Cebu Pacific aircraft fleet is RP’s youngest

To celebrate its significant, to say the least, $670-million re-fleeting program, Cebu Pacific Air (CEB), of the new Filipino time fame, recently hosted a well-attended dinner reception at the Grand Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, the choice venue of numerous important affairs.

At the cocktails, the airline’s top executives, led by general manager Bong Mojica, vice president for passenger sales Veronica Lim, marketing director Candice Iyog, director for special events Ana Mendoza, director for government affairs Edwin Bautista, and JG Summit Holdings communi-cations manager Viveca Singson, enthusiastically welcomed guests.

Animated pockets of conversation centered on CEB’s latest acquisition of two leased A-320s from France, which can accommodate 179 persons, and the forthcoming delivery of 12 brand-new A-319s from September 2005 to early 2007. By then, it would make the CEB’s fleet the youngest in the Philippines, and possibly one of the youngest in the Asia Pacific region.

The aircraft, which would save up to 40 percent in fuel cost, will totally replace the present fleet of 12 DC-9s and three 757s on the airline’s regional and domestic network that currently extends to – are you ready for this? – 114 destinations from Manila and six from Cebu. My, how it has expanded since 1996!

Cebu Pacific Air president and CEO Lance Gokongwei joined guests composed mostly of stakeholders in the travel industry and members of the tri-media. The evening’s guest of honor was Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano who was accompanied by Tourism Assistant Secretary Edu Jarque.

A poignant and well-received highlight of the event was Gokongwei’s exuberant message. He said: "We are confident that our partnership with Airbus will further boost our already strong presence on the domestic front, and support us considerably as we delve further into the region. The Cebu Pacific Airbus team-up will surely play a key role in the development of our country’s tourism, which is a vital component of the airline’s vision and mission."

Secretary Durano extended to CEB sincere felicitations for its continued contribution to tourism.

The evening was capped with a generous raffle of prizes of several domestic and international tickets and an outstanding performance by versatile singer Robert Seña.

The catchy Tourism Department slogan goes, "I Love the Philippines, biyahe na." So, why not via Cebu Pacific Air? Why not?