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Cebgo
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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
[edit]Early years
[edit]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
[edit]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]

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

Current fleet
[edit]As of August 2025[update], Cebgo operates the following aircraft:[19]
| 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
[edit]
Cebgo and its predecessor brands has previously operated the following aircraft:
| 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- ^ a b "Cebgo". ch-aviation. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
- ^ "JO 7340.2G Contractions" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. January 5, 2017. pp. 3–1–29. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
- ^ "ACTIVE/CURRENT AOC HOLDERS" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. May 30, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Cebgo | Book Our Flights Online & Save | Low-Fares, Offers & More". www.alternativeairlines.com. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- ^ Marasigan, Lorenz S. (April 30, 2017). "Cebgo to move main base of operations to Cebu - Lorenz S. Marasigan". BusinessMirror. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
- ^ AN ACT GRANTING SOUTHEAST ASIAN AIRLINES (SEAir), INC. A FRANCHISE TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES, WITH CLARKFIELD, PAMPANGA AS ITS BASE (Republic Act 9517). 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Channel NewsAsia".
- ^ "Airlines hit SEAir, Tiger Airways partnership". Retrieved September 29, 2019.
- ^ "BusinessWorld - Seair readies new routes with ban lifted". bworldonline.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
- ^ "After tie-up, Tiger Airways now wants stake in SEAIR". ABS-CBN News. February 24, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ Aning, Jerome; Montecillo, Paolo G. (August 14, 2012). "Tiger Airways buys 40% of SEAir". Inquirer. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Seair International cleared for takeoff". InterAksyon.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
- ^ Rivera, Danessa (January 8, 2014). "Cebu Pacific buys Tigerair Philippines for $15M". GMA News. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Cebu Pacific rebrands Tigerair Philippines as Cebgo". ABS-CBN News. May 11, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Cebu Pacific to transform Cebgo into an all-prop operation". ch-aviation. July 3, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Cebgo Philippines ends jet operations". ch-aviation. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
- ^ Paz, Chrisee Dela (February 12, 2018). "Cebu Pacific to fly directly to Batanes". Rappler. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
- ^ "Cebu Pacific to suspend all flight operations due to COVID-19". Panay News. March 18, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Cebgo". Airliner World. September 2025. p. 70.
- ^ Salcedo, Dirk Andrei. "Cebu Pacific boosts interisland travel with new ATR turboprop aircraft". Aviation Updates Philippines. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ "Cebu Pacific leases additional ATR 72-600 aircraft". Aviation Updates Philippines. February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "Cebu Pacific places an order for 16 ATR 72-600s" (Press release). ATR. June 16, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ "Philippines' Cebgo takes redelivery of first ATR72 freighter". ch-aviation. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ Dirk Andrei Salcedo. "Cebu Pacific receives second ATR freighter". Aviation Updates Philippines | Latest Philippine aviation news. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ "Cebu AT72 at Cebu on Sep 26th 2016, rejected takeoff due to engine oil fluctuation, wheel fire on taxi and evacuation". www.aeroinside.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ "Cebgo AT72 at Caticlan on Oct 1st 2017, multiple system faults". www.aeroinside.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ "Cebu Pacific ATR 72-500 at Mactan on Nov,1st,2018. engine fire". Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ Luna, Franco (March 8, 2022). "Manila-bound flight from Naga experiences 'runway excursion' at NAIA — Cebu Pacific". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
External links
[edit]Cebgo
View on GrokipediaHistory
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 Philippines. The airline began operations with two nine-seater Dornier 28 aircraft, primarily serving remote tourist destinations such as Apulit Island in Palawan to promote "paradise-to-paradise" connectivity.[10][11][12] In its early years, SEAir's fleet consisted mainly of turboprop aircraft suited for short-haul operations, including the 30-seat Dornier 328 and the smaller Let L-410 Turbolet, which enabled service to airports with limited infrastructure. The airline faced operational challenges during the late 1990s and early 2000s, amid the Asian financial crisis and intensifying competition in the deregulated Philippine aviation market, which strained smaller carriers like SEAir with high fuel costs and route overlaps.[13][14][15] By the early 2000s, SEAir expanded into cargo services, acquiring a Boeing 737-200 freighter in 2001 to diversify revenue streams and support growing demand for air freight in the archipelago. Key milestones included route additions in the Visayas region, such as to Caticlan for Boracay access, and in Mindanao, where the airline established a hub in Zamboanga City in 2002 to facilitate daily flights to destinations like Jolo, Tawi-Tawi, and Cotabato. These developments helped SEAir serve over a dozen domestic tourist spots by the mid-2000s.[16][17] Despite growth, SEAir encountered financial struggles in the lead-up to 2006, 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 Cebu Pacific and rebranded as Cebgo in 2015.[18][19]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.[20][21] 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.[22][23] 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.[24] 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.[25][26] 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.[27][28] 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.[29][21] 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.[30] This acquisition by Cebu Pacific resolved the alliance's challenges and integrated Tigerair Philippines into the larger network.[31]Acquisition by Cebu Pacific and rebranding
