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Cebgo (stylized in all lowercase) is the wholly owned regional subsidiary of Cebu Pacific. It is the successor company to South East Asian Airlines and Tigerair Philippines.[4] It is now owned by JG Summit, the parent company of Cebu Pacific which operates the airline. The airline's main base has been transferred from Clark International Airport in Angeles City to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila. On April 30, 2017, Cebgo planned to move out from Manila and transfer its main base to Mactan–Cebu International Airport in Cebu City because NAIA has already maxed out its capacity.[5] Currently, it operates an all-ATR fleet, with a total of 16 in service.[4]

Key Information

History

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Early years

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The airline was established as South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) in 1995 and started operations in the same year. However, its franchise was granted by the Congress of the Philippines only on May 13, 2009, through Republic Act No. 9517.[6]

The airline received its corporate registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 1995 mainly to operate aircraft leasing, chartering and a few domestic scheduled flights. In May 1995, the airline was registered with the Clark Special Economic Zone to operate services in the Clark-Manila-Subic area and to tourist destinations throughout the Luzon and the Visayas regions. It continued expanding its routes and opened a hub in Zamboanga City in 2002.

Partnership with Tigerair

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On September 29, 2006, a deal was announced in which Singapore-based Tigerair would enter a commercial and operational tie-up with SEAir from February 2007.[7] The tie-up was finally approved in 2008 after protest from four other Philippine airlines. However, due to the unfavorable operating environment, the plan was put into hiatus. Tigerair and SEAir revisited the partnership plan in 2010 and it was officially launched on December 16, 2010. Seats on flights operated by SEAir using two aircraft leased from Tigerair were sold and marketed by Tigerair for SEAir. Shortly after SEAir and Tigerair launched the partnership, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Zest Airways and Air Philippines sent a letter of protest to the Department of Transportation and Communications claiming the partnership between SEAir and Tigerair was illegal and requested the authorities to stop flights operating under the partnership.[8] The Tigerair-SEAir partnership began with international flights from Clark to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau. It was then expanded to domestic destination from Manila (NAIA) to Davao and Cebu (slated to launch in July 2011). However, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered the sales of the domestic flight under the partnership to be suspended on May 20, 2011, after receiving complaints from Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. Since the ban from CAB was lifted in October 2011, the planned domestic flight (between Manila (NAIA) to Davao and Cebu) was scheduled to start in May 2012.[9]

An Airbus A320 in the Tigerair-SEAir livery (2012)

In February 2011, Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd., parent company of Tigerair, purchased 32.5% shares of SEAir.[10] They increased their shares to 40% in August 2012.[11]

In December 2012, CAB approved SEAir's application to form SEAir International, a full-service airline focusing on domestic and international leisure destinations. It operates independently from SEAir Inc., which was rebranded as Tigerair Philippines. Due to the exclusion of turboprop aircraft under a share sale agreement between SEAir and Tigerair, the turboprop fleet of SEAir Inc. was transferred to SEAir International.[12]

SEAir was rebranded as Tigerair Philippines in June 2013.

Acquisition by Cebu Pacific

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On January 8, 2014, Cebu Pacific announced that it was acquiring the entirety of Tigerair Philippines for ₱672 million (US$15 million) by purchasing all shares.[13] On May 11, 2015, Tigerair Philippines was rebranded as Cebgo to reflect the relationship between Tigerair Philippines as a wholly owned subsidiary airline of its parent company Cebu Pacific.[14]

In July 2015, Cebu Pacific announced plans to consolidate its operations to a fleet of jet aircraft while transferring its ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft to Cebgo.[15] In the same year, Cebu Pacific ceased turboprop operations, while Cebgo ceased jet operations with the return of its last Airbus A320 to its parent company.[16]

In February 2018, after a crowdsourcing campaign was launched in 2017, Cebu Pacific announced it was flying to Batanes, the most requested destination in the campaign. The route's inaugural flight was on March 25, 2018, but flights to Batanes ended on October 27 of the same year.[17]

