Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ leading low-cost airline, has successfully executed the first all-electric aircraft turnaround at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). This event signifies a pivotal advancement in sustainable aviation within the country and the broader Asian region.

This initiative was conducted in collaboration with Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC), which manages MCIA, and TLD Asia, a global leader in electric ground support equipment (GSE).

The milestone was achieved with flight 5J566, operated by an Airbus A321neo destined for Manila. The turnaround utilized only electric GSE, circumventing traditional fuel-powered equipment for tasks including baggage handling, aircraft pushback, and providing power through bridge-mounted units, thus achieving zero emissions during the entire operation.

Javier Massot, Cebu Pacific’s COO, expressed pride in the accomplishment, stating, “This milestone shows our strong commitment to decarbonizing our operations and supporting airports that share the same sustainability goals. It is especially significant that this was done in Cebu, where our airline started.”

Athanasios Titonis, CEO of ACAC, noted that this successful demonstration is only the beginning of a sustainable future for airport operations.

Alvin Ygoña of TLD Asia emphasized the partnership in reducing emissions across the industry, underscoring the importance of technological investment to offer environmentally friendly ramp equipment.

This effort follows Cebu Pacific’s rollout of electric GSE at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and aligns with the airline’s broader sustainability strategy, targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.