Cebu Pacific gears up for longhaul services with larger and newer planes

CEBU Pacific (CEB) is planning to sell its entire fleet of 10 Airbus A319 aircraft to US-based Allegiant Travel Company, replacing them with brand new A320 and A330 planes.

CEB will take delivery of 15 new A320s and four A330s between now and 2014, and is also exploring the possibility of bringing forward its orders for A320s scheduled for delivery between 2015 and 2016.

The airline is slated to begin its longhaul services in the third quarter of 2013. With a range of up to 11 hours, the A330s will allow the airline to serve markets such as Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the US.

Meanwhile, the A319s will be transferred to Allegiant over a 15-month period commencing March 2013.

Lance Gokongwei, president & CEO, CEB, said: “The Airbus A319s are our oldest and smallest jet aircraft. While they have served us well for the last six years, as we have grown our business and developed new markets, the time is right to trade up to bigger, brand new Airbus A320 aircraft.”

CEB currently operates a fleet of 10 A319s, 20 A320s and eight ATR-72 500s. Between 2012 and 2021, the carrier will receive 22 more A320s and 30 A321neos.

Sourced: TTG Asia