Various international aviation databases online have suggested that Philippine low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air will acquire some untaken Airbus A330-900neo aircraft initially destined for AirAsia X.
Over the past few months, sources have told AUP about the possible acquisition of three relatively new Airbus A330neo from Airbus. The acquisition forms part of the existing 16 orders for the type previously placed at the 2019 Paris Air Show.
According to Aerotransport Data Bank, three former AirAsia X A330-900neo will be allocated to Cebu Pacific: MSN 1970, 1973, and 1976. Planespotters.net also reflected MSN 1970 as an A330 on order for Cebu Pacific.
The airframes are already built and parked in Toulouse, France, since last year.
Cebu Pacific’s Airbus A330neo fleet is expected to be fitted with 460 all-economy seats, more than the A330ceo’s capacity of 436. The A330neo will gradually replace the A330ceo in the future, as the airline continues to lean into more fuel-efficient aircraft.
Cebu Pacific returned two A330ceos to the lessor and sold some A320ceo to other airlines in favor of the newer and more efficient A321neos and A330neos.
Editor’s Note: We would like to clarify an error in a previous version of this article. It was incorrectly stated that the three ex-AirAsia X Airbus A330 planes were in addition to the original order of 16 planes placed by Cebu Pacific in 2019. This is not accurate. The three planes are, in fact, included within the initial order of 16 jets. We apologize for any confusion caused by this mistake.
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