Cebu Pacific launches flights to Melbourne

Cebu Pacific, a Philippine-based low cost carrier is to launch flights to Melbourne. The airline will operate these flights using Airbus A330 aircraft. The flights should commence August 14, competing against Philippine Airlines, the national carrier of the Philippines. Cebu Pacific is one of the largest airlines in the Philippines and is rapidly stealing the market share from the flag carrier.

According to airlinerworld.com, the airline will add 136,406 seats to the market adding to the seats that Philippine airlines already operates. The airline will use Airbus A330-300 aircraft which are equipped with 436 seats, one of the densest aircraft airbus has ever created.

In addition, Philippine airlines has added frequences to its Manila to Melbourne flight. The airline currently has 3 weekly flights, but by July 2018, 5 weekly flights will be available. The flights from Manila should depart in the afternoon or evening. Flights from Melbourne will depart early in the morning with no other choices. This move was likely to compete against Cebu Pacific, since the change gives more choice to passengers resulting in more return.

The airline currently operates a fleet of 8 A330 aircraft with 436 seats, and also operates A320 aircraft. The airline has outstanding orders for A321-200 aircraft and A321NEO aircraft. The airline should recieve the final deliveries by late 2021. This should almost double the airlines existing fleet of 44 aircraft, as of March 1.

Cebu Pacifics' wholely owned subsidiary, CebGo operates a fleet of ATRs and operates routes throughout the Philippines, domestically. Cebu Pacific will continue to grow and will aim to become the leading Philippine airline. It has already beaten the countrys flag carrier in terms of passengers flown. Philippine airlines flew 2.34 million passengers and Cebu Pacific with 2.45 in 2010.

Cebu Pacific, one of Asia's leading low cost carriers, is already taking much of the market share on routes competing against Philippine Airlines. The airline currently generates a larger profit than the flag carrier, and is growing as we speak.