CEBU Pacific has signed the purchase agreement with Airbus for up to 152 aircraft and is set to take delivery of the first Airbus 321 neo in 2029.
The agreement with Airbus covers firm orders for up to 102 A321neo plus 50 A320neo Family purchase rights for $24 billion – the largest in Philippine aviation history.
Michael Szucs, Cebu Pacific chief executive officer, said in a press briefing Wednesday the company has a minimum commitment to purchase 70 A321neo aircraft that will be delivered starting in 2029.
“We’ve got a lot of flexibility in this order we’ve just made and the firm commitment of 70 starting in 2029 (delivery) and goes through up to that 2033,” he said.
The selection of Airbus and Pratt & Whitney underscores Cebu Pacific’s focus on operational efficiency, sustainability and innovation, ensuring that it continues to deliver the highest standards of service while significantly reducing its carbon footprint, added Szucs.
Airbus said the purchase agreement is a testament to the airline’s confidence in its products and a positive signal for the aviation industry’s recovery.
“The A320 Family has supported Cebu Pacific’s domestic and short-haul international network growth over the last two decades. We’re grateful to the airline for its continued endorsement of our bestselling single-aisle product line. The A321neo is highly regarded for its unparalleled economics, performance and fuel efficiency. We’re confident that these additional A321neo will contribute strongly to the all-Airbus operator’s next phase of expansion as one of Asia-Pacific’s leading low-cost carriers,” said Benoí®t de Saint-Exupéry, executive vice president, sales of commercial aircraft business at Airbus.
“This latest order demonstrates the growing opportunities for aviation in the Philippines and the larger Asia Pacific region. The GTF engine will enable Cebu Pacific to continue to expand the number of routes it offers to passengers, while delivering industry-leading fuel efficiency and sustainability benefits,” said Rick Deurloo, Pratt & Whitney president of commercial engines.
Cebu Pacific operates 61 A320 Family aircraft on its extensive regional network.
In addition, it flies nine A330 widebodies on high density routes in the region as well as to destinations in the Middle East. Following the latest order, the airline said its backlog with Airbus now stands at 94 A320neo Family aircraft and seven A330neo.
The A321neo is the largest member of Airbus’ best-selling A320neo Family, offering unparalleled range and performance.
By incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo brings a 50 percent noise reduction and more than 20 percent fuel savings and COâ‚‚ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximising passenger comfort in the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky.
