity. The company services 355 flights daily.

“We are not just on track. We are already close to fully recovering our network prepandemic,” she said.

Cebu Pacific sees full restoration to prepandemic levels by second quarter or third quarter of next year, according chief commercial officer Xander Lao, who took note of the recent surge in volume travel to Korea, Japan, Thailand and Singapore.

The low-cost airline has been restoring flights in its domestic and international destinations as it banks on the return of air travel demand.

“Given that we are in the airline industry, I think we have to be cautiously optimistic. Having said [that], I think the flight path that we have seen so far this 2022, it is certainly much more refreshing,” he said. INQ