Cebu Pacific
Air has confirmed more than half of its initial agreement with Airbus, with the airline affirming a purchase of 70 Airbus A321neo
aircraft on October 2.
Finalizing a previous memorandum
In early July, Cebu Pacific and Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 152 A320neo/A321neo aircraft.
Now, the airline has signed an agreement for 70 A321neo aircraft in Manila, the Philippines. According to Airbus
, Mike Szucs, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Philippine carrier, and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, the executive vice president of Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, attended the signing ceremony in Manila, the Philippines.
Photo: Johann Kirby Datoy | Shutterstock
Szcus said that by selecting the A321neo, the airline has underscored its focus on operational efficiency, sustainability, and innovation.
The aircraft type will ensure the airline delivers the highest standards of service while significantly reducing its carbon footprint, Szcus added.
“This milestone signals our ongoing dedication to expanding air travel accessibility and affordability, while supporting the Philippines’ broader economic growth and connectivity goals.”
Saint-Exupéry added that the A320
family, including the A320ceo and A320neo, have supported Cebu Pacific over the last two decades. As such, Airbus was grateful that the airline chose to endorse its best-selling single-aisle product, the A321neo.
“We’re confident that these additional A321neo aircraft will contribute strongly to the all-Airbus operator’s next phase of expansion as one of Asia-Pacific’s leading low-cost carriers.”
The order and the preceding MoU had been rumored to happen sometime in 2024, with previous reports saying that Cebu Pacific Air and Airbus would announce either the order or the MoU at the Farnborough International Airshow.
Cebu Pacific’s MoU in early July
However, the Philippine airline announced the preliminary agreement on July 2, which included firm orders for up to 102 A321neo and purchase rights for 50 A320neo
aircraft.
The airline, despite expressing frustrations with the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G, also known as the Geared Turbofan (GTF), chose the engine to power its latest order from Airbus.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
When it announced the MoU in early July, Szucs said that the order was designed to provide Cebu Pacific Air with maximum flexibility to adapt its fleet growth to the market conditions, which includes the ability to switch between the A320neo and A321neo.
“When finalized, the deal will be a significant milestone for the local airline industry and a testament to [Cebu Pacific Air’s] unwavering commitment to support the Philippine growth story.”
At the time, the low-cost carrier said that it expected to finalize the agreement in Q3 of the same year.
Related
Celebrating the MoU at Farnborough International Airshow
However, at the Farnborough International Airshow in July, a few weeks after the airline announced the MoU, Pratt & Whitney
came out with its own announcement, saying that it held an official ceremony to celebrate the preliminary agreement signed on July 2.
Still, for Pratt & Whitney, which still has been dealing with the fallout of the accelerated removals and inspections of its GTFs that power the A320neo aircraft family, it was a nice boost.
Photo: KITTIKUN YOKSAP | Shutterstock
Rick Deurloo, the president of commercial engines at Pratt & Whitney, said that Cebu Pacific’s choice of the GTF attested to the value the powerplant provides to airlines, which includes “industry-leading fuel efficiency and sustainability benefits” for narrowbody aircraft.
