Cebu Pacific Hit by Prolonged Pratt Engine Groundings
Cebu Pacific is facing ongoing operational challenges due to continued issues with Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G engines. CEO Mike Szucs revealed during a recent industry meeting in London that recovery timelines have slipped, with the airline no longer expecting improvements by late 2025. Instead, the outlook has worsened, with 2026 now posing further risks.
The Philippine low-cost carrier operates 22 Airbus A320neo and 19 A321neo aircraft powered by the troubled PW1100G engines. According to ch-aviation, nine A320neos and four A321neos are currently grounded. To offset capacity losses, Cebu Pacific has turned to leasing older A320ceo aircraft. Despite having orders for six more A320neos and 84 A321neos—including 10 A321XLRs—the carrier continues to struggle with fleet reliability. Szucs, a seasoned airline executive, admitted that fleet management has never been more difficult.
On a more positive note, Cebu Pacific reports no major concerns with its fleet of 12 A330-900neos powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. These widebody aircraft operate high-density regional services and long-haul routes to Dubai, Sydney, and Melbourne. The airline is expanding its A330 fleet to 16 aircraft but remains cautious about pursuing more long-haul low-cost routes.
Szucs noted that Cebu Pacific prefers to focus on regional routes under four hours, where demand is strong and sustainable. The airline uses its A330s mainly on high-volume trunk routes, constrained by slot limits at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport. While a fourth or fifth long-haul route may be added, the carrier has no plans to aggressively expand into long-haul markets, citing past challenges.
Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=cebu+pacific, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com