A historic milestone was reached by leading budget airline Cebu Pacific (CEB), as it becomes the first local carrier to operate a 100-strong fleet with the delivery of its latest aircraft — a brand new A330neo.
CEB President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao said the 459-seater aircraft, which arrived in Manila from Airbus’ facility in Toulouse, France, is the second of four A330neos expected to join CEB’s fleet this year.
The first arrived on March 28 and CEB is expecting a total of seven aircraft to be delivered in 2025, Lao said.
“Reaching 100 aircraft is more than a milestone — it reflects our unwavering commitment to make air travel accessible to more Filipinos,” said With a larger fleet, we’re able to operate more efficiently, enhance connectivity across the country and the region, and pass on the benefits of scale through even lower fares,” Lao added.
According ton CEB spokesperson Carmina Romero Lao, the said milestone comes amid continued passenger growth, adding that in June 2025, CEB flew a total of 2.2 million passengers, marking a 7.9% increase from the same month last year.
Romero said that from January to June, the airline has flown 13.9 million passengers, marking a 21% increase from 11.5 million in the first half of 2024.
The A330neo, she added, provides CEB with the flexibility to serve regional and long-haul routes, as well as high-demand sectors. With increased range and capacity, the aircraft enables the airline to optimize its operations while maintaining cost efficiency.
“Airbus NEOs are the latest-generation aircraft that burn up to 25 percent less fuel per flight and produce less noise compared to the previous generation. The decrease in fuel consumption leads to a corresponding reduction in aircraft carbon emissions, Romero stated.
She added:”CEB, she said, operates one of the youngest fleets in the world, with its diversified fleet mix of 12 Airbus A330s, 40 Airbus A320s, 26 Airbus A321s, and 22 ATR turboprop aircraft, enabling the widest network coverage in the Philippines.”
