Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ leading carrier, announced a historic achievement in its sustainability journey, completing the country’s first all-electric aircraft turnaround at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). This landmark initiative represents a significant leap forward in the airline’s commitment to decarbonizing its operations and advancing sustainable aviation in the Philippines.
The groundbreaking operation was a collaborative effort with Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC), the operator of MCIA, and TLD Asia, a global leader in electric ground support equipment (GSE). The all-electric turnaround was performed on CEB flight 5J566, an Airbus A321neo departing for Manila.
Unlike conventional aircraft turnarounds that rely on fuel-powered machinery, this pioneering operation exclusively utilized electric GSE. This included electric baggage tractors, lower deck loaders, pushback tractors, and bridge-mounted ground power units. Every essential service, from passenger boarding and baggage handling to cargo loading and aircraft pushback, was completed with zero-emission equipment.
“This milestone underscores our strong commitment to decarbonizing our operations and supporting airports that share our sustainability goals,” said Javier Massot, CEB Chief Operations Officer. “We are incredibly proud to be the first airline in the Philippines to fully turn around an aircraft using electric equipment. It’s even more meaningful that this achievement took place in Cebu, the very city where Cebu Pacific began its journey.”
For ACAC, this successful demonstration marks a pivotal step towards a more sustainable future for airport operations.
“Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation is dedicated to supporting green innovations that align with our commitment to environmental sustainability,” stated Athanasios Titonis, ACAC CEO. “The introduction of electric GSE units at MCIA is a valuable step in this journey, and we are excited to partner with our airline partners in driving sustainable practices that will create a lasting, positive impact.”
TLD Asia also emphasized the critical role of industry collaboration in reducing emissions across the aviation sector.
“TLD continues to reinvest in the very latest technologies to complement our expanding portfolio of GSE, which in turn allows us to offer our customers the most environmentally friendly ramp equipment to benefit operations, customers, and our planet,” said Alvin Ygoña, TLD Asia Sales and Service Area Manager.
This groundbreaking effort builds upon Cebu Pacific’s earlier deployment of electric GSE at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and is an integral part of the airline’s comprehensive sustainability roadmap. This roadmap includes significant investments in fleet modernization, the adoption of renewable energy (RE), and continuous improvements in operational efficiency across all its airport hubs. Cebu Pacific is also a strong proponent of the global aviation industry’s ambitious target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
