Cebu Pacific beefs up fleet

Cebu Pacific Air took delivery last weekend of its third Boeing 757-236ER aircraft for its regional service, and had placed an order for three more upgraded Stage 3 DC9s for its domestic routes.

Cebu Pacific leased the aircraft from Boullioun Aviation Services Inc. the B-757s are among the quietest commercial aircraft now in use worldwide.

The additional DC9s are of the Stage 3 McDonnell Douglas type, meaning they are equipped with high-technology devices to muffle their sound to conform to international noise restrictions set by the US Federal Aviation Authority.

The first Stage 3 DC9 arrived last November; the second and third are expected within the first quarter of 2003. All three are meant to support Cebu Pacific’s plans to expand domestic and charter operations.

With these four additional aircraft, Cebu Pacific has more than complied with the Philippine Air Transportation Office’s requirement for the year 2003 in its mandated progressive fleet build-up in relation to noise standards.

"Cebu Pacific is confident it will be able to comply with, if not surpass, the noise standards set by the agency in the coming years," said Peggy Vera, Cebu Pacific VP for corporate planning and external affairs.