Cebu Pacific, a prominent airline in the Philippines, has officially confirmed a firm order with Airbus for 70 A321neo aircraft, thereby finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was initially announced in July.
Cebu Pacific currently operates a fleet of 61 A320 Family aircraft, serving its broad regional network. Additionally, the airline utilizes nine A330 widebody aircraft on routes characterized by high passenger demand, including destinations in the Middle East. With the most recent order, Cebu Pacific’s backlog with Airbus has reached a total of 94 A320neo Family aircraft and seven A330neo models.
The purchase agreement was executed in Manila by Mike Szucs, the CEO of Cebu Pacific, and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, the Executive Vice President of Sales for Airbus’s Commercial Aircraft division.
In his remarks, Cebu Pacific Chief Executive stated, “The choice of the Airbus A321neo highlights our commitment to operational efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. This decision ensures that we maintain the highest service standards while making significant strides in reducing our carbon emissions. This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing the accessibility and affordability of air travel, while also contributing to the broader economic development and connectivity objectives of the Philippines.”
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry stated that the A320 Family has played a crucial role in the growth of Cebu Pacific’s domestic and short-haul international network over the past twenty years. He expressed appreciation for the airline’s ongoing support of their top-selling single-aisle product line. The A321neo is esteemed for its exceptional economics, performance, and fuel efficiency. He is optimistic that the addition of these A321neo aircraft will significantly enhance the all-Airbus operator’s forthcoming expansion as a prominent low-cost carrier in the Asia-Pacific region.
The A321neo represents the largest variant within Airbus’ highly successful A320neo Family, delivering exceptional range and performance. Featuring advanced engines and Sharklets, the A321neo achieves a 50% reduction in noise levels and over 20% savings in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions when compared to earlier models of single-aisle aircraft, all while ensuring maximum passenger comfort in the most spacious single-aisle cabin available.
According to Airbus, as of now, over 6,500 units of the A321neo have been ordered by more than 90 customers worldwide.
