Cebu Pacific receives A320neo plane ahead of holiday peak
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific has received its first Airbus A320neo aircraft in time for the approaching holiday peak of the travel season.
The 180-seat plane with a new engine option arrived over the weekend from the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France.
The delivery of the larger narrow-body jet is the Gokongwei-led Airlines’ first A320neo and fourth aircraft for this year.
Cebu Pacific earlier received its third out of four A330neo for this year. It is a wide-body jet that can carry 459 passengers.
The A330s were not deployed for long-haul flights, but were routed domestically in Iloilo and Palawan.
The Airbus Neo generation of aircraft is known for enhanced fuel efficiency. They consume 15 percent less fuel per flight and produce less noise compared to the previous generation.
“This latest delivery helps ensure we have enough capacity to serve passengers looking to fly home or discover new destinations this holiday season,” said Xander Lao, president and chief commercial officer of Cebu Pacific.
“We’re committed to making travel more accessible and convenient, especially during this time of year when more Filipinos take to the skies,” Lao added.
Starting Nov. 16, flights to and from Manila and Bohol would be serviced with the wider jet.
Meanwhile, the leased A320ceo (current engine option) from Bulgaria Air will serve four additional routes from Manila, going to Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro.
They will debut from December 2025 through January 2026.
As of the first nine months of this year, Cebu Pacific tallied a total of 20 million passengers. Of that number, 14.9 million were traveling within the country and 5.1 million were heading abroad.
