Cebu Pacific adds more ground equipment in Davao Airport

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB) has deployed three electric baggage tractors (eBTUs) and two buses at Davao International Airport to support ground operations ahead of the Undas peak travel season.

The electric baggage tractors tow carts carrying baggage and cargo to and from aircraft, while the buses ferry passengers between the terminal and aircraft parked at remote stands.

The deployment comes as CEB continues to grow its Davao hub. In the first half of 2026, the airline offered nearly 2 million seats and carried more than 1.4 million passengers through Davao, up 4% from the same period last year.

With the addition of the three eBTUs, CEB’s electric ground support equipment (GSE) fleet now totals 50 units across Manila, Cebu, and Davao. The deployment also makes CEB the first Philippine carrier to operate electric GSE at Davao airport.

“Passengers may not always see the work happening on the ramp, but behind every flight is a fleet of vehicles and equipment moving baggage, cargo, and aircraft. As the busiest travel season begins, adding more vehicles in Davao helps us keep operations running smoothly and passengers on schedule. The new tractors are also electric, which helps us gradually reduce emissions from our ground operations,” shared Lei Apostol, CEB vice president for customer service operations.

CEB’s electric GSE fleet also includes pushback tractors, which move aircraft away from their parking positions before departure, and lower-deck loaders, which are used to load and unload baggage and cargo.

The deployment is part of CEB’s broader decarbonization strategy, which covers both ground and in-flight operations. The airline aims to transition to an all-new engine option (NEO) fleet by 2030. NEO aircraft consume approximately 15% less fuel than previous generation models.

The airline is also adopting technologies to reduce aircraft reliance on fuel-powered equipment while parked. In October 2026, CEB became the first carrier to use bridge-mounted equipment (BME) at Clark International Airport. The system supplies external power and cooled air to parked aircraft, reducing the need to operate fuel-powered auxiliary power units.

CEB operates in 35 domestic and 26 international destinations across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. (PR)