Like Cebu Pacific, Cebgo's operations were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Both airlines suspended operations during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon in 2020.[18]

Destinations

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Cebgo flies to 30 destinations in the Philippines as of October 2025. It operates from its bases in Cebu and Manila.[4]

Fleet

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ATR 72-600
ATR 72-500P2F

Current fleet

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As of August 2025, Cebgo operates the following aircraft:[19]

Cebgo fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
ATR 72-600 15[20] 1[21] 78
Total 15 1

On June 16, 2015, at the 2015 Paris Air Show, Cebu Pacific announced orders for 16 ATR 72-600 aircraft, with options for 10 more, for its regional subsidiary Cebgo to meet growing demand for domestic services. The airline is the launch customer of the high-density Armonia cabin, which seats up to 78 passengers.[22]

In August 2019, Cebgo's first ATR 72-500 freighter, RP-C7252, arrived in the country. The aircraft was among the few dedicated cargo aircraft, as the Philippines' cargo movement were mostly catered in passenger aircraft's cargo compartments.[23] Soon after, the airline then took delivery of its second ATR 72-500 converted freighter aircraft in December 2020.[24]

Retired fleet

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A South East Asian Airlines (SEAir), Dornier 328, 2010

Cebgo and its predecessor brands has previously operated the following aircraft:

Cebgo retired fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Replaced by Notes
Airbus A319-100 2 2010 2015 ATR 72-500 Returned to Tigerair.
Airbus A320-200 3 2010 2015 ATR 72-600 Returned to Cebu Pacific.
ATR 72-500 9 2008 2024 ATR 72-600 Includes 2 P2F aircraft used for passengers before conversion.
Boeing 737-200F 1 2011 2012 None
Dornier 328 5 2004 2013 None Operated by SEAir.
Let L-410 Turbolet 9 2004 2013 None Operated by SEAir.

Incidents and accidents

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  • On September 26, 2016, flight DG6577, from Cebu to Tacloban, utilizing an ATR 72-500, was taking off from Cebu's runway 22 when the crew observed fluctuations on oil indications for the left-hand engine and decided to reject the takeoff. A fire was discovered on both left hand main wheels while taxiing, leading the crew to stop on the taxiway and begin an evacuation of the aircraft. One passenger received minor injuries during the evacuation.[25]
  • On October 1, 2017, flight DG6273, from Caticlan to Cebu, utilizing an ATR 72-500, the crew received fault messages for multiple systems shortly after taking off and landed back safely. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation.[26]
  • On November 1, 2018, flight DG6717, an ATR 72-600 from Cebu City to Cagayan de Oro experienced engine fire on takeoff. The engine was shut down and a fire drill was performed. The aircraft safely landed back at Mactan Cebu International Airport. No injuries to passengers or crew were reported.[27]
  • On March 8, 2022, flight DG6112 from Naga utilizing an ATR 72-600 aircraft experienced a runway excursion while landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. Following the incident, all 46 passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported.[28]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Cebgo is a low-cost regional airline based in the Philippines, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Cebu Pacific Air and focusing on domestic and short-haul flights to connect major cities and smaller islands across the archipelago. It serves over 30 destinations with a fleet primarily composed of ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft, emphasizing affordable travel and high-frequency services from its main hub at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and secondary hub at Clark International Airport. Originally established as South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) in 1995, the airline underwent significant transformations before its current form. In June 2013, it rebranded as Tigerair Philippines following a partnership with Singapore's Tigerair, but Cebu Pacific acquired full ownership in March 2014 by purchasing the remaining 40% stake for $15 million, integrating it into its network to expand regional operations. The carrier was officially rebranded as Cebgo in May 2015, aligning it closely with its parent company's low-cost model while specializing in turboprop services for shorter routes. As of late 2025, Cebgo operates a fleet of 15 ATR 72-600 aircraft, each configured with 78 seats in a high-density layout to maximize efficiency on routes averaging under two hours. though its primary focus remains on bolstering 's domestic connectivity. In the first half of 2025, Cebgo carried approximately 1.1 million passengers, contributing to the Group's dominance in the Philippine aviation market with a 4.9% share of system capacity.

