Philippine low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) is bolstering its fleet capacity for the busy holiday season by bringing in two Airbus A320 aircraft from Bulgaria Air via a damp lease arrangement.
Under the damp lease deal, Bulgaria Air will provide the aircraft, pilots, maintenance, and insurance, while Cebu Pacific will supply its own cabin crew for the flights.
The Philippines’ largest budget carrier has signed an agreement with the Bulgarian flag carrier to deploy the two 180-seat A320ceo jets on four high-demand domestic routes from Manila International Airport (MNL): Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro.
The aircraft will operate from December 2025 through January 2026, covering the peak travel period in the Philippines.
Meeting strong holiday demand
Cebu Pacific President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao said the arrangement reflects the airline’s proactive approach to capacity management.
“We are continuously exploring ways to expand our fleet and ensure operational resilience,” Lao said. “Our damp lease agreement with Bulgaria Air will allow us to meet strong travel demand from December 2025 to January 2026.”
Bulgaria Air operates a modern fleet, and according to Cebu Pacific, has built a reputation for reliability in both scheduled service and leasing operations. The partnership allows Cebu Pacific to quickly add capacity without the long-term commitment of purchasing or long-term leasing additional aircraft.
Growing partnership between the carriers
Hristo Todorov, Chairman of the Management Board of Bulgarian Airways Group, welcomed the collaboration with Cebu Pacific.
“We are pleased to partner with Cebu Pacific—one of the most dynamically developing airlines in Asia,” Todorov said. “This collaboration is yet another testament to the high level of trust and professionalism that our team delivers in the implementation of international leasing projects.”
The short-term lease gives Cebu Pacific the flexibility to meet seasonal demand spikes without over-committing resources during typically slower travel periods later in the year.
1 comment
I was on one of these planes last month. The FAs were all from Eastern Europe, flying, in my case, between Cebu and Saigon. They said that they only get home every three weeks.