Philippines-based budget carrier Cebu Pacific has placed an order with Airbus to purchase seven new A321ceo aircraft, valued at $812m at current list price.

In addition to a previous order for 32 A321neo, the latest order is expected to help the airline meet its increased capacity requirements on both domestic and regional routes.

Deliveries are scheduled to be carried out by next year.

Cebu Pacific president and CEO Lance Gokongwei said: “The aircraft will enable us to increase capacity on popular routes, while at the same time benefiting from the lowest operating costs in this size category.

“This will mean more low fares for more customers flying across our domestic and regional network.”

"The A321 is the perfect solution to meet the requirements of airlines worldwide in the middle of the market segment.”

Cebu Pacific currently operates a mix fleet of 61 aircraft that includes four Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320, eight Airbus A330, eight ATR 72-500 and five ATR 72-600 aircraft.

The airline serves 37 domestic and 26 international destinations, operating more than100 routes spanning across Asia, Australia, the Middle East and the US.

Airbus Customers chief operating officerJohn Leahy said: “With the A321, Cebu Pacific will be able to respond to growing demand with the highest levels of efficiency.

“Carrying more passengers further, and at lower cost, the A321 is the perfect solution to meet the requirements of airlines worldwide in the middle of the market segment.”

Airbus has so far secured more than13,000 orders for its A320 aircraft family.

The company has already delivered more than 7,500 aircraft from those orders to 400 customers and operators worldwide.


Image: A Cebu Pacific aircraft in the sky. Photo: courtesy of Airbus.