History

Founding and early operations

South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) was established in 1995 by aviation entrepreneurs Captain Iren Dornier, Nick Gitsis, and Tomas Lopez as a regional carrier focused on inter-island routes within the . The airline began operations with two nine-seater Dornier 28 , primarily serving remote tourist destinations such as Apulit Island in to promote "paradise-to-paradise" connectivity. In its early years, SEAir's fleet consisted mainly of aircraft suited for short-haul operations, including the 30-seat and the smaller , which enabled service to airports with limited infrastructure. The faced operational challenges during the late and early , amid the Asian and intensifying competition in the deregulated Philippine market, which strained smaller carriers like SEAir with high fuel costs and route overlaps. By the early , SEAir expanded into cargo services, acquiring a 737-200 freighter in 2001 to diversify revenue streams and support growing demand for air freight in the . Key milestones included route additions in the region, such as to Caticlan for access, and in , where the airline established a hub in in 2002 to facilitate daily flights to destinations like , , and . These developments helped SEAir serve over a dozen domestic tourist spots by the mid-. Despite growth, SEAir encountered financial struggles in the lead-up to , including mounting operational costs and debt pressures common to the Philippine low-cost sector, prompting the need for strategic partnerships to sustain expansion. The airline would later be acquired by and rebranded as Cebgo in 2015.

Partnership with Tigerair

In September 2006, Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAir) announced a strategic partnership with Singapore-based low-cost carrier Tiger Airways, establishing a code-share agreement and operational tie-up that included leasing two Airbus A320 aircraft from Tiger to enable route expansions, particularly international services to Singapore from Clark International Airport. The collaboration aimed to shift SEAir toward a low-cost model, focusing on domestic Philippine routes and short-haul international connections, though regulatory delays postponed the launch of flights until December 2010, when SEAir commenced daily Clark-Singapore services using the leased A320s. The partnership deepened in 2012 when Tiger Airways acquired a 40% stake in SEAir for approximately $7 million, providing capital for fleet modernization and network growth. In June 2013, SEAir rebranded as Tigerair Philippines, aligning with Tiger's global low-cost branding, and expanded its fleet by incorporating Airbus A319 and A320 jets to support increased domestic frequencies and short-haul international routes to destinations like Hong Kong and Bangkok. This period marked key milestones, including the airline's first international flight under the rebranded Tigerair Philippines banner—a Clark-Singapore route operated by an A320 in July 2013—contributing to passenger growth from 970,000 in 2013 to 1.3 million in 2014, driven by aggressive domestic expansions to cities like Cebu, Davao, and Bacolod. Despite these advances, Tigerair Philippines faced significant challenges, including intense competition from dominant local carriers like Cebu Pacific, which pressured market share and profitability, as well as ongoing regulatory scrutiny over route rights and foreign ownership limits that had earlier halted expansion attempts in 2011. These issues culminated in the partnership's dissolution in early 2014, when Tiger Airways sold its stake to Cebu Pacific for $15 million, citing the unit's unprofitability amid rising operational costs and competitive pressures. This acquisition by Cebu Pacific resolved the alliance's challenges and integrated Tigerair Philippines into the larger network.

