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Cebu Pacific

Cebu Air, Inc. (PSE: CEB), operating as Cebu Pacific (stylized in lowercase), is a Philippine low-cost airline based at Pasay in Metro Manila. Founded in 1988,[1] it is Asia's first low-cost airline.[6] It offers scheduled flights to both domestic and international destinations. The airline operates flights from five bases in Cebu, Clark, Davao,[7] Iloilo, and its largest base in Manila.

IATA

August 26, 1988 (1988-08-26)[1]

March 8, 1996 (1996-03-08)

2009002[2]

Go Rewards

Value Alliance

69

62 (including Cebgo)

JG Summit Holdings

PSE: CEB

Increase ₱90.60 billion (2023)

Increase ₱8.6 billion (2023)

Increase ₱7.92 billion (2023)

Increase ₱187.18 billion (2023)

Increase ₱4.78 billion (2023)

3,046 (2021)[4]

cebupacificair.com

With its low-cost business model and extensive destination network, Cebu Pacific became the Philippines' largest airline based on number of passengers flown on domestic and international routes in 2010, overtaking rival Philippine Airlines (PAL). According to Civil Aeronautics Board data, Cebu Pacific flew 2.45 million total passengers in the first quarter of 2010, nearly 110,000 more than PAL, which carried 2.34 million systemwide during the same period.[8][9]


The airline has been criticized for its frequent flight delays and cancellations, as well as unsatisfactory service to passengers, prompting investigations by the Philippine government.[10]

Cebu Pacific current fleet

Airbus A320-200

Airbus A320-200

Airbus A320neo

Airbus A320neo

Airbus A321-200

Airbus A321-200

Airbus A321neo

Airbus A321neo

Airbus A330-300

Airbus A330-300

Airbus A330-900

Airbus A330-900

Criticism and controversies[edit]

Customer service and punctuality[edit]

Cebu Pacific has been criticized for its poor passenger service, alleged overbooking, flight delays and cancellations.[102] For instance, the airline was also criticized for lack of coordination in the aftermath of the runway excursion incident at Francisco Bangoy International Airport in 2013 and the numerous flight cancellations and delays during the December 2014 Christmas peak season.[103]


In January 2018, Cebu Pacific was named as one of the world's least punctual airlines, with an on-time performance of 57.6 percent in 2017 based on data from OAG. Also included in the list from the Philippines is another low-cost airline, Philippines AirAsia, with an on-time performance of 58.0 percent.[104]


The airline was again criticized in 2023 because of its "unsatisfactory" service to passengers,[10] prompting the Senate of the Philippines to begin an investigation on June 21, 2023.[105]

Other controversies[edit]

In October 2010, a video uploaded to YouTube showing female flight attendants dancing to Lady Gaga's Just Dance and Katy Perry's California Gurls drew international attention. Despite its popularity, it was criticized by the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP), referring it as "sexist and gender-insensitive".[106] That same month, the airline was criticized again for its dancing male crew.[107]

On February 2, 1998, , a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 flying from Manila to Cagayan de Oro, crashed on the slopes of Mount Sumagaya in Misamis Oriental, killing all 104 people on board during its approach to Lumbia Airport.[108]

Cebu Pacific Flight 387

On July 28, 2010, Cebu Pacific Flight 509, an , bounced while landing at Manila after a flight from Tuguegarao Airport. The pilots performed a go-around and discovered that they could not retract the landing gear. The plane made a priority landing on runway 13. The aircraft (RP-C7254) was declared a hull loss.[109]

ATR 72-500

On June 2, 2013, Cebu Pacific Flight 971, an registered as RP-C3266 and carrying 165 passengers inbound from Manila, ran off the runway at Francisco Bangoy International Airport and investigators have found the cause was likely human error. There were no fatalities, however, the plane was heavily damaged.[110] In 2014, the plane returned to service after six months of repairs and maintenance checks.

Airbus A320-200

On August 4, 2017, Cebu Pacific Flight 570, an registered as RP-C3341, due to a nose gear fault, went off the runway stopping on soft ground while taxiing for departure at Mactan–Cebu International Airport. There were no injuries, however, the aircraft incurred minor damage. The runway was closed until the aircraft was moved back on to a paved surface. It was rated as an Incident by CAAP and is under investigation.[111]

Airbus A330-300

On October 13, 2017, Cebu Pacific Flight 461, an registered as RP-C3237, veered to the side of the runway at Iloilo International Airport. No injuries were reported.[112]

Airbus A320-200

On April 23, 2018, Cebu Pacific Flight 849, an registered as RP-C4105, flew from Manila to Zamboanga with 172 people on board, safely landed on Zamboanga International Airport's runway and was about to turn around at the turning pad at the end of the runway when the flight crew stopped the maneuver due to a nose gear steering fault. The entire airport was closed for about three hours until the aircraft could be moved to the apron.[113]

Airbus A320-200

List of airlines of the Philippines

List of airports in the Philippines

List of companies of the Philippines

List of low-cost airlines

Transportation in the Philippines

Official website

Archived November 23, 2020, at the Wayback Machine

Official holidays website

Media related to Cebu Pacific at Wikimedia Commons