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Friday, March 29, 2024

Cebu Pacific forges ahead with refleeting program

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BUDGET carrier Cebu Pacific is pushing through with its refleeting program despite the pandemic, taking delivery of a brand new fuel-efficient aircraft this month, a move that the airline sees as a worthy initiative for the post-pandemic economy.

Last week, Cebu Pacific (CEB) welcomed the arrival of its new A321 neo (new engine option), the eight out of its 47 narrow-body orders from Airbus.

“Pre-pandemic, we have already started embarking on our long-term vision and fleet strategy, which includes an orderly exit of older aircraft. We envision the total Cebu Pacific fleet to be composed of new-generation aircraft in the next few years,” Cebu Pacific Deputy CFO Mark Cezar said.

The new airliner has a capacity of 236 seats, 31-percent more than its predecessor. It likewise optimizes fuel usage, allowing the carrier to save as much as 20 percent in fuel costs, while also reducing carbon footprint by half.

The new jet will be deployed on Friday to serve domestic routes.

Cezar said Cebu Pacific is expecting the delivery of seven more planes this year. It is composed of a “mix of Airbus and ATR” planes.

Most of these planes will be used to replace older aircraft.

Currently, Cebu Pacific has a fleet of 74 airliners: eight A321 neos, 25 Airbus A320s, seven Airbus A321 ceos, five Airbus A320 neos, seven Airbus A330s, six ATR 72-500s, and 13 ATR 72-600s.

Advisory

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) temporarily suspended domestic flights to Region 6 (Western Visayas) from National Capital Region (NCR) Plus as well as from Cebu and Davao from April 6 to April 10 in compliance with government’s Covid-19 regulations.

PAL said the suspension of travel to Region 6 was a directive from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), as requested by the concerned local government units (LGUs) and as endorsed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

PAL has cancelled all flights from Manila to Bacolod, Iloilo, Antique, Caticlan, Kalibo and Roxas cities, until April 10 and also canceled flights from Cebu to Caticlan until April 10.

PAL flights from Iloilo, Bacolod, Roxas and Kalibo to Manila, however, will continue to operate during this period. Its flight from Antique to Manila will operate on April 10.

The airline said flights to and from other regions, including those from Manila, Cebu and Davao, shall continue to operate during the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period until April 11, subject to restrictions and requirements imposed by each LGU.

Allowed to travel to all other regions within this ECQ period are: health/emergency frontline services personnel; government officials and frontline personnel; duly-authorized humanitarian assistance actors; persons traveling for medical/humanitarian reasons, persons going to the airport for travel abroad; persons crossing zones for work or business permitted in the zone of destination, and going back home; returning or repatriated overseas Filipino worker and other returning overseas Filipinos returning to their places of residence; and locally stranded individuals.

“If you are affected with the cancellations of flights passengers were advice to convert your ticket to a travel voucher until June 30, 2021, avail unlimited rebooking until December 31, 2021 or refund your ticket without penalties,” the airline said.

“This is an evolving situation and we seek your understanding and cooperation as we make adjustments in our operations.”

Image credits: Nonie Reyes

Read full article on BusinessMirror

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