December 28, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific is ending the year with a fleet of 91 aircraft, arming it up with enough capacity to serve travel demand in 2025.
Cebu Pacific yesterday said it has received its 17th aircraft for 2024, an Airbus A321neo with 236 seats, to wrap up the year on a high note.
Given this, Cebu Pacific is entering the new year with a fleet of 91 aircraft, leading all domestic carriers on jet availability for commercial operations.
Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Alexander Lao said the arrival of the aircraft ensures that the airline is prepared for 2025. Cebu Pacific expects demand for air travel to sustain its upward trajectory, especially as carriers are expanding their networks.
For instance, Cebu Pacific will launch weekly flights between Manila and Sapporo by Jan. 16, 2025. The airline will become the only carrier flying bridging the two cities directly, making it a niche route for Cebu Pacific.
“The arrival of this new aircraft reinforces our readiness to meet the rising travel demand and our commitment to enhancing connectivity for our passengers in 2025 and beyond,” Lao said.
Currently, Cebu Pacific operates one of the youngest fleets in the world, allowing it to cover the widest domestic network among Philippine carriers.
In particular, the airline owned by the Gokongweis manages 10 A330s, 40 A320s, 26 A321s and 15 turboprops.
The long game for Cebu Pacific is also secured with the signing in October of a firm order for up to 152 aircraft, in the make of A321neos. The purchase deal with Airbus is valued at $24 billion based on list prices, making it the biggest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history.
Entering the new year, travelers can expect airfares to remain almost the same as what they paid for this December. For January, the Civil Aeronautics Board directed airlines to maintain the fuel surcharge at Level 4 for the fourth consecutive month.
Based on CAB’s matrix, Level 4 means airlines can collect a fuel surcharge of P117 to P342 for domestic flights and P385.7 to P2,867.82 for international flights
According to the International Air Transport Association’s monitor, jet fuel prices have declined by 0.5 percent to $90.04 per barrel as of Dec. 20 from a month ago.
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