CEB picks HK firm to service Airbus fleet

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Pacific Air has appointed Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO) as the provider of engineering services for its fleet of up to eight Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

The HAECO group will provide Inventory Technical Management (ITM) and Fleet Technical Management (FTM) services for Cebu Pacific’s wide-body fleet of A330-300 aircraft.

The services include detailed planning of regular comprehensive maintenance checks, pool management of components, management of component repairs and overhauls, as well as 24/7 AOG support.

Cebu Pacific will use the Airbus A330s to launch long-haul operations in the second half of 2013. Dubai will be the airline’s first long-haul destination.

“When we launch long-haul operations, we intend to serve destinations where a large number of Filipinos reside, such as the Middle East and Australia,” said Cebu Pacific President and CEO, Lance Gokongwei. “In choosing HAECO, Cebu Pacific can tap into the expertise that HAECO has built up with the A330. The efficiencies resulting from the sharing of parts inventories and HAECO’s strong technical capabilities will assist the airline in providing low fares on long-haul routes.”

Headquartered in Hong Kong, the HAECO group provides maintenance services to many of the world’s largest Airbus A330 fleets for airlines in the Asia Pacific region.

The Airbus A330 aircraft has a range of up to 11 hours, longer than Cebu Pacific’s current fleet mainstay, the A320. (FREEMAN)