Cebu Pacific expands fleet with new ATR aircraft

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Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, has bolstered its fleet with the delivery of a new ATR 72-600 aircraft, enhancing its capacity for inter-island connectivity.

The brand-new turboprop aircraft arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila on June 5, marking the airline’s sixth aircraft delivery this year.

“With more than 7,100 islands in the Philippines, our commitment to serve passengers traveling between inter-island destinations requires us to invest in turboprop aircraft,” said Cebu Pacific CEO Michael Szucs.

“This aircraft delivery brings our turboprop fleet to 15, and we will be receiving our sixteenth ATR turboprop in October. With this, CEB will be operating the largest turboprop fleet in the Philippines, enabling us to serve more passengers across the country.”

Cebu Pacific operates its turboprop fleet across 25 domestic destinations, servicing nearly 2.5 million passengers annually.

Some of the unique destinations accessible only by turboprop and smaller aircraft include Camiguin, Calbayog, Siargao, Masbate, Surigao, Busuanga, and Naga.

The ATR 72-600, manufactured by Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) in France and Italy, is one of the latest generations of twin-engine turboprop airliners.

Known for its ability to access short, narrow, and unpaved runways, the ATR 72-600 can handle steep approaches and high-altitude landings and takeoffs. It carries around 78 passengers and has a maximum range of 1,300 kilometers, depending on the payload.

In addition to its ATR turboprops, Cebu Pacific operates a diverse fleet that includes eight Airbus 330s, 39 Airbus 320s, and 21 Airbus 321s, facilitating the widest network coverage in the Philippines.