Cebu Pacific CEO Backs Embraer’s Potential Expansion into Narrow-Body Market
However, the Brazilian manufacturer stated that it is not in its plans at the moment.
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The CEO of Cebu Pacific has expressed enthusiasm for Embraer and supports the development of a larger narrow-body aircraft by the Brazilian manufacturer. He stated that such an introduction would be attractive and beneficial for the airline industry, which is currently facing a shortage of available aircraft and a need for greater competition among manufacturers.
However, Embraer has confirmed that it has no plans to develop a larger aircraft beyond its regional jets, according to aviation news outlet Aeroin.
“Some airlines are considering smaller aircraft because that’s where the only availability exists. Some have to adapt to smaller models just to take advantage of that availability,” said Mike Szucs, CEO of Cebu Pacific, in a conversation with Aviation Week in Singapore.
Aviation Infrastructure and Cebu Pacific’s Fleet Strategy
Szucs emphasized that Cebu Pacific’s operations are already complex, not by choice, but due to geography, environmental factors, and infrastructure limitations. He stated that regional jets are not a viable option for the airline and that he would rather work with the government to accelerate airport upgrades, especially for runways that are currently too short for larger aircraft.
Regarding the potential of an Embraer narrow-body jet—which would compete with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737—Szucs noted that there would be a “credible opportunity” for buyers if such a model were introduced in the 2030s.
However, Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto has remained cautious about fueling speculation over the launch of a larger commercial aircraft program in the near future, despite strong industry interest.
Embraer’s Largest Jet and Cebu Pacific’s Recent Aircraft Orders
Currently, the largest aircraft produced by Embraer is the E195-E2, which has a single-class configuration of 132 seats and 146 in a high-density layout.
Cebu Pacific has previously shown openness to expanding its fleet with new aircraft types. The airline recently launched a narrow-body fleet expansion campaign, culminating in a 70-aircraft order for the Airbus A321neo.
Although the order includes options to convert some aircraft to the long-range A321LR variant, Cebu Pacific has no immediate plans to do so. The airline remains focused on operating four-hour flights, tapping into an underserved market of approximately 2 billion people.
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