Acquisition by Cebu Pacific and rebranding

In late 2013, entered into negotiations to acquire full ownership of Tigerair Philippines, culminating in an announcement on January 8, 2014, that it would purchase 100% of the airline for approximately ₱672 million (US$15 million). The deal included buying out the remaining 40% stake held by of , with the transaction finalized in March 2014 following regulatory approval from the in February. The acquisition was driven by 's strategy to expand into the regional market, secure valuable slots at , and grow Tigerair Philippines as a sustainable through capital infusion and operational synergies, thereby increasing its domestic market share to around 56%. On May 11, 2015, announced the of its subsidiary from Tigerair Philippines to Cebgo, aligning the new identity with the parent company's branding through the adoption of CEB colors in its logo. This marked a strategic pivot toward a domestic-focused operation, with Cebgo transitioning its fleet from A320 jets to turboprops by October 2015 to better serve short-haul regional routes. The shift facilitated initial route rationalization, including the launch of 10 new domestic destinations and a turnaround in financial performance by narrowing losses through optimized operations under 's management. Following the rebrand, Cebgo pursued expansion milestones, including plans announced in early 2017 to grow its base at , enabling a capacity increase of over 20% and the addition of several new routes. The led to a full suspension of Cebgo's operations in March 2020 amid government-mandated lockdowns, with recovery beginning in 2021 through gradual route resumption and reaching approximately 84% of pre-pandemic domestic capacity by 2022. In 2025, to alleviate congestion at (NAIA), Cebgo relocated its operations to secondary hubs, including and . The transfer began on March 30, 2025, with full completion by the end of the northern summer season in October 2025, affecting routes such as those to Naga and San Jose. The acquisition and rebranding enhanced integration with , including unified branding and shared booking systems accessible via the parent company's website and app, where Cebgo flights are denoted by the DG code. Cebgo operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of , which is part of the JG Summit group.

Corporate affairs

Ownership and subsidiaries

Cebgo operates as a wholly owned of Air, with the parent company holding 100% ownership since its acquisition in 2014. Air, in turn, is majority-owned by Inc., which controls approximately 66.44% of its shares as of October 2025. This structure positions Cebgo within the broader JG Summit conglomerate, primarily controlled by the Gokongwei family. As a dedicated regional carrier, Cebgo functions as a feeder airline to enhance Cebu Pacific's domestic network, focusing on short-haul routes that connect smaller destinations to major hubs. It does not maintain any independent subsidiaries or significant affiliates of its own, relying instead on shared operational and administrative resources from its parent. Cebgo's financial performance is fully integrated into Cebu Pacific's consolidated reporting, with its assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses included in the parent's annual and quarterly through 2025. This consolidation reflects Cebgo's role in supporting Cebu Pacific's overall growth, including contributions to passenger traffic and ancillary services within the group's model.

Headquarters and leadership

Cebgo's is located at the 3rd Floor of the Cebu Pacific Building, 8006 Domestic Road, City, , . The airline maintains operational offices within the complex in , facilitating its regional flight activities. As a wholly owned of , Cebgo's is closely integrated with its parent company, reporting directly to Cebu Pacific's executive team and . Alexander G. Lao serves as Cebgo's President and , a role he has held since September 2016, overseeing the subsidiary's strategic direction and commercial operations. Key executives under Lao include functional leaders in areas such as flight operations, maintenance, and customer service, drawn from Cebu Pacific's broader management structure to ensure alignment with group-wide policies. Cebgo's board of directors comprises representatives from Cebu Pacific's senior leadership, including Chairman Lance Y. Gokongwei and CEO Michael B. Szucs, providing oversight and strategic guidance while maintaining reporting lines to Cebu Pacific's board for major decisions. In response to the post-2020 recovery from the , Cebu Pacific implemented a management reshuffle effective January 1, 2023, with Michael B. Szucs appointed as CEO and Alexander G. Lao elevated to President and Chief Commercial Officer of the parent company, while retaining his position as Cebgo's President and CEO to drive fleet expansion and network growth. This transition supported Cebgo's integration into Cebu Pacific's aggressive expansion plans for the group, including the addition of new A320neo aircraft to the parent's fleet to enhance overall regional connectivity.

