Philippine low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific has received the first of its 39 A321 aircraft on order—ushering the entry of a new Airbus model into its fleet.
The Airbus A321 is an efficient single-aisle jetliner, the longest and widest among all single-aisle aircraft.
While it can accommodate more seats and cargo, the A321 also provides enhanced passenger comfort, said Cebu Pacific.
The delivery is one of seven A321 deliveries of Cebu Pacific that consist of the A321CEO (Current Engine Option) variants, with the next tranche of A321CEO deliveries scheduled in the coming months.
Aside from the seven A321CEOs, Cebu Pacific has an existing order for 32 Airbus A321NEO (New Engine Option) aircraft, deliveries of which are expected to take place by late-2018 until 2022.
Made by seat manufacturer Recaro, the seats of the carrier’s A321CEOs come with an innovative ergonomic design and an angled backrest that allow for more distance and legroom between seat rows.
The new seats are also 40% lighter than conventional economy-class seat models, the airline said.
Coupled with increased cabin space, the A321CEOs of Cebu Pacific can easily accommodate 50 additional seats, bringing total passenger capacity to 230. The additional seating capacity will help further lower unit seat costs, enabling the carrier to offer lower fares.
The new aircraft is also equipped with USB slots so passengers may charge their devices in-flight, allowing them to bring their own sources of entertainment on board, worry-free.
The new aircraft supports Cebu Pacific’s expansion plans across the region, further boosting a network that now spans over 100 routes to 37 domestic and 26 international destinations. Cebu Pacific’s now 62-strong fleet is comprised of one Airbus A321CEO, 36 Airbus A320, eight Airbus A330, eight ATR 72-500, and nine ATR 72-600 aircraft.
