Decades later, the carrier is soaring even higher. It sealed this week a P1.4-trillion deal for up to 152 Airbus A321neo planes, ensuring its fleet requirements in the long-term.
At a celebratory gala at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City on Thursday, Lance Gokongwei shared how his father first unveiled his bold vision of launching an airline to compete with the then-dominant Philippine Airlines.
“I remember vividly when Cebu Pacific was just a dream. My father, John Gokongwei Jr., called me to a meeting out of the blue and said, ‘We’re going to start an airline,’” Gokongwei recalled before the traditional toast to wrap up the evening’s program.
“I thought to myself, what do we know about running an airline, much less putting one up,” he added.
Key lessons
The following years were filled with “countless lessons, years of study and invaluable experiences,” the tycoon continued.
“I must admit, I never imagined we’d achieve what we have today,” he said.
Team effort behind takeoff
“As [Cebu Pacific CEO Michael B. Szucs] mentioned earlier, success is not the work of a single person. It takes a dedicated team all moving together toward a singular purpose,” Gokongwei said.
“And here we stand as the largest Philippine air carrier having made the largest aircraft purchase in our nation’s history,” he said.
“This incredible milestone would not have been possible without each and every one of you. My Cebu Pacific teammates, your hard work, commitment and passion have brought us here,” he added.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
