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five A320neo; and an ATR 72-600. “2019 is the year we accelerate by upgrading aircraft and maximizing available
growth. On average, we will be receiving one brand-new aircraft airport slots in Manila and other megacities we
per month which we can use to increase capacity in key markets serve,” says Gokongwei. CEB’s new A330neos
or even launch new routes. For 2019, we expect capacity to grow will replace the airlines older A330neos, which
from low to mid-teens,” said Lance Gokongwei, President and CEO will be progressively retired. The new aircraft
of Cebu Pacific. CEB had placed orders for 32 A321neos in 2011 will be able to seat 460 passengers, a 5.5 per
cent capacity increase over CEB’s current
CEB took delivery of its first ATR 72-500 freighter in August. The A330neo fleet.
aircraft was converted from passenger to cargo use and is first
of its type in the Philippines. CEB will take delivery of another IndiGo Continues With Fleet
Expansion
Indian LCC IndiGo is continuing with its fleet
expansion as it benefits from the demise of Jet
Airways, which had a 35 percent share of the
Indian domestic market. IndiGo’s fleet of 129
A320neo, 83 A320neo, 5 A321neo and 18 ATRs
(as of June), comprising almost half of the com-
mercial airline fleet in India. IndiGo is the largest
customer for ATR aircraft in India and took
delivery of its first ATR 72-600 in November
2017. The 1,000th ATR 72 to be delivered also
went to IndiGo, which took delivery of the air-
craft in July 2018, nearly a decade after the
ATR 72-600 programme was launched in 2009.

The LCC has 50 ATRs on order. Aircraft lessor
Chorus Aviation Capital announced in June,
that it had entered into a sale and leaseback
transaction with IndiGo for delivery of six new
ATR 72-500 freighter before the end of the year. CEB subsidiary ATR72-600 aircraft. “We are delighted to wel-
Cebgo will operate two of the type, both converted from passenger come IndiGo, as our 14th lease customer,”
aircraft to freighters. The ATR freighter is equipped with a Large said Steve Ridolfi, President, Chorus Aviation
Cargo Door (LCD), allowing a load of up to seven (7) Ld3 air cargo Capital. “The Indian aviation market is vibrant
containers, or five (5) PBJ pallets. The freighter can carry as up to and dynamic with regional air transporta-
8 tonnes of cargo. The ATR 72-500 freighter will allow CEB the tion expanding rapidly to connect previously
ability to undertake cargo services at airports with short runways unserved communities. IndiGo is perfectly
where only turboprops can take off and land. Sabena Technics positioned to capitalize on this exciting growth.
DNR S.A.S. undertook the passenger to freighter conversion at This is Chorus Aviation Capital’s second leasing
its facility in Dinard, France. transaction this year in India, one of the world’s
fastest growing aviation markets.” IndiGo will
CEB also placed orders for 16 A330neo and 15 A320neo family now be taking delivery of the six new ATRs
aircraft at the Paris Airshow and deliveries are slated between by the end of the year, taking its fleet of the
2021 and 2026. “The A330neo will give us the lowest cost per regional transport type to 24. IndiGo was slated
seat and allow us to continue offering the lowest fares. Moreover, to induct 20 ATRs by January 2018. However,
the lower fuel burn matched with higher seat density will allow the airline has had to slow down induction of
CEB to address growing demand for leisure and business travel, the type due to a shortage in trained aircrew.

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