Cebu Air Pacific grows Visayas hub passengers by up to 33%

By BA Staff

The Philippines’ leading low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air (PSE:CEB) increased operations from its Visayas hubs, in line with its continued push for more tourism and trade in the destinations it flies to. From January to August 2013, the number of passengers through the airline’s Iloilo hub went up by 33%, while guests to and from its Cebu hub increased by 15%. Cebu remains the airline’s second largest hub, with over 2.3 million CEB passengers passing through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in the first 8 months of the year.

Late last year, CEB doubled the routes it offered to and from the Iloilo International Airport. It provided direct connectivity to Tacloban, Puerto Princesa and General Santos, and pioneered the first international flights out of Iloilo to Hong Kong and Singapore. Previously, CEB only flew from Iloilo to Manila, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog had this to say about the upgrades:

“We hope that our direct air linkages empower everyone to travel in the fastest way possible, and discover tourism and trade opportunities all over the Philippines. Cebu Pacific will always explore how else it can assist in the country’s tourism agenda, with the delivery of more brand-new aircraft until 2021,”

CEB currently operates more than 2,200 weekly flights to over 90 routes or city pairs. The airline flies to 34 domestic and 22 international destinations. Its newest international routes include Manila-Phuket, launched last August 16, 2013, and Manila-Dubai, to be launched on October 7, 2013.
CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 27 Airbus A320, 2 Airbus A330 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 47 aircraft is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2013 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 15 more Airbus A320, 30 Airbus A321neo, and 4 Airbus A330 aircraft.  

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IndiGo becomes first Indian airline to operate A320 with Sharklets. First globally with IAE V2500 engines.

As reported by Bangalore Aviation last month, India's largest domestic airline, IndiGo, has taken delivery of its first Sharklet fitted A320 aircraft, registration VT-IFH, and thus becomes the first Indian carrier, and third globally to operate this new version of the A320 aircraft. IndiGo is the first carrier globally to operate a Sharklet fitted A320 powered by the IAE V2500 engine, since the first two operators, Malaysia's AirAsia and Philippines' Cebu Pacific power their A320s with CFM engines.

Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices that improve the aircraft’s aerodynamics and significantly cut the airline’s fuel burn and emissions by four per cent on longer sectors. The devices are named Sharklets since they resemble the dorsal fins of sharks. In the high tax, high cost aviation fuel, environment of India, the improved fuel burn is highly desired.

It appears, all future new A320s inducted into the IndiGo fleet will be equipped with Sharklets. The next A320 aircraft of IndiGo, MSN5460 which will become VT-IFI, and had its first flight last Thursday, January 25th, is also equipped with Sharklets.

In 2005, IndiGo placed an order for 100 A320 aircraft. This was followed up in 2011, with the largest ever jet aircraft order in history, at that time, for 150 A320neo (new engine option), and 30 more A320 Classic. It appears that order has been amended to 180 A320neo and the 30 A320 Classic have been dropped.

IndiGo has a fleet of 62 A320s today, all of them fitted with the IAE V2500 engines.

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Video: Making of Cebu Pacific's first Airbus A320 Sharklet RP-C3272

Philippines, low cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air took delivery of its first A320 equipped with Sharklets yesterday during a ceremony in Manila. Below is a quick time-lapse video on the making of the aircraft. Hope you enjoy.

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Cebu Pacific flies past IndiGo and GoAir with second global A320 with Sharklets

by Devesh Agarwal

Low cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air beat out India's IndiGo and GoAir, to become the second operator, globally, when it took delivery of its first A320 equipped with Sharklets today during a ceremony in Manila, Philippines.

The first ever A320 with Sharklets was delivered to Malaysian low cost carrier, AirAsia, late last year.

India's IndiGo and GoAir will complete the procession of Asian low cost carriers to operate the A320 Sharklet when they take delivery of their aircraft later this quarter.

IndiGo's A320 Sharklet aircraft serial number MSN 5437 which will become VT-IFH (see photo and read story), and GoAir's A320 Sharklet MSN 5463 which will become VT-GOL (see photo) both had their first flights on January 15th.

In an exclusive interview with Bangalore Aviation, GoAir CEO Giorgio Di Roni had indicated GoAir might be the first Indian carrier to operate the A320 Sharklet. With the neck and neck progress, GoAir might even just pip IndiGo to the post.

Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices allowing airlines to reduce fuel burn by up to 4% on longer sectors. Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. Cutting airlines’ fuel bills by around four percent, Sharklets offer the flexibility to A320 Family operators of either adding around 100 nautical miles more range or allowing increased payload capability of up to 450 kilogrammes.

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Video: Cebu Pacific flight attendants dance to Lady Gaga to demonstrate safety message

After the various humorous methods used by flight attendants of Southwest to drive home their safety message, Philippines based Cebu Pacific, which prides itself as a fun airline, is using music and dance, specifically "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga.

