Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) expects the full restoration of its Pratt & Whitney GTF-affected fleet could be delayed until 2028 due to ongoing industrial risks, despite improving engine shop turnaround times.

Chief financial officer, Mark Cezar, said during the airline's second-quarter investor briefing that Pratt & Whitney's turnaround times for GTF engine inspections and overhauls had improved, but the situation still required active management.

"While we see possible normalisation in 2027 as a best-case scenario, we remain conscious of ongoing industrial risks, which could delay the full restoration of our fleet until 2028," he said.

President and chief commercial officer, Xander Lao, told ch-aviation in February that Cebu Pacific expected the GTF disruption could be "washed out" by end-2027, as aircraft-on-ground levels began to improve from their 2025 peak.

According to ch-aviation data, Cebu Pacific operates a GTF-powered mainline fleet of twenty-six A320-200Ns, of which 11 are inactive, and twenty A321-200NX jets, with only one inactive. It also flies thirteen A320-200s, seven A321-200s, and fourteen A330-900Ns, as well as eighteen ATR72-600s under subsidiary Cebgo and two ATR42-600s under AirSWIFT.

Fleet renewal

Cebu Pacific expects five more aircraft deliveries in the second half of 2026, comprising two A330-900Ns and three A320neo family aircraft, offset by five older-aircraft exits. Its group-wide fleet is therefore forecast to remain at 102 aircraft by year-end.

Airline-provided figures show its A320ceo family fleet falling from 22 aircraft at end-June to 18 by year-end, consistent with Lao's earlier disclosure to ch-aviation that four older A320-200s would leave in 2026. The ATR - Avions de Transport Régional fleet is also expected to decrease from 20 to 19 aircraft, while the Airbus neo fleet, which includes A321-200NX and A330-900N types, grows from 60 to 65.

The ATR reduction is consistent with Cebu Pacific's previously reported plan to sell the two ATR42-600s inherited through its acquisition of AirSWIFT in 2024. The carrier has also divested two ATR72-500(F), which it noted were already excluded from its fleet forecast.

Looking ahead to 2027, Cebu Pacific expects its overall fleet to fall to 101 aircraft, with five deliveries replacing six exits. Its forecast suggests five additional A320ceo family aircraft and one ATR will leave that year, while the A320neo family fleet grows from 65 to 70 aircraft. Despite the smaller fleet, seat capacity is expected to increase by a mid-single-digit percentage as the carrier continues to upgauge.

ch-aviation has reached out to Cebu Pacific for additional details.