Cebu Pacific has the second largest fleet in the country. From its humble beginnings of operating just a few used DC-9 jets, they are currently an all-Airbus fleet. They even operate one youngest fleet in the country. They are also replacing their old aircraft with new generation, fuel efficient jets.
Based on the count of Airfleets.net, Cebu Pacific’s current fleet is at 63 aircraft however, not all are operating. The list include parked aircraft as a result of this Covid-19 crisis.
Cebu Pacific operates a fleet of Airbus and ATR aircraft comprising of A330-300, A321neo, A320neo, A320ceo, ATR 72-600, and ATR 72-500/C. Two ATR 72-500s are dedicated freighters and are heavily involved in the airlifting of Covid-19 vaccines around the country.
Here is the breakdown of aircraft in the fleet:
- 7 Airbus A330-300
- 8 Airbus A321neo
- 5 Airbus A320neo
- 22 Airbus A320-200
- 21 ATR 72
However, not all of those aircraft are operating. Parked are 4 ATRs and 13 A320s. If we can recall too, Cebu Pacific had a fleet of Airbus A321-200 or Airbus A321ceo however, it that these have either been returned or stored.
Unconfirmed reports also say that 1 Airbus A330-300 has been returned to its lessor. It shows that RP-C3342 is on long-term storage or has been returned to its lessor.
The future of the Cebu Pacific fleet
Before this pandemic, Cebu Pacific’s plan was to increase capacity by ordering more widebody and narrowbody aircraft. While they currently operate one of the most dense A330-300, they wanted more. Last June 2019, they ordered 31 new Airbus jets including 16 A330-900neo. While you thought its 436-seater A330 is too dense, this neo will be configured to have 460 seats! The goal of the airline was to increase capacity without having to pay for additional slots.
However with this covid-19 crisis as the worst crisis in aviation history, this 460-seater bus may still be subject to change.
Cebu Pacific’s plan was to operate densely-configured fuel-efficient aircraft. Their plan was to switch to an all Airbus NEO (New Engine Option) fleet which still seems to be the plan.
The covid-19 crisis did indeed take a huge toll on the aviation industry, hence, we may see some changes, maybe on how Cebu Pacific plans to operate their new jets. For sure, delivery of these newer generation aircraft such as the A330neo, A321XLR, A321neo, and A320neo may have to be pushed back a little bit but not matter what, Cebu Pacific is bent on having them.
