BUDGET carrier Cebu Pacific has received its 10th new Airbus A321neo (new engine option), bringing its fleet of “eco-planes” to 18 airliners.
The new plane provides the carrier with a 20-percent increase in fuel efficiency, reducing its noise footprint by half compared to older aircraft. “Our shift to the more fuel-efficient neo engine aircraft not only supports our sustainability strategy, but also enables us to continue offering our trademark low fares for everyJuan,” said Alex Reyes, Chief Strategy Officer at Cebu Pacific.
Cebu Pacific’s newest A321neo aircraft is set to enter into service within this month to fly to various Philippine destinations across Cebu Pacific’s domestic network of 34 destinations. “The arrival is timely because we see positive developments indicating recovery. We are continuously ramping up our domestic network and are preparing for more international destinations to ease restrictions for leisure travelers,” Reyes said.
Cebu Pacific has a fleet of 22 A320ceo, six A320neo, seven A321ceo, 10 A321neo, six A330ceo, two A330neo, 14 ATR 72-600, six ATR 72-500 and two ATR Freighters.
Cebu Pacific said it aims to restore 100 percent of its pre-pandemic domestic capacity this month, as it ramps up its operations with the recent easing of travel restrictions.
Already, the carrier reported a 200-percent surge in its average daily flights for both domestic and international combined – from about 100 flights per day in 2020, to about 300 at present.
Demand for air travel is now returning back to pre-pandemic levels, as reflected by the increased flight frequencies of Cebu Pacific from key hubs in Manila, Boracay, and Cebu. Flights from these airports “have exceeded their 2019 flight frequencies.”