Cebu Pacific expands cargo business

MANILA, Philippines - Listed budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) is expanding its cargo business in time for the Holiday season as part of the expansion of its extensive route network here and abroad.

Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and distribution of Cebu Pacific, said the low cost carrier has extended the reach of its cargo service after launching direct flights between Manila and Dubai using brand new Airbus A330.

Aside from Dubai, Iyog said Cebu Pacific now accepts cargo for flights to Seoul and Singapore that uses that wide-body A330.

“We are proud to offer cargo services on our wide-body aircraft, to accommodate the influx of cargo being transported during the holiday season. Aside from Dubai, Seoul and Singapore, Cebu Pacific Air Cargo ships to the widest network in the Philippines and 19 more international destinations. It is a 24/7 airport-to-airport cargo operation, ensuring that cargo gets delivered quickly through our extensive route network,” she said.

Iyog pointed out that Cebu Pacific Cargo would take delivery of additional Nordisk lightweight unit load devices in December for efficient and fuel-saving cargo storage in its A330 aircraft.

Cebu Pacific Cargo currently serves more than 2,000 accounts, customizing cargo products based on the clients’ domestic and international cargo needs. Its services also include transshipments through 15 interline global partners.

For his part, Cebu Pacific general manager for long haul division Alex Reyes said the airline has partnered with Norway-based Nordisk Aviation Products to provide its wide-body aircraft with lightweight unit load devices resulting to fuel economy.

“Our partnership with Nordisk helps us meet our fuel efficiency targets while also supporting smooth ground operations. Fuel savings ultimately means that our passengers can continue to enjoy the lowest fares possible for their Cebu Pacific flights,” Reyes stressed.

He added that the airline expects to generate fuel savings from lighter aircraft weight per flight as Nordisk lightweight unit load devices are used for efficiently storing cargo and luggage on wide-body aircraft.

“We are very pleased to be selected by Cebu Pacific, and appreciate this opportunity to support their low-cost services with our light weight products and reliable aftermarket support,” says B.Y. Sim, Nordisk’s vice president of Sales and Business Development.

Cebu Pacific currently operates flights to 22 international destinations and 34 Philippine destinations from six hubs including Manila, Cebu, Clark, Davao, Kalibo (Boracay), and Iloilo.

Cebu Pacific’s 47-strong fleet is comprised of 10 A319, 27 Airbus A320, two Airbus A330 and eight ATR-72 500 aircraft. It expects the delivery of 15 more brand-new Airbus A320, 30 A321neo, and four A330 aircraft between 2013 and 2021 under a $4 billion refleeting program.