Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) may need to source more narrowbodies beyond its substantial existing orders, its chief executive recently told the New Straits Times newspaper.
In October 2024, Cebu Pacific signed a firm order for seventy A321-200Ns with options for a further 50. Deliveries of those aircraft are due to start from 2029. "We anticipate that we will want some additions before 2029," said CEO Mike Szucs, who added that carrier is experiencing strong passenger and capacity growth.
Szucs said he was not interested in adding regional jets such as the Embraer E2s to its fleet. "Our fleet is complicated enough," he said. "I don't think at this stage in time we are looking for a smaller jet."
Except for twenty-two ATR turboprops operated by subsidiary Cebgo (DG, Manila Ninoy Aquino International), Cebu Pacific is an all-Airbus operator primarily focused on narrowbodies. Szucs highlighted that he kept the ATRs because many of the airports in the Philippines do not have runways long enough for jets. However, as he told ch-aviation earlier this year, the country is upgrading and extending many of the runways which will eventually make the ATRs redundant.
"We only fly the ATRs because some of the runways are not long enough," he said. "As a low-cost carrier, we would rather just be flying the A321s. We rather keep the fleet nice and simple but because of slot constraints, runway constraints, this has forced us to have a complicated fleet."
