From 'bring me' parlor games to high-tech fun at Cebu Pacific

MANILA, Philippines - From “bring me” parlor games, passengers of Cebu Pacific would soon be treated to hi-tech fun games using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter as the Gokongwei-owned airline is set to become the first budget airline to provide inflight Internet access.

Alex Reyes, head of the airline’s long haul division said Cebu Pacific would provide Internet OnAir service to passengers in its Airbus A330 starting middle of next year in time for the initial deployment of long haul services.

The new fleet that is planned for introduction in the third quarter of next year would allow Cebu Pacific to provide direct, non-stop flights to regions within the aircraft’s 11-hour flying range including the Middle East, Australia, parts of Europe, and the US.

“Cebu Pacific will be the first long-haul, low cost carrier in Southeast Asia to provide inflight Internet access. Consistent with its track record of innovation, CEB will be the first Filipino airline to provide Internet connectivity,” Reyes stressed.

Reyes said the airline has an option also to install Wi-Fi on its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft for short haul flights in the next phase.

Passengers, however, would be charged for the new service. Details including the cost are still being finalized.

Once Internet OnAir is in service, Cebu Pacific passengers would be able to access the Internet during flights and make calls using Voice Over IP applications, using their Wi-Fi enabled personal electronic devices, such as Android™ phones and tablets, iPhone®, iPad®, BlackBerry®, and laptops.

So from parlor games such as “bring me,” passengers would now be asked simple questions and they would be asked to answer through their Facebook or Twitter accounts.

So the next time you board Cebu Pacific, passengers should make sure that they have Facebook and Twitter accounts to be able to join the game and win exciting prizes.

Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said the airline has a highly social community of over 600,000 likes on Facebook and over 380,000 Twitter followers.

“We are very happy to provide our guests with the convenience of online connectivity while in-flight. Cebu Pacific can now engage passengers through innovative web-based solutions that will further enhance their flying experience with us,” Iyog said.

OnAir chief executive officer Ian Dawkins said Cebu Pacific’s focus on social media makes inflight connectivity an obvious option, both so that passengers can stay connected throughout their journey, and so the airline can continue reaching its passengers.           

“Cebu Pacific is OnAir’s first low-cost, long-range Wi-Fi client in Asia. As the air transport market develops, we expect to see more low cost carriers operating long-haul routes and there is no doubt they will want to provide connectivity,” Dawkins said.

OnAir’s use of Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband, combined with the most extensive network of regulatory approvals and roaming agreements, means its services are available around the world.

Aside from the Wi-Fi service, Reyes said the airline would offer hot meals to its passengers starting Sept. 1. Passengers could pre-order their hot meals online under the baggage allowance option.  

Cebu Pacific currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 20 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 38 aircraft – with an average age of 3.6 years – is one of the youngest aircraft fleets in Asia.

Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific would take delivery of 22 more Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders. In 2013, it will take delivery of 4 Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft to launch its long haul operations in the same year.