Aviation Partnership Philippines (Aplus), the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) arm of Cebu Pacific, celebrated its 20th anniversary by reaffirming its commitment to innovation, talent development, and the strategic expansion of its capabilities. Aplus General Manager Rico Ugdoracion shared insights into the company’s journey and plans at the sidelines of the milestone event held last Friday, 04 July 2025, in Pasay City (and virtually around the globe).
According to Ugdoracion, Aplus owes its success to two key pillars: its dedicated people and its strong foundation as a wholly owned subsidiary of Cebu Pacific. “We’ve weathered two decades in an industry that is constantly evolving, and we owe much of that to the loyalty and expertise of our team, and to Cebu Pacific, which continues to be our baseline customer,” he said.
Originally focused on line and light maintenance, Aplus is now venturing into base maintenance — a strategic move driven by post-pandemic industry changes. “After the COVID-19 pandemic, aircraft demand surged, and MRO slots for base maintenance became scarce. This opened up opportunities for us to grow. We’re starting slowly, and within the year, we aim to perform our first C-check on an A320 aircraft, followed by ATR and A330 heavy maintenance next year,” Ugdoracion explained.
Looking further ahead, Ugdoracion revealed that Aplus is planning to expand its presence regionally, with potential future bases in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. “We’re exploring establishing a permanent base in Saudi Arabia. The long-term goal is to become a regional MRO leader,” he added.
To support this expansion, Aplus is addressing the gap between aviation graduates and industry needs. “While we have thousands of aviation school graduates annually, there’s still a noticeable gap in job-readiness. That’s why we launched our Cadet Program, a nine-month intensive training initiative to bridge that divide,” Ugdoracion noted.
Aplus is also embracing technology to enhance operational efficiency. Ugdoracion said the company has fully implemented AMOS, a maintenance information system, and is rolling out AMOS Mobile, allowing mechanics to conduct real-time digital sign-offs using tablets. “We’ve moved from paper-based workflows to digital solutions, which improves accuracy, sustainability, and compliance,” he said.
In line with global aviation trends, Aplus has adopted Airbus’ Skywise platform for predictive maintenance. “With Skywise, we can detect aircraft system faults in real-time — even while the aircraft is airborne — allowing us to prepare solutions before the plane even lands. This kind of proactive approach is the future of aircraft maintenance,” the Aplus boss shared.
The company is also investing in the modernization of its training programs. According to Ugdoracion, Aplus has integrated simulation tools and modular trainers into its technical training to help students better visualize and interact with actual aircraft systems. This approach significantly enhances knowledge retention and improves hands-on skill development among trainees.
Aplus currently employs over 1,200 personnel, including more than 770 licensed mechanics. Ugdoracion emphasized that the company’s workforce planning is closely aligned with projected workloads through the use of man-hour forecasting. This method allows Aplus to ensure that staffing levels are adequate to meet the increasing maintenance demands of Cebu Pacific as well as those of prospective third-party clients.
As part of its ongoing push for operational self-sufficiency, Aplus is enhancing its in-house capabilities for fluid and oil testing. He also confirmed that the Aplus calibration lab remains ISO-certified and accredited by the Philippine Accreditation Bureau.
Reflecting on the company’s long-term vision, Ugdoracion remains optimistic. “In the next ten years, we want to achieve full heavy maintenance capabilities and expand our reach beyond the Philippines. We’re moving slowly, but strategically — and we’re confident in the direction we’re headed.”
As Aplus enters its third decade, the company stands ready to meet the growing demands of the aviation industry while continuing to elevate MRO standards both in the Philippines and the broader Asia-Pacific region.