SINGAPORE, 20 June 2019: Philippines’ Cebu Pacific announced that it has ordered 31 next-generation aircraft from Airbus, during this week’s Paris Air Show.
The investment accelerates the carrier’s plan to introduce more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly aircraft to replace its current fleet.
The order is comprised of 16 A330neo and 15 A320neo family aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2021 and 2026.
Based on the list price, the deal is worth an estimated SGD 9.3 billion. The agreement was made during the 2019 Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, France.
The latest order is in addition to the 32 A321neo aircraft ordered in 2011, for delivery until 2022.
The 16 A330neo will be fitted with 460 seats, having 5.5% more capacity than CEB’s current fleet of A330ceo aircraft. The additional seats were made possible through a more efficient layout of cabin interiors and new-generation seats.
The new A330neo will replace the A330ceo, which will be progressively retired.
CEB also ordered 15 A320neo family aircraft, including 10 A321 XLR (Xtra Long Range) and five 194-seat A320neo. The increased capacity of the A320neo will result in a 7% reduction in cost per seat; and a reduction of fuel burn and emissions of as much as 15%.
Scheduled to start delivering in 2024, the A321 XLR is designed to have a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles and can potentially fly 220 passengers for up to 11 hours. This new and unique capability gives CEB the opportunity to develop new markets from key cities other than Manila.
As the new A320neo aircraft arrive, the older A320ceo aircraft will be subsequently retired.
Currently, CEB has a 72-aircraft fleet comprised of two Airbus A321neo, seven A321ceo, one A320neo, 33 A320ceo, eight A330ceo, eight ATR 72-500s and 13 ATR 72-600s. CEB boasts of one of the youngest fleets in the world, with an average fleet age of five years.
