Cebu Pacific invests in airline tech firm

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu Pacific has invested in airline technology company Air Black Box Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., a move which allows the Gokongwei-led airline to enhance cooperation with other carriers in the region.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said it has joined Air Black Box Asia Pacific as a shareholder, along with ANA Holdings.

Air Black Box Asia Pacific is a joint venture founded by Singapore Airlines subsidiary Scoot Pte Ltd., along with Nok Airlines Public Co. Ltd. and VaultPAD Ventures.

The joint venture is behind the software platform enabling airlines to connect and cooperate.

The platform has also been credited in making Value Alliance which includes Scoot, Nok Air, NokScoot, Tigerair Singapore, Tigerair Australia, Cebu Pacific, Cebgo, Vanilla Air and Jeju Air, possible.

Customers can book the best available fares on flights from any of the airlines in the Value Alliance in a single transaction from each partner website through the platform.

“This allows member airlines to combine inventory and at the same time, cooperate in a broader route network, which means more destinations, more routing options, and greater convenience for customers of each airline,” said Paterno Mantaring, vice president for corporate affairs at Cebu Pacific.

Air Black Box Asia is set to expand its footprint as Value Alliance airline customers adopt Air Black Box technology. It likewise expects to have additional airline customers in the Asia Pacific region.

Cebu Pacific currently has flights to 36 domestic destinations as well as to 30 international points in Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US.

Its wholly owned subsidiary Cebgo meanwhile, has flight services to 24 Philippine destinations from strategic hubs in Manila and Cebu.

Cebu Pacific is strengthening its presence in the Visayas with the launch of three more routes from Cebu.