Airbus exec offers A380 to PAL, Cebu Pacific

By Lenie Lectura

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is inviting Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) to join the 17 international airlines that have already placed their orders for A380, which the company described as the most advanced, spacious and eco-efficient airliner in service today.

“There are no formal discussions going on but we are hopeful that they will be interested,” said Sean Lee, Airbus head of regional communications in Asia. Lee is in the country for an informal gathering with representatives from the local airlines.

When sought for comment, PAL president Jaime Bautista said the plane, which cost roughly $320 million, is “worth serious study and evaluation.”

“A3880 is another aircraft type,” he said. “We will have to study it,” Airbus said 17 airlines had already ordered a total of 196 for its A380 aircraft. Among them were Singapore Airlines, which was among the buyers of its first production in October last year; Emirates; Qantas Airways; Lufthansa; Air France; and British Airways.

The A380 has a capacity of 525 passengers in three classes.

In eyeing Cebu Pacific and PAL as potential buyers of its A380, Lee said the Philippines is a very important market for Airbus.

“The Philippines is a market which we are very much in contact with since 75 percent of the jet fleet in the Philippine is Airbus,” Lee said.

Airbus accounts for 75 percent of all passenger aircraft in the country today, while rival Boeing accounts for 22 percent.

Airbus’ relationship with the Philippines dates back to the company’s early days when in 1979 PAL placed an initial order for the original A300B4. In 1993, PAL joined the list of buyers of A340, and subsequently also placed orders for the twin-engine A330 and the single-aisle A320 family.

To date, PAL operates 18 A320s in its domestic network, eight A330s in regional services across  Asia and four A340-300s on long-range routes to the United States.

It has ordered four more A320s for delivery in the second half of the year.

Cebu Pacific became a new customer of Airbus when it signed a contract for the purchase of 12 A319s and arranged for the lease of two additional A320s. It also placed a follow-up order for 10 A320s in March 2007.

The Gokongwei-owned airline operates a fleet of 18 A320s, including 12 purchased from Airbus and six on lease. The carrier has more than 10 on firm order for future delivery.

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Airbus exec offers A380 to PAL, Cebu Pacific

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