In late 2013, Cebu Pacific 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).[32][6] The deal included buying out the remaining 40% stake held by Tiger Airways Holdings of Singapore, with the transaction finalized in March 2014 following regulatory approval from the Civil Aeronautics Board in February.[4][33] The acquisition was driven by Cebu Pacific's strategy to expand into the regional market, secure valuable slots at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and grow Tigerair Philippines as a sustainable low-cost carrier through capital infusion and operational synergies, thereby increasing its domestic market share to around 56%.[32][21] On May 11, 2015, Cebu Pacific announced the rebranding 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.[6][4] This rebranding marked a strategic pivot toward a domestic-focused operation, with Cebgo transitioning its fleet from Airbus A320 jets to ATR 72 turboprops by October 2015 to better serve short-haul regional routes.[34] 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 Cebu Pacific's management.[28] Following the rebrand, Cebgo pursued expansion milestones, including plans announced in early 2017 to grow its turboprop base at Mactan–Cebu International Airport, enabling a capacity increase of over 20% and the addition of several new routes.[35][36] The COVID-19 pandemic 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.[37][38] In 2025, to alleviate congestion at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Cebgo relocated its turboprop operations to secondary hubs, including Clark International Airport and Mactan–Cebu International Airport. 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.[39][40] The acquisition and rebranding enhanced integration with Cebu Pacific, 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.[2][41] Cebgo operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Cebu Pacific, which is part of the JG Summit group.[42]Corporate affairs
Ownership and subsidiaries
Cebgo operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Cebu Pacific Air, with the parent company holding 100% ownership since its acquisition in 2014.[42] Cebu Pacific Air, in turn, is majority-owned by JG Summit Holdings Inc., which controls approximately 66.44% of its shares as of October 2025.[43] This structure positions Cebgo within the broader JG Summit conglomerate, primarily controlled by the Gokongwei family.[42] 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.[2] 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 financial statements through 2025.[44] 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 low-cost carrier model.[45]Headquarters and leadership
Cebgo's headquarters is located at the 3rd Floor of the Cebu Pacific Building, 8006 Domestic Road, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.[1] The airline maintains operational offices within the Ninoy Aquino International Airport complex in Pasay, facilitating its regional flight activities.[1] As a wholly owned subsidiary of Cebu Pacific, Cebgo's leadership is closely integrated with its parent company, reporting directly to Cebu Pacific's executive team and board of directors. Alexander G. Lao serves as Cebgo's President and Chief Executive Officer, a role he has held since September 2016, overseeing the subsidiary's strategic direction and commercial operations.[46] 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.[47] 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.[48] In response to the post-2020 recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, 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.[49] This transition supported Cebgo's integration into Cebu Pacific's aggressive expansion plans for the group, including the addition of new Airbus A320neo aircraft to the parent's fleet to enhance overall regional connectivity.[49]Operations
Hubs and bases
Cebgo's primary operational hubs are Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila and Mactan–Cebu International Airport (CEB) in Cebu City, serving as the core bases for its turboprop network as of 2025.[50] These facilities enable efficient management of regional flights, with Manila handling high-volume connections to central and northern Philippine destinations and Cebu focusing on Visayas and Mindanao routes.[1] The hubs play a crucial role in integrating Cebgo's operations with its parent company, Cebu Pacific, by facilitating passenger transfers from short-haul turboprop services to mainline jet flights for domestic and international travel.[51] This connectivity supports seamless onward journeys, enhancing the overall Philippine aviation network and contributing to Cebu Pacific's strategy of decongesting primary airports while expanding regional access.[52] 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 Manila to alleviate capacity constraints at NAIA.[53] This development boosts Clark's role in the group's ecosystem, with Cebu Pacific targeting 1.7 million seats from the hub by year-end, incorporating Cebgo's contributions to regional feeder traffic.[54] Cebgo shares infrastructure with Cebu Pacific at its Manila and Cebu hubs. From these bases, Cebgo connects to 26 domestic destinations, emphasizing its focus on underserved regional markets.[1][55]Destinations
Cebgo provides extensive domestic connectivity across the Philippines, serving 26 destinations as of November 2025, primarily through its hubs at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu.[55] The airline's network emphasizes feeder routes that link regional cities to these major hubs, supporting tourism, business travel, and economic integration in underserved areas. Destinations are concentrated in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, with additional coverage in Luzon, reflecting Cebgo's role as a low-cost regional carrier post its rebranding and fleet modernization.[55] In October 2025, Cebgo launched daily flights from Cebu to El Nido, enhancing connectivity to popular tourist destinations.[56] The destinations can be categorized by major island groups, excluding the primary hubs of Manila and Cebu for regional focus (totaling 24 destinations):| Region | Number of Cities | Key Destinations (City, Airport Code) |
|---|---|---|
| Luzon | 7 | Angeles City/Clark (CRK), Busuanga/Coron (USU), Bicol/Daraga (DRP), El Nido (ENI), Masbate (MBT), Naga (WNP), San Jose, Mindoro (SJI) |
| Visayas | 8 | Bacolod (BCD), Caticlan/Boracay (MPH), Calbayog (CYP), Dumaguete (DGT), Iloilo (ILO), San Vicente (SWL), Tagbilaran/Bohol (TAG), Tacloban (TAC) |
| Mindanao | 9 | Butuan (BXU), Cagayan de Oro (CGY), Camiguin (CGM), Davao (DVO), Dipolog (DPL), Ozamiz (OZC), Pagadian (PAG), Siargao (IAO), Surigao (SUG) |