Cebu Pacific Bags Prestigious Sustainability Aviation Lease Award in London

Mike Szucs, CEB Chief Executive Officer, accepts the Sustainability Aviation Lease Deal of the Year award at the 2025 Airline Economics Sustainability Deals Awards in London.

Cebu Pacific Bags Prestigious Sustainability Aviation Lease Award in London

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.Com | September 19, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – Cebu Pacific (CEB) has made waves on the global stage as it won the coveted Sustainability Aviation Lease Deal of the Year at the 2025 Airline Economics Sustainability Deals Awards in London.

The accolade highlights CEB’s innovative sustainability-linked Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (JOLCO), which facilitated the acquisition of a brand-new Airbus A321neo in December 2024.

The Airline Economics Sustainability Awards celebrate forward-thinking companies and individuals in finance and leasing, making significant strides in reducing the aviation industry’s carbon footprint.

The award was personally presented to CEB’s chief executive officer, Mike Szucs, during a ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London.

Cebu Pacific stands out as the only low-cost carrier (LCC) in Southeast Asia to secure specialized financing—a privilege reserved for a select few global airlines.

“Sustainability is integral to how we grow as an airline. By linking our financing to sustainability goals, we show that strategy and responsibility can work together,” said Mark Cezar, CEB’s chief financial officer.

“It strengthens the business, allows us to invest in modern fuel-efficient aircraft, and creates value for our customers,” he added.

As part of the groundbreaking deal, the airline has pledged to achieve measurable targets to reduce the carbon emission intensity of its fleet.

Successfully meeting these benchmarks will unlock financial incentives for the airline, a company official said.

The newly acquired A321neo, financed through the JOLCO, is a key component of CEB’s long-term vision to transition to an all-NEO fleet, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to decarbonizing operations.

NEO aircraft are renowned for their fuel efficiency, boasting a 20-percent reduction in fuel consumption compared to older models.

This dramatically lowers carbon emissions per flight, Cezar said.