Cebu Pacific books contractors for aircraft, crew upkeep
Cebu Pacific has engaged partners for the upkeep of its fleet as well as the management of its operations and crew.
In particular, the low-cost carrier inked a 12-year engine maintenance deal with American aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney to optimize aircraft fleet performance at a time of heightened travel demand.
On Tuesday, the Gokongwei-led airline said the long-term agreement will provide support for its aircraft equipped with GTF (geared turbofan) engines. The American firm itself developed the engines.
The deal signed during the Paris Air Show will cover the airline’s P1.4-trillion order of up to 152 A321neo aircraft. It will also include the 15 single-aisle jets Cebu Pacific acquired last year.
“The GTF engine has enabled up to 20-percent reduction in fuel burn compared to previous-generation engines—translating into meaningful savings in fuel efficiency, lower emissions and reduced operating costs,” Cebu Pacific CEO Mike Szucs said.
“This agreement strengthens our ability to scale sustainably while continuing to deliver on our commitments to passengers,” Szucs added.
The airline currently operates 56 aircraft that are equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines.
In Paris, Cebu Pacific also signed an agreement with aviation tech firm Lufthansa Systems, for operations control and crew management solutions.
Leveraging Lufthansa Systems’ NetLine suite, the airline will be able to use the technology to improve flight operations, crew planning and rostering and real-time disruption management.
The platform has a system that collects and evaluates pertinent data like weather conditions and aircraft performance so the control team will be able to respond immediately.
“We’re investing in the internal infrastructure with world-class systems that will enhance safety, operational resilience, efficiency and crew wellbeing as we grow our fleet and expand our network across the region,” Szucs said.
In the first five months of this year, Cebu Pacific saw its passenger volume grow by nearly 24 percent to 11.67 million, signaling a sustained momentum for travel.
Domestic passengers accounted for 8.68 million of the total volume, showing a 23.2-percent uptick from the previous year. International passenger volume, meanwhile, grew by 24.9 percent to 2.99 million.
To beef up capacity, Cebu Pacific is set to take delivery of seven aircraft this year. It received 17 new aircraft in 2024.
The airline’s overall network caters to 37 domestic and 26 international destinations across Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
