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Cebu Pacific increases seat density in new Airbus order
June 21st 2019
A320neo will seat 190 and A330neo will have 460 seats. Read More »
Cebu Pacific’s Paris Air Show order was not the biggest in aircraft numbers, but it was for seating density. Cebu concluded its A330ceo replacement programme by selecting the A330neo over the 787 – and also topping up some Airbus narrow bodies.
Cebu’s Memorandum of Understanding includes 16 A330neos. The neos will be in a single-class configuration of 460 seats – more than the 436 seats Cebu has on its existing eight single-class A330neos, which are all on lease. Cebu did not disclose growth markets for its wide body fleet that is now set to double.
The A330 is certified for a maximum of 440 seats. Flightglobal reported Airbus and Cebu plan to reach 460 seats by developing a “Type-A plus” exit door that increases emergency exit capability to 120 passengers per door. The regular Type A door provides capacity for 110 passengers. The new exit will be fitted at doors two and four.
While the doors permit more seats, the actual floor space gained for the seats is possible by moving the location of lavatories, Cebu said.
Cebu’s deal also included five A320neos that will be in a new record configuration of 194 all-economy seats. Cebu also is one of the first customers for the A321 XLR, which Cebu has 10 of in the deal. Cebu plans for its entire fleet to be new-generation aircraft by 2024.
