Cebu Pacific initially operated older Douglas DC-9s and Boeing 757s before transitioning to become a predominantly Airbus airline in 2005, incorporating two Airbus A320s and ten A319s into its fleet. The airline has phased out the Airbus A319s after at least a decade of service, leaving many to wonder about the fate of these aircraft.
The airline started incorporating A319s in September 2005, with RP-C3189 being the first to join, followed by RP-C3190 in October 2005. Within a year, from September 2005 to September 2006, Cebu Pacific had acquired ten A319s.
These A319s were equipped with 156 all-economy seats, offering a pitch of 29 inches and a width of 17 inches. The aircraft, suitable for both domestic and international flights, provided ample legroom and kneeroom for passengers. They were powered by CFMI CFM56 turbofan engines.
Cebu Pacific began retiring its A319s in 2015, coinciding with the arrival of newer A320s and the upcoming delivery of more efficient A321neos and A320neos. The retirement process saw the first aircraft, RP-C3190, and then RP-C3189 leaving in 2015, followed by four more in 2016, two in 2017, and the last two, RP-C3195 and RP-C3197, in 2018. This marked the conclusion of the A319s in Cebu Pacific’s fleet.
Allegiant Air
The retired A319s found a new operator in Allegiant Air in the United States, which took on all ten former Cebu Pacific A319s, maintaining the same seating configuration. As of now, these aircraft have an average age of 16.5 years, indicating they still have many serviceable years ahead.
Cebu Pacific is currently transitioning to an all-Airbus NEO fleet, aiming to complete this shift by 2028. The airline operates A330-900neos, A321neos, and A320neos, alongside its existing A330-300s and A320-200s.
The Airbus A319-100
The Airbus A319-100 is part of the Airbus A320 family, designed for short- to medium-range flights. It can accommodate 124 to 156 passengers and has a maximum range of 3,700 nautical miles. The A319-100 offers two engine options: the CFM56 and IAE V2500 turbofan engines. Despite a shorter fuselage compared to the A320-200, the A319-100 shares many similarities with its family member, with its fuselage length measuring 33.84 meters against the A320-200’s 37.35 meters.
Note: This article was originally written in December 2022, but currently updated.
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