Cebu Pacific takes on 10th A320NEO
MANILA -Cebu Pacific continues to beef up its aircraft fleet with the delivery of its 10th Airbus 320NEO (new engine option) earlier this month, in line with its transition to greener operations.
In a statement on Thursday, the Gokongwei-led airline said the unit was flown from the Airbus Delivery Center in Toulouse, France to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila last April 16.
“The delivery of our 10th A320neo aircraft, powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), highlights Cebu Pacific’s commitment to become one of the greenest airlines in Asia. We continue to invest in these fuel-efficient NEO aircraft and incorporate SAF in our operations,” Cebu Pacific chief strategy officer Alex Reyes said.
The SAF emits 80 percent less carbon emissions. The airline, along with the rest of the aviation sector, aims to achieve net zero by 2050. The A320NEO is a 37.57-meter (m) aircraft with a cabin length of 27.51 m and seating capacity for up to 180 passengers.
The budget carrier expects to receive eight more Airbus NEO units. Cebu Pacific is currently operating 30 A320s, 17 A321s, five A330s and 16 ATRs.
It is also leasing five additional aircraft this year amid the growing passenger movement due to the easing of border restrictions.
Growth ambitions
Three of the aircraft will be based in Clark International Airport. The airline is operating 13 domestic and international routes from Pampanga.
The remaining two aircraft, meanwhile, would “be used to support overall growth ambitions as Cebu Pacific recovers fully from the pandemic,” Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao said earlier.
The company earmarked P42 billion in capital expenditure this year for mostly aircraft-related spending.
The low-cost carrier services 35 domestic and 25 international destinations across Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
Cebu Pacific cut its net losses by 44 percent to P14 billion last year, which was supported by the resurgence of air travel for both domestic and international flights.
Total revenues grew by over three-fold to P56.8 billion for the period as the passenger business soared by 459 percent to P35.1 billion. Last year, it flew over 14.8 million domestic and international passengers, showing a 335-percent growth from 2021.
—Tyrone Jasper Piad
https://business.inquirer.net/376720/cebu-pacific-to-receive-more-airbus-neo-jets-next-year
https://business.inquirer.net/320707/cebu-pacific-continues-refleeting-program-in-sign-of-hope-for-air-travel-recovery
