Philippines’ Cebu Pacific Air takes first A330neo

Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino Int’l) has taken delivery of its first of sixteen A330-900s, configured in the world’s densest single-class layout for up to 459 passengers.

RP-C3900 (msn 2001) was positioned from Toulouse Blagnac directly to Manila Ninoy Aquino Int’l on November 27-28, 2021. The aircraft is owned by Avolon and will be deployed on regional trunk routes, increasing the airline’s capacity rather than expanding its network. Cebu Pacific will lease another seven A330s from the same lessor.

Cebu Pacific’s existing widebody fleet comprises six A330-300s. It also operates twenty-three A320-200s, five A320-200Ns, seven A321-200s, and nine A321-200NXs. It has a further sixteen A320-200Ns, twelve A321-200NXs, and ten A321-200NX(XLR)s on order from Airbus and has vowed to operate an all-neo fleet, in both the narrow- and widebody segments, by the end of 2027.

Regional unit Cebgo (DG, Manila Ninoy Aquino Int’l) operates six ATR72-500s, two ATR72-500(F)s, and thirteen ATR72-600s, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.

The LCC has been bullish about its post-pandemic prospects and stated that it would not accelerate any aircraft retirements. It also secured a major USD250 million investment from the International Finance Corporation, a World Bank unit, and the world’s most prodigious LCC investor Indigo Partners.