Cebu Pacific continues to lead the way and set new records when it comes to utilising Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for commercial flights.
In September 2022 Cebu was the first low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia to incorporate SAF and yesterday the airline flew Flight 5J 5055 from Narita to Manila making it the first Philippine carrier to use SAF in a commercial flight from Japan.
The SAF flight was operated with an Airbus 321neo, using 40% blended SAF produced by Neste Corporation and supplied by Itochu Corporation. This combination resulted in a 44 percent reduction in carbon emissions per passenger, setting a new record for Cebu’s SAF-powered flights.
Alexander Lao, President and Chief Commercial Officer at Cebu Pacific stated
“As we await sufficient SAF supply to meet the demand of the entire aviation industry, this inaugural Narita to Manila SAF flight represents Cebu Pacific’s ongoing efforts toward making air travel more sustainable. Other decarbonization programs that we have put in place include investing in fuel-efficient NEOs, optimization of flight plans, and adoption of fuel efficiency best practices to minimize fuel consumption. All these are concrete sustainability initiatives that bolster our commitment and support for the aviation industry’s goal of flying net-zero by 2050,”
Itochu, which acts as the branded distributor of SAF in Japan, lauded the collaboration.
“We look forward to partnering with Cebu Pacific as we strive towards sustainable aviation. Our collaboration underscores the growing demand for SAF in the Asia-Pacific region and we are ready to meet that need,” said Atsushi Onishi, Senior Officer of Itochu’s Energy Division.
Passengers on the inaugural flight were part of the celebration, receiving commemorative tokens and engaging in in-flight activities. The initiative was also warmly welcomed by Narita International Airport. Toshio Tashiro, Executive Officer of Narita International Airport shared,
“We are honored that Cebu Pacific has chosen Narita International Airport for this initiative. Being one of the select airlines to mount SAF flights in Japan, Cebu Pacific’s commitment to sustainability is commendable.”
Prior to the commercial flight, CEB signed a strategic partnership with Neste to work towards establishing a long-term supply of SAF across the Asia-Pacific. This initiative aligns with the airline’s sustainability goal to gradually integrate SAF into its operations, thereby reducing its carbon emissions footprint and promoting environmental consciousness.
CEB operated its first passenger flight powered by SAF in September 2022 from Singapore to Manila, making it the first low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia to incorporate SAF in its commercial operation. The airline aims to integrate blended SAF for its entire commercial network by 2030.
For more information about CEB’s sustainability initiatives, visit: www.cebupacificair.com.
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About Cebu Pacific
Cebu Air Inc. is the largest carrier in the Philippine air transportation industry, offering its low-cost services to more destinations and routes with higher flight frequency within the Philippines than any other airline.
CEB and subsidiary Cebgo flies to over 60 destinations in the Asia-Pacific, Australia, and the Middle East, as well as within the Philippines, with over 120 routes. The CEB network operates flights out of seven strategically placed hubs in the Philippines: the main hub Manila, Cebu, Clark, Davao, Kalibo, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro (Laguindingan).
For bookings and inquiries, guests can visit www.cebupacificair.com. The latest seat sales can be found on CEB’s official Twitter (@CebuPacificAir) and Facebook pages.
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