LISTED firm Cebu Pacific received its 10th Airbus 320neo (new engine option) aircraft on April 16, 2023, as part of the airline’s goal to transition to a more fuel-efficient NEO fleet by 2028.
The aircraft used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to fly from the Airbus Delivery Center in Toulouse, France, to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. It is the second of CEB’s 10 expected Airbus NEO deliveries for 2023.
Alex Reyes, Cebu Pacific’s chief strategy officer, told the local bourse that the delivery of new aircraft highlights the firm’s commitment to become one of the greenest airlines in Asia.
SAF is a drop-in fuel with similar characteristics to conventional jet fuels. It does not require any adaptations to the aircraft or engines and does not have any negative impact on performance.
The use of SAF results in up to an 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions across the fuel’s lifecycle.
CEB is the first low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia to incorporate SAF into its operations when it accepted its third A330neo in May 2022.
For this year, the airline expects to take delivery of eight more Airbus NEO aircraft: one A320neo, three A321neo and four A330neo.
CEB’s sustainability goal is in line with the global aviation’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The airline has made various investments to become fuel-efficient in its operations and keep fares affordable for passengers.
Apart from fleet modernization, the airline’s major pillars on its sustainable journey are resource optimization, which includes pushing for fuel efficiency best practices, and incorporating SAF into its operations.
To date, CEB’s fleet comprises 30 A320s, 17 A321s, five A330s and 16 ATRs.