Cebu Pacific Outlines Plans for ATR Fleet

Following the transfer of Cebu Pacific's ATR flights from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the nation's largest budget carrier has revealed its future intentions for its growing fleet of turbo-prop aircraft.

atr 72-500
Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG
At the Annual Shareholder's Meeting in Manila, Cebu Pacific CEO Lance Gokongwei indicated that the airline plans to transform Cebu Pacific into an all-jet operation over the long-term, while Cebgo will take over turbo-prop operations. 

The current fleet of eight ATR 72-500 aircraft, which serve destinations such as Busuanga, Caticlan, Laoag, and Naga City, will be retired between 2017 and 2018. However, Cebu Pacific recently placed an order for sixteen new ATR 72-600 aircraft, which will instantly double the size of the carrier's turbo-prop fleet. Cebu Pacific also holds options for an additional ten aircraft. The new ATR fleet will be delivered in a high density 78-seat configuration.

According to Lance Gokongwei, CEO of Cebu Pacific, the goal of expanding the turbo-prop fleet is to establish new bases in the Philippines that can help to alleviate the pressure on the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. 

"Our main opportunity is that only 29 or 30 of the 90 airports in the Philippines are jet capable," said Gokongwei. "There are a lot of islands and communities that cannot be reached by jet. And second, there's a limitation of slots in Manila. I think the big market is really connecting these communities or secondary cities directly with the turbo-prop aircraft, which is a prudent aircraft."

Gokongwei added that Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, and Caticlan would serve as ideal hubs. "Our plan is to set up a lot of additional hubs outside Metro Manila," said Gokongwei. "We're going to station a lot of ATR aircraft in Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, and Caticlan so that we can fly direct and connect cities together without necessarily going to hubs like Manila or Cebu."

The re-development of the Caticlan Airport to accommodate larger jet aircraft, will help to free turbo-prop aircraft to serve other markets, as some Manila to Caticlan flights get switched over to Airbus jets. 

Cebu Pacific has identified routes that offer a lot of growth potential and would be ideally suited for the ATR aircraft, but are too thin for an Airbus jet. Cebu Pacific is expected to launch new domestic routes from Caticlan to complement its existing Caticlan to Cebu route. However, it is expected that some Manila to Caticlan flights will continue to be operated by ATR aircraft in the early phases of the new Caticlan airport as there may be insufficient ramp space. 

17 comments:

  1. Maybe Davao to Butuan can restart, the 8-9 bus journey is terrible next to a 45 minute flight.

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  2. And this is news from Cebu Pathetic? *yawn*

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  3. Davao - Tagbilaran please....

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  4. Mr Hong Kong, once again you demonstrate your lack of intelligence with a meaningless comment.

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    Replies
    1. No, its a useful comment. Your comment is irrelevant to the public.

      Delete
  5. Take no notice of MR. Hong Kong he appears to be heading for a mental breakdown over CEBs success

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    1. Take no notice, yet you still mention my name. The one whose having a mental breakdown is you not me. Me, having a mental breakdown with Cebu Pathetic? LOL.

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    2. Mr. HKG is an ex-employee of 5J.

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  6. I'm starting to think that the "Mr. Hong Kong" posting here is just an impostor and the original one left a long time ago. The current one is extremely bitter towards CebPac while the original one was merely sharing his complaints.

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    1. No. This is the same Mr. Hong Kong you all know and love. The same one who curses Cebu Pathetic in every article. I was given the name Mr. Hong Kong because of my story last year when I rode Cebu Pathetic on the way to Manila. Dumbass Flight attendant spilled drinks on my tuxedo and talking about me while using the restroom on the plane.

      Mr. Hong Kong ain't going anywhere.

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    2. you are flying CEB wearing Tuxedo? now it's obvious that you are lying. Guys, please don't give Mr. Hong Kong the opportunity to waste your precious time. IGNORE him.

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    3. Wearing a tux and flying with 5J? is your tux color red?

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  7. Take no notice of Mr Hong Kong he has little knowledge of the airline industry and is just a foul mouth chinaman

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  8. MR Hong Kong is it true the flight attendant spilled boiling water on your private parts? Hahaha

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  9. Mindanao to Sabah and Manado please

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