Post by Evodesire on Jan 8, 2011 21:12:36 GMT 8
By Mary Ann LL. Reyes (The Philippine Star) Updated January 08, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)
MANILA, Philippines – Cebu Pacific (CEB) will invest over $1 billion for the purchase of an additional 24 brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft over the next five years, company president and CEO Lance Gokongwei said.
He pointed out that these additional aircraft will enable CEB to offer even more frequencies, routes and destinations, and even lower fares on more flights.
“More importantly, this will create another 2,000 jobs by 2014 for Cebu Pacific alone,” he said.
By the end of 2011, Cebu Pacific will be operating a fleet of 37 aircraft – with an average age of less than 2.5 years – ranking it among the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2014, Cebu Pacific will take an additional 16 Airbus A320 aircraft.
CEB has already taken in three brand-new Airbus A320s in the last three months alone, and will take the first of five additional A320s over 2011, Gokongwei said.
Publicly listed CEB reached a milestone yesterday when it flew its 50 millionth passenger from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA T3) to Beijing, China.
CEB first flew daily flights from Manila to Cebu and Iloilo utilizing four aircraft in March 1996. It began operating as a full fledged low-cost carrier in 2005.
“As the first low-fare airline in Asia, Cebu Pacific considers this a major achievement. Since 1996, we have grown to become the Philippines’ number one airline, offering the most number of flights and operating the most extensive route network in the Philippines, and flying to the most ASEAN destinations,” Gokongwei said.
“What we achieved in 14 years, we plan to achieve by 2015. That is, we will fly 50 million more passengers in four years,” he added.
Gokongwei, along with President Aquino, awarded the 50 millionth passenger a one-year unlimited travel pass to any of CEB’s 16 international or 33 domestic destinations.
“The launch of our Beijing flights last September strengthened our operations in Greater China, contributing to the 37-percent growth in CEB’s international operations in the first nine months of 2010. With the expected delivery of more brand-new aircraft, we are in a great position to expand in Asia,” Gokongwei said.
CEB will take delivery of five more brand-new Airbus A320 this year. It will end 2011 with a fleet of 37 aircraft and an additional 16 Airbus A320 aircraft will be delivered from 2012 to 2014.
“Our transfer of both international and domestic operations in NAIA T3 in 2008 has allowed us to provide a better airport experience to our passengers. Our home at NAIA T3 is the only airport facility that can support our rapid expansion,” he added.
Gokongwei pointed out that CEB’s trademark low fares and innovative products, coupled with warm and genuine Filipino service, will continue to stimulate travel and tourism within the Philippines and beyond.
The country’s low-fare leader, CEB services 16 international destinations: Bangkok, Beijing, Brunei, Busan, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Osaka, Seoul (Incheon), Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei. It also flies to 33 domestic destinations from its four operational hubs in Manila, Clark, Cebu and Davao.
“We strengthened our position as the Philippines largest flag carrier in terms of passengers carried. More importantly, we carried over 2.2 million international guests, a whopping 33 percent increase over 2009 and cemented our position as the fastest growing source of inbound tourists to the Philippines,” Gokongwei noted.
He added that in 2011, CEB will invest over P300 million in advertising overseas to market the Philippines internationally.
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Seems like they are following the Southwest model. Simplified fleet saturating Philippines and regions 4 hours away from Philippines. Despite the fact that Z2 is getting wide bodies, maybe they would rather have more narrowbodies and keep operations simple.
