MANILA, Philippines - Budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) will operate direct flights to Sydney in Australia as well as Kuwait in the Middle East this September as the low cost carrier continues to launch more long-haul routes to compete head on with national flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL)
Cebu Pacific president Lance Gokongwei said in a press conference that the low cost carrier is beefing up its fleet as it intends to introduce more long-haul flights within the year.
“I think the premise remains very good. If you provide low fares to consumers then it stimulates traffic and demand and grows the market that model has worked for short-haul and now for long-haul markets,†Gokongwei said.
Cebu Pacific is in the middle of a $4 billion massive refleeting program involving the acquisition of close to 50 aircraft. The airline has a fleet of 52 Airbus aircraft consisting of 10 A319, 30 A320, four A330, and eight ATR-72 500 aircraft.
The airline is scheduled to take delivery of 11 more brand-new A320, 30 Airbus A321neo, and two Airbus A330 between this year and 2021.
“So we will have six long-haul aircrafts by next year. We think there are opportunities for the short-haul, regional, and long haul markets,†Gokongwei said.
Cebu Pacific general manager for long-haul division Alex Reyes said the airline will fly three times a week to Kuwait starting Sept. 2 and four times a week to Sydney, Australia using its brandnew Airbus A330-300.