The Philippine carrier, Cebu Pacific has chosen Jettainer, to manage and maintain its fleet of ULDS (unit load device) beginning October this year.

In a statement, Jettainer said this long-term partnership will provide the airline with a highly efficient steering method and a ULD fleet tailored to its specific needs, ultimately benefitting its cargo business.

Cebu Pacific operates the widest domestic network in the Philippines out of its seven strategically placed hubs. It also serves a growing number of international destinations in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

Jettainer said with this deal, it will be purchasing the airline’s existing ULD fleet consisting of around 2,700 assets and with its strong focus on process optimization, Jettainer will enable the Philippine-based airline to significantly reduce its ULD fleet requirement.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cebu Pacific has been working on accelerating its transformation towards operating more efficiently while managing costs through efforts such as, digitalisation and optimisation of operational processes, combined with leveraging supply chain solutions that deliver best-in-class outcomes.

"As we continue working towards being a world-class airline, we are always on the lookout for growth opportunities. Extensive discussions around the possibility of outsourcing our ULD asset management have been conducted, and Jettainer’s total package, incorporating innovation, transparency, and absolute reliability, convinced us to entrust our business to them,” said Michael Ivan Shau, chief operations officer at Cebu Pacific.

He added that the move will allow Cebu Pacific to reallocate resources and capital, which can be prioritised to support our path towards recovery.

“Contracting Jettainer also contributes to our ongoing right-sizing exercise as their advanced technology and assets provide us with much-needed flexibility to carry out our growth strategy,” Shau further said.

Thomas Sonntag, managing director of Jettainer said to show its full support to Cebu Pacific and to pursue its own growth strategy in Asia, setting up a dedicated team in Manila is in the pipeline.

Preighter operations

Cebu Pacific currently operates one of the most modern fleets in the world, with an average age of 5 years.

The carrier is committed to transitioning to a fully containerised fleet of Airbus jets, comprised of A320neo, A321neo, and A330 family. 

Additionally, CEB Cargo revolutionized the Philippine air freight market as it introduced its converted ATR72-500 freighter in 2018, making it the first passenger airline in the country with dedicated cargo aircraft.  Its second ATR freighter is expected to enter the fleet by end of this year.