Operations

Hubs and bases

Cebgo's primary operational hubs are (MNL) in and (CEB) in , serving as the core bases for its network as of 2025. These facilities enable efficient management of regional flights, with handling high-volume connections to central and northern Philippine destinations and Cebu focusing on and routes. The hubs play a crucial role in integrating Cebgo's operations with its parent company, , by facilitating passenger transfers from short-haul services to mainline jet flights for domestic and international travel. This connectivity supports seamless onward journeys, enhancing the overall Philippine aviation network and contributing to 's strategy of decongesting primary airports while expanding regional access. Clark International Airport (CRK) functions as a secondary base and focus city for Cebgo, with expanded operations in 2025 including the transfer of turboprop routes such as those to Naga and San Jose from to alleviate capacity constraints at NAIA. This development boosts Clark's role in the group's ecosystem, with targeting 1.7 million seats from the hub by year-end, incorporating Cebgo's contributions to regional feeder traffic. Cebgo shares infrastructure with at its Manila and Cebu hubs. From these bases, Cebgo connects to 26 domestic destinations, emphasizing its focus on underserved regional markets.

Destinations

Cebgo provides extensive domestic connectivity across the Philippines, serving 26 destinations as of November 2025, primarily through its hubs at in and Mactan-Cebu International Airport in . The airline's network emphasizes feeder routes that link regional cities to these major hubs, supporting , , and in underserved areas. Destinations are concentrated in the and regions, with additional coverage in , reflecting Cebgo's role as a low-cost regional carrier post its rebranding and fleet modernization. In October 2025, Cebgo launched daily flights from to El Nido, enhancing connectivity to popular tourist destinations. The destinations can be categorized by major island groups, excluding the primary hubs of and for regional focus (totaling 24 destinations):
RegionNumber of CitiesKey Destinations (City, Airport Code)
7Angeles City/Clark (CRK), Busuanga/Coron (USU), Bicol/Daraga (DRP), El Nido (ENI), (MBT), Naga (WNP), San Jose, (SJI)
8 (BCD), Caticlan/ (MPH), (CYP), (DGT), (ILO), San Vicente (SWL), / (TAG), (TAC)
9 (BXU), (CGY), (CGM), Davao (DVO), (DPL), (OZC), (PAG), (IAO), Surigao (SUG)
This structure highlights Cebgo's broad geographic footprint, with primary connections from to northern and southern points, and from to and routes. High-frequency routes include - as a core feeder, alongside seasonal services to popular leisure spots like via Caticlan and , which see increased operations during peak travel periods. Post-COVID recovery has driven network expansions, such as new flights from to Naga and San Jose in 2025, enhancing accessibility in .

In-flight services

Cebgo operates exclusively in an configuration on its ATR 72-600 , which are fitted with seats arranged in a 2-2 layout to optimize capacity for short-haul domestic flights. Seats feature a pitch of 28 inches and a width of 18 inches, with no recline functionality to maintain a compact, no-frills suitable for regional . This setup prioritizes efficiency while ensuring basic comfort, including adjustable headrests and tray tables for passenger use during the journey. In keeping with its low-cost model, Cebgo does not provide complimentary meals or beverages; instead, passengers can purchase snacks, hot and cold drinks, and full meals from a limited onboard menu, with options available for pre-order via the parent company's CEB Meals service to ensure availability. and seat selection are treated as paid add-ons, with standard allowances limited to personal items unless additional fees are paid at booking or . There is no dedicated system installed, encouraging passengers to bring their own devices for streaming or personal media consumption, supported by power outlets where available in the cabin. Check-in and boarding processes follow Cebu Pacific's streamlined policies, allowing online up to 14 hours before departure for most passengers, though is required for those with . Boarding is managed by zones to facilitate quick turnaround times at regional airports. For passengers with disabilities, Cebgo offers special assistance services, including support and priority boarding, but requires advance notification at least two hours prior to the flight for coordination. aged 7 to 11 years are permitted on domestic routes with mandatory prior arrangement and an additional fee, while children under 7 must travel with an accompanying adult; the service includes supervised handling from to arrival.

