Cebu Pacific’s new A320neo delivered to Philippines fueled by 41% SAF blend

Photo: Cebu Pacific

Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ leading carrier, announced June 30 that the airline received its eighth aircraft delivery for 2023, a brand-new A320neo from Airbus’ final assembly line in Tianjin, China, to address the growing demand for air travel.

The A320neo operated using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with a 41 percent blend on its flight from Tianjin to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, marking a major milestone for Cebu Pacific’s sustainable-aviation initiatives.

“We are thrilled to welcome this delivery, which is a major milestone for both Airbus and Cebu Pacific,” said Michael Szucs, CEO of Cebu Pacific. “This is in line with our fleet plan, which aims to support our overall growth ambitions as travel demand continues to recover.”

Cebu Pacific is accepting a total of 15 aircraft delivery for 2023.

It has ordered 10 brand-new Airbus “neo” aircraft in 2023 to support its objective to transition to a more fuel-efficient, all-neo fleet by 2028.

On top of this, the airline is also receiving five additional aircraft via long-term lease.

“Cebu Pacific has been the Philippine leader in propelling decarbonization in the aviation industry,” said Alex Reyes, Cebu Pacific chief strategy officer. “This aircraft delivery, powered by SAF, demonstrates our commitment to providing safe, convenient and reliable travel for our customers, while building a greener and more sustainable future.”

SAF is a drop-in fuel with similar characteristics as conventional jet fuels.

It does not require any adaptation to the aircraft or engines and does not have any negative impact on performance.

The use of SAF results in up to 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions across the fuel’s lifecycle.

The narrow-body aircraft features 188 seats made by world-renowned seat manufacturer Recaro, providing passengers with more comfort with its slim and ergonomic design.

The aircraft is also 20 percent more fuel efficient than its previous generation, able to consume as little as 2.46 kilograms of fuel per seat per 100 kilometers.