Now if some of the Indian carriers take a cue from this video .......

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Orders for Airbus A320 and A350 dominate Paris air show; Paramount to buy 10 Airbus A321s

John Leahy is a happy man; may not be as happy as in 2007, but surely the orders received for the Airbus A320 and A350 families at this year's Paris air show, must give him a cautious sense of optimism.

Airbus SAS is expected to walk away from Le Bourget with about orders for 110 new planes or commitments worth around $6.5 billion. By comparison, Boeing logged just one order at the show, a $153 million deal with MC Aviation Partners, a leasing subsidiary of Mitsubishi, for two 737-800s which will be leased to Japanese low cost carrier Skymark Airlines Inc.

Interestingly all the orders for Airbus are from the A320 single aisle family and the upcoming A350 medium sized wide body family, also all the orders are from smaller global airlines or low cost regional airlines. Clearly, while the global economy and longer distance travel is still to recover, the absolute panic gripping the industry just six months ago has subsided. The smaller, newer, and cost competitive airlines are betting on the future and getting ahead in the order queue.

Chronologically, the orders won by Airbus are:

On June 15th, Doha based Qatar Airways ordered 24 A320 family aircraft. 20 A320s and 4 A321s.

June 16th was a lucrative one for Airbus. First, a private Asian customer ordered an Airbus A320 Prestige which is based on the A320 airliner, but meant for private/business jet use, featuring a customised cabin, extra fuel-tanks for intercontinental range, and other features preferred by this up-scale market segment.

Next, Manila, Philippines based low cost carrier, Cebu Pacific increased its existing A320 aircraft order by five aircraft taking the total order to 15. Scheduled for delivery from 2013, the new aircraft will join Cebu Pacific's existing fleet of 21 A319 and A320 aircraft. The initial batch of 10 aircraft is scheduled for delivery between 2010 and 2013. The carrier has now placed firm orders for 27 A320 Family aircraft, with 12 already delivered.

This was soon followed by an announcement that state owned Vietnam Airlines had placed a firm order with Airbus for 16 more single aisle A321s and signed a Memorandum of Understanding for two additional A350 XWBs. The A321 is the largest member of the Airbus A320 family, typically seating 185 passengers in a two-class layout. This contract increases the total number of orders placed by Vietnam Airlines for A321 to 41, of which 14 have already been delivered. The commitment for the A350-900 variant came in addition to an existing firm order for ten aircraft placed in December 2007.

Air Asia X, the long haul airline of Malaysia's wildly successful low cost carrier Air Asia, closed out the day by announcing it had placed a firm order with Airbus for 10 A350 XWB aircraft. The airline will use the aircraft on a network linking its Asian hub in Kuala Lumpur with destinations worldwide, especially in Europe and Australia. AirAsia X has selected the A350-900 variant for its fleet, which will be configured to seat more than 400 passengers in a two-class layout. Airbus has raised its tally of firm orders for the A350 XWB to 493 from 31 customers worldwide, though they still trail the A350 competitor, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner by an almost 2 to 1 margin.

After the four announcements on the preceding day, June 17th, was a relative quiet one. French private airline Aigle Azur placed an order for a solitary new A319 aircraft. The new A319 will be configured in a comfortable two-class layout and will be powered by CFM-56 engines from CFM International. Aigle Azur currently operates a fleet of ten A320 Family aircraft, comprising three A319s, three A320s and four A321s, but this is the first time the airline has purchased an aircraft directly from Airbus. Founded in 1946, Aigle Azur is the oldest private French airline. The company became an Airbus operator in 2003 and has operated an all-Airbus fleet since 2005.

On June 18th came one of the biggest announcements of the show. Hungary's Wizz Air, the largest low cost carrier in Central and Eastern European, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to buy 50 more A320s, to take their total orders up to 132 aircraft. All Wizz Air aircraft will be configured in single-class 180 passenger layout. No choice of engine has been made yet. Wizz Air supported by lead investor Indigo Partners has developed into a formidable success story, and has an extensive network established at 11 operating bases, in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Czech Republic, with 130 routes, and a fleet of 24 A320s.

Just when I was getting ready to close this article, along came the news that Chennai, India based Paramount Airways, has signed a memorandum of understanding to buy ten A321 aircraft with an option for an additional ten. Paramount is a niche player in Indian aviation, currently has an all Embraer E170 fleet. Commencing from small beginnings, Paramount offers a business class experience at economy class prices. It has consistently logged the highest passenger load factors in India (typically 88% and above) and has steadily gained market share. From it's regional start in South India, it has now expanded services to the North and East of India. The A321s will be used to commence international services to the regional destinations of south and south east Asia, and the middle east.

As a footnote, Delhi based IndiGo airlines will receive it's next Airbus A320-232 VT-INZ, part of it's mega 100 A320 order, by June 27th.

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