Tandag, Philippines, loses last scheduled route by Cebgo ch-aviation PRO exclusive

Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering thirty-one Airbus aircraft, including sixteen A330-900s, ten A321-200neo(XLR)s, and five A320-200neo.

Announced during the 2019 Paris Air Show at Paris Le Bourget, the MoU includes the high-density versions of both the A330-900 and the A320neo, which will seat up to 460 and 194 passengers respectively in a single-class layout.

If the order is firmed, Cebu Pacific will become one of the world's largest customers for the A330-900 to date. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, only AirAsia Group, Air Lease Corporation, Delta Air Lines, and Iran Air (suspended) have so far ordered more than sixteen units.

Cebu Pacific's current fleet includes thirty-three A320-200s, seven A321-200s, two A321neo, and eight A330-300s. Its regional subsidiary Cebgo (DG, Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l) operates eighteen ATR72s. Cebu Pacific is in the process of adding its first A320neo and has thirty-one A321neo on firm order from Airbus.

The Philippines' Department of Transportation (DOTr) said that local airlines have agreed to shift their turboprop traffic away from congested Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l to Manila Sangley, GMA News has reported.

The airlines are expected to sign a formal pledge on June 24. Sangley and Clark will also host all general aviation traffic to the Filipino capital going forward.

"Airlines expressed their willingness and commitment to support the government’s thrust to utilize Sangley Airport. This is a solid demonstration of their trust and confidence in the administration of President Duterte," Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The DOTr also ordered 24/7 construction works at Sangley to allow traffic to relocate by the December deadline. The works started in 2018 and are currently half-complete. The original timeline for Sangley envisaged the opening in March 2020.

According to the ch-aviation schedules module, Cebu Pacific Air's subsidiary Cebgo (DG, Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l) and AirSWIFT (T6, Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l) are currently the only airlines deploying turboprops to the main gateway...

Vanilla Air (JW, Tokyo Narita) has announced it will withdraw from Value Alliance on March 30, 2019, and will thereafter no longer sell tickets for other alliance members' flights.

In a statement, the Japanese LCC did not provide any reasons for its leaving the alliance. However, the carrier is in the process of being merged into Peach Aviation (MM, Osaka Kansai) which is not a member of the alliance.

Value Alliance was formed in 2016 as a partnership of East, South-East Asian, and Australian LCCs. Its members include Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l) and Cebgo (DG, Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l) in the Philippines, Jeju Air (7C, Jeju) in South Korea, Nok Air (DD, Bangkok Don Mueang) and NokScoot (XW, Bangkok Don Mueang) in Thailand, Scoot (TR, Singapore Changi) in Singapore, Tigerair Australia (TT, Melbourne Tullamarine) in Australia, and Vanilla Air.

According to the ch-aviation capacity module, following Vanilla Air's withdrawal, other alliance members will continue...