Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) has received its first aircraft delivery for the year, an Airbus 320ceo, from Chengdu, China.
Xander Lao, CEB president and chief commercial officer, stated that this aircraft delivery is part of their commitment to provide safe, accessible, and affordable flights for every passenger.
“We are excited to fly even more passengers to their chosen destinations this year made possible by our growing domestic and international network and ongoing fleet expansion efforts,” Lao said.
CEB is aiming to achieve a fleet count of 92 aircraft this year, which would be one of the youngest fleets in the world. Currently, it operates with a diversified fleet mix of eight Airbus 330s, 36 Airbus 320s, 20 Airbus 321s, and 14 ATR turboprop aircraft, enabling the widest domestic network.
Late last year, the airline received its 13th aircraft delivery, a brand-new Airbus A320neo, to address the growing demand for air travel and strengthen its operational resiliency. This aircraft, powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on its delivery flight, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Oct. 25 from Airbus’ facility in Tianjin, China, and formally entered service on Nov. 1.
CEB plans to transition to an all-NEO fleet by 2028 and incorporate SAF for its entire commercial network by 2030. The airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Neste, the world’s leading producer of SAF, on October 18, to explore the supply and purchase of SAF in Asia Pacific. A week later, the airline flew its first-ever commercial flight powered by SAF from Japan.
SAF is a drop-in fuel that has similar characteristics to conventional jet fuels. It does not require any adaptations to the aircraft or engines and does not have any negative impact on performance. The use of SAF results in up to an 80% reduction in carbon emissions across the fuel’s lifecycle.