Fleet

Current fleet

As of November 2025, Cebgo operates a fleet of 15 ATR 72-600 aircraft dedicated to regional services. These are configured in an all-economy layout accommodating 78 passengers each, with an average fleet age of 7.4 years. Powered by two PW127M engines, the ATR 72-600s provide efficient short-haul operations suited to the ' island network. The fleet features Cebgo's distinctive , characterized by a vibrant and color scheme aligned with its parent company , while maintenance practices are integrated with 's facilities to ensure operational efficiency and compliance. Cebgo has one additional ATR 72-600 on order as of August 2025, with delivery anticipated to support ongoing network expansion in underserved regional routes. Previously introduced in 2019 and 2021, two ATR 72-500 freighters supported Cebu Pacific's cargo operations under Cebgo management, though they have since been phased out from active service.

Retired fleet

Cebgo's retired fleet consists of jet and aircraft operated by the airline and its predecessors, primarily phased out to support a strategic shift toward an all- operation optimized for regional Philippine routes. This transition emphasized efficiency on short-haul flights to secondary airports, many of which lack jet-compatible infrastructure, and consolidated larger jet services under parent company . The airline retired three Airbus A320-200 aircraft in 2015, as part of the transition following its earlier rebranding from Airphil Express to Tigerair Philippines in 2013, returning them to Cebu Pacific as part of the fleet realignment. These narrowbody jets, introduced around 2010 under the predecessor brand, were deemed less suitable for Cebgo's focus on low-cost regional connectivity due to higher operating costs on short routes compared to turboprops. The phase-out aligned with expiring leases and a broader plan to retire seven A320s between 2016 and 2019, though only three were directly assigned to Cebgo at the time. Additionally, six Airbus A319-100s were sold to U.S. low-cost carrier Allegiant Air in 2015, with additional sales in 2016 and the last retired in 2018, to further streamline operations. Earlier in its history, under the SEAir branding in the , the operated Dornier 328-100 turboprops for regional services, with registrations including RP-C5328, RP-C6328, RP-C7328, and RP-C9328 documented in service from 2004 to 2012. These 30-seat aircraft were retired during the airline's restructuring and partnership shifts in the early 2010s, as SEAir suspended regional turboprop operations to integrate with Cebu Pacific's network. SEAir also flew Let L-410UVP turboprops in the late , with a fleet of at least six units operational as of 2010, which were grounded and retired following of the directives amid safety reviews. Cebgo retired its eight ATR 72-500 turboprops between 2017 and 2018, replacing the pre-600 series models—introduced in 2008—with newer ATR 72-600 variants to enhance and reliability on island-hopping routes. This upgrade was part of a 16-aircraft ATR order announced in 2014, supporting the airline's exclusive focus on modern turboprops today. A single 737-200F freighter was operated briefly in 2011 under a predecessor entity for services but was retired in the early as the focus shifted to passenger operations and Cebu Pacific's mainline capabilities.

Incidents and accidents

On September 26, 2016, Cebgo flight DG6577 from to aboard ATR 72-500 (RP-C7252) aborted takeoff from runway 22 at Mactan- International Airport due to a fluctuating engine oil indication. During taxi back, a wheel fire broke out, prompting an evacuation; one passenger sustained minor injuries, and the fire was extinguished without further harm. On October 1, 2017, Cebgo flight from Caticlan to aboard ATR 72-500 (RP-C7256) experienced multiple system faults shortly after takeoff, below 1,000 feet, and returned safely to Caticlan Airport. The incident was classified as serious by the Civil Aviation Authority of the (CAAP). On March 8, 2022, Cebgo flight DG6112 from Naga to aboard ATR 72-600 (RP-C7283) suffered a runway side excursion after a bounced landing on 24 at , veering into a grassy area; one received a minor , but there was no damage, and operations resumed normally. On June 6, 2024, Cebgo flight DG6929 from to aboard ATR 72-600 (RP-C7284) experienced a lateral during landing on 12 at Butuan Airport amid heavy rain; the returned to the runway, and no injuries were reported. The investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB) was ongoing as of October 2025.

References

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