Philippine low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific has today firmed up an important order for the latest generation Airbus aircraft. The carrier ordered a swathe of Airbus products at this year’s Paris Air Show, including 16 A330neos, 10 A321XLRs and five A320neos. The widebodies were firmed up in November this year, but we’ve been waiting to see the MoU for the narrowbody similarly confirmed.

Cebu Pacific firms up its order

Philippine airline Cebu Air has today firmed up its order for 15 latest generation Airbus neo narrowbodies. The order includes five A320neo aircraft, and 10 A321XLRs, the longest range narrowbody jet in the world. Their stock exchange filing, as reported by Flight Global, said,

”Cebu Air signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for the order of 15 A320neo family aircraft which includes up to 10 A321XLR. The order for the said aircraft is valued at $2 billion based on list prices.”

A320neo Cebu Pacific
Five A320neo are included in the order. Photo: Airbus

This represents a firming up of an order already announced. Back at the Paris Air Show this year, the airline ordered 16 A330neo aircraft along with 15 latest generation narrowbodies. The A330neo aircraft are due to start delivering in 2021 and the A321XLRs will be delivered from 2024 onwards. No timeline has been set as yet for delivery of the A320neos.

Cebu Pacific is an all-Airbus airline, and is increasing its investment in the latest generation of Airbus aircraft. Their order of 16 A330neos was firmed up in November, and these are notable for being selected with the high density, all-economy configuration. When they take to the skies, the Cebu A330neos will be the densest in operation, seating 460 passengers.

A330neo Cebu Pacific
The A330neo order was confirmed in November. Photo: Airbus

Airbus closes in on a milestone

Reuters reports that Airbus is closing in on an important milestone for 2019. Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer said yesterday that the European planemaker had won 940 gross orders so far this year. He also mooted that they expected to ‘reach a milestone’ by the end of the year.

That suggests that Airbus is expecting more orders to be signed off before the close of 2019, to take it past the 1,000 mark. With only 12 days to go before the new year begins, it will be interesting to see if they meet this goal.

Christian Scherer (third from left) has high hopes of Airbus reaching a milestone this year. Photo: Airbus

The planemaker has recently lowered its delivery target to 860 aircraft over the course of the year. This is a slight revision downwards from its guidance earlier in the year, having pulled it back due to delays with the production of the A321neo. However, if this goal is achieved, it will be a record-breaking year for Airbus.

Last year, the airframer achieved 800 aircraft deliveries in 2018, which was a record and up 11% on 2017’s figures. Although 860 will be a slower growth rate, it will still mark a 7% increase in deliveries over last year.

Are you excited to see these new aircraft flying in Cebu Pac colors? Do you think Airbus will reach its 1,000 aircraft order target for 2019? Let us know in the comments.