Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) has signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to order 102 A321-200neo with options for a further fifty A320neo Family jets. The Filipino low-cost carrier expects to finalise the long-awaited deal, which is the largest order in the history of the Philippines, in the third quarter of 2024.
"The order is designed to provide Cebu Pacific with maximum flexibility to adapt fleet growth to market conditions, with the ability to switch between the A321neo and A320neo," Chief Executive Michael Szucs said.
The airline did not disclose any delivery timelines and did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.
Cebu Pacific has also selected the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G to power the aircraft.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that Cebu Pacific currently operates eighteen A320-200Ns (with eight more on order) and fifteen A321-200NX (with eight more on order), all with PW1100G engines. It also has an outstanding firm order for ten A321-200NY(XLR)s, although Szucs told ch-aviation in the past that the LCC was still evaluating whether to take the type or convert it to standard-range variants. Cebu's previous-generation narrowbody fleet comprises nineteen A320-200s and seven A321-200s. The airline also operates eight A330-900s (with another due), while its regional subsidiary Cebgo operates fifteen ATR72-600s.
Cebu Pacific has a mixed ownership strategy - in terms of its mainline fleet, it owns two A320-200s, two A320-200Ns, and ten A321-200NX, and leases the other aircraft. It has sold and leased back multiple aircraft including, most recently, its fifteenth A321neo, RP-C4143 (msn 11834), delivered on June 28, 2024, under a sale/leaseback deal with Aviation Capital Group.
