Cebu Pacific has ordered four more turbo-prop ATR 72-500 aircraft that will be used for smaller airports, such as Caticlan (Boracay), bringing to ten its total firm orders worth more than USD178 million.

Lance Gokongwei, Cebu Pacific President, said the additional aircraft will allow the airline to serve more cities whose runways are too short for its Airbus fleet.

“This is a huge confidence vote for the Philippines, for our tourism sector, and our business model as a provider of quality service at affordable fares. It is also a signal to the flying public that our service and the business opportunities we help generate are now at their doorsteps,” he said.

The Philippines has seventy five airports, of which only about twenty five can accommodate Cebu Pacific’s Airbus fleet.

Areas with smaller airports, like Caticlan, will likely experience a business boom as the 72-seat ATRs bring in more tourists and businessmen, Mr Gokongwei said. The Caticlan service will commence on 29-Feb-08, using the LCC’s first ATR.

“Our expanding service will unlock the beauty and natural wealth of our archipelago. We have hubs in Manila, Cebu and Davao and hopefully Clark. All of these can be staging points for travel to what up to now are largely inaccessible destinations,”he added.

Cebu Pacific announced earlier its acquisition of up to fourteen ATR aircraft consisting of six firm orders and eight options. This is in addition to the up to 20 Airbus aircraft, worth USD1.3 billion, it announced last year.

Cebu Pacific will take delivery of the first six ATRs in 2008 and four in 2009. The airline will also take delivery of four A320 aircraft in 2008, bringing the airline’s fleet to twenty five by the end of 2008.

“From our current fleet of 15 Airbus aircraft, we could have a fleet of up to 50 aircraft composed of 32 Airbus and 18 ATR by the end of 2012 if all options are converted into firm orders,” Mr Gokongwei said.

Now in its 12th year, Cebu Pacific has the youngest fleet of aircraft in the Philippines. The LCC operates to 12 international and 21 domestic destinations.

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