Air Transport

Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific has placed firm orders for six ATR 72-500s and taken options on eight more in a breakthrough deal for the manufacturer in the Philippine market, writes Nicholas Ionides.

Deliveries of the turboprops are due to begin early next year and all six firm-ordered examples are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2008.

Flight International revealed last month that ATR was close to a deal with Cebu Pacific, while Bombardier was nearing a Dash 8 Q300 deal with Air Philippines in both manufacturers' first new-aircraft deals in the Philippines. Air Philippines recently confirmed an order for three Q300s.

Cebu Pacific operates only Airbus A320-family aircraft and the ATRs will fly on domestic routes to destinations the larger Airbus aircraft cannot serve, such as Caticlan, gateway to the popular tourist island of Boracay.

Caticlan is served by turboprop operators Asian Spirit and Seair, although Air Philippines plans to begin serving it with Q300s.

"There are around 70 airports in the Philippines, but only 25 can accommodate the Airbus, so that is why we have ordered the ATRs," says the carrier.