Airport near Boracay up for P2.5-b expansion (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics6_jan22_2008)

The National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Committee has endorsed an unsolicited proposal from a private contractor to expand the Caticlan airport in Malay, Aklan, by reclaiming a part of the Sibuyan Sea.

According to documents submitted by the private proponent, the P2.5-billion Caticlan Airport Development project will extend the Caticlan runway from 950 meters to 2,100 meters, to meet international standards.

The existing Caticlan airport, officially named Godofredo P. Ramos Airport after the late congressman from Malay town in Aklan is classified as a feeder airport, one of the two gateways to the world-famous Boracay. Despite its status, Caticlan is the third busiest airport in the Philippines, with the fifth highest number of passengers and the second highest number of aircraft movement, according to aviation authorities.

Among the airlines using Caticlan airport are Asian Spirit, Southeast Asian Airlines and Air Philippines, which started operating in Dec. 15 last year.

The Caticlan International Airport and Development Corp., the project proponent, said it would build a new and bigger airport passenger terminal, improve the road network, and upgrade airport facilities and air traffic control aids.

At present, the short runway at Caticlan airport prevents larger aircraft from using it. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air use the larger Kalibo airport, which is 65 kilometers southeast of Caticlan.

The Filipino corporation said it would undertake the project through an unsolicited build-rehabilitate-operate-transfer scheme at no cost to the government.

It said that the total basic construction cost, about 25 percent will be allocated for mountain clearing and 17.7 percent for the reclamation work for runway extension.

The proponent intends to finance the development through a mix of bank loan and private sector equity with a ratio of 70 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

In its bid documents, Caticlan International Airport and Development Corp. said it would implement the project in 72 months, inclusive of commissioning and defects liability period.

It planned to start the construction of the project this year, although its unsolicited bid remain to be subjected to the so-called Swiss Challenge, where other interested parties will be given a chance to make a counter-offer.
Barring any hitches, the new airport will become operational from 2011.

Corporate "Aloha" from Manila to Honolulu (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/jan/22/yehey/business/20080122bus10.html)

It will soon be “Aloha” all the way from Manila to Honolulu (and on the return journey too!) when Hawaiian Airlines—the national carrier of that land of sunny smiles and hoola-hoola bonhomie—inaugurates its first ever flight between the Philippines and the Pacific gateway to the USA.

This development whereby one of the undoubted stars of the global tourism circuit is cementing a regular airline link with the Philippines is a major boost to this country’s tourism drive, and recognition of the strides that the Philippines—which last year hit the magical three million mark for inbound tourists—had made in recent years.

The nonstop flights will commence from Honolulu on April 14 and from Manila on April 17, 2008, with four flights per week. Ticket sales (with roundtrip fares for the new service beginning at $848 in Coach Class) have opened on the airline’s website and through its reservations call center, as well as through travel agents in the US and the Philippines.

Hawaiian’s Flight 455 will depart Honolulu International Airport on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 12:30 p.m. and arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila the following day at 5:15 p.m. Return Flight 456 will depart Manila on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and arrive in Honolulu the same day at 11:15 a.m. (Manila is 18 hours ahead of Honolulu and the flight crosses the International Dateline.)

Says Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO: “We look forward to bringing our industry-leading service to the Philippines. We have been energized by the community’s enthusiastic response to the announcement of our new Manila service, and now that we can take reservations for travel starting in April the excitement is building.”

Hawaiian will operate the new nonstop route using its, wide-body, twin-aisle Boeing 767-300ER aircraft that seats up to 264 passengers. The comfort and convenience of Hawaiian’s 2-3-2 seating configuration provides either window or aisle seating to 86 percent of the passengers. The flight time is approximately 10 hours.

The top-ranked US airline for service in the 2007 Airline Quality Ratings, Hawaiian also led all US carriers in on-time performance for 2004, 2005 and 2006 (including a record 36 consecutive months from November 2003 to October 2006). A further accolade came with its sterling record of having the fewest misplaced bags for 2005 and 2006, as reported by the US Department of Transportation.

Manila will be Hawaiian’s first entry into Asia. The new service will make Hawaiian—now in its 79th year of continuous service—the only US carrier providing nonstop service between Manila and Honolulu and will more than double current capacity on the route.

Approximately 170,000 people traveled between Manila and Hawaii last year. And now with the inauguration of this new route that figure can be expected to go up significantly, providing not only a lot more travel options but also opening up a whole lot of new business opportunities.

Cebu Pacific adds more domestic flights (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2008/01/23/bus/ceb.adds.more.domestic.flights.html)

Cebu Pacific (CEB) will expand its domestic operations by 23 percent from its Manila hub, with additional flights, frequencies and capacity to seven major cities.

Starting April 3, 2008, CEB will increase its Manila-Legazpi flights (from 10 times weekly to twice daily, effectively increasing capacity by 54 percent), Manila-Dumaguete flights (from 11 times weekly to twice daily), Manila-Roxas and Manila-Cotabato flights (from four to five times weekly), and Manila-Dipolog service (from three to four times weekly).

CEB will also use its 179-seater A320 for its mid-day Tacloban and daily Butuan services, instead of the 150-seater A319 aircraft. This aircraft upgrade translates to an increased capacity of six percent for Tacloban and 19 percent for Butuan.

“Our rapid domestic expansion is part of our continued efforts to bring air travel closer to more Filipinos though our trademark low fares and increased accessibility. We hope to be able to further stimulate domestic tourism and trade,” said Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and product.

Now in its 12th year, CEB has the youngest fleet of aircraft in the country. It flies to 12 international destinations, which will increase to 14 with the addition of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in April.

CEB operates flights to 21 domestic destinations, including Boracay (Caticlan) beginning Feb. 29.

===========================================================================

Cebu Pacific hikes Manila-Dumaguete flights to 14 weekly (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dum/2008/01/23/bus/cebu.pacific.hikes.manila.dumaguete.flights.to.14.weekly.html)

Cebu Pacific, one of the country's leading domestic airline, recently announced its expansion of domestic operations by increasing the number of flights from Manila to Dumaguete, as well as to six other major cities in the Philippines.

Beginning April 3, Cebu Pacific will increase the Manila-Dumaguete frequency from 11 flights a week to 14, generating 450 additional seats using the 150-seater A319 aircraft.

Other cities with additional flights and capacities are Legazpi (with a 54 percent increase in seating capacity), Roxas, Dipolog, and Cotabato.

Moreover, Cebu Pacific will also use its 179-seater A320 for its mid-day Tacloban and daily Butuan services. This aircraft upgrade translates to an increased capacity of 6 percent for Tacloban and 19 percent for Butuan.

Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and product, said: "Our rapid domestic expansion is part of our continued efforts to bring air travel closer to more Filipinos though our trademark low fares and increased accessibility. With more flights and frequencies to these destinations, we hope to be able to further stimulate domestic tourism and trade."

Now in its 12th year, Cebu Pacific has the youngest fleet of aircraft in the Philippines. Cebu Pacific flies to 12, soon to be 14, international destinations, with the addition of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in April. Cebu Pacific also operates flights to 21 domestic destinations, with the addition of Boracay (Caticlan) beginning February 29, 2008.

Construction of P3.5B international airport in Albay starts October (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080121-113805/Construction-of-P35-B-intl-airport-in-Albay-starts-October)

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines -- The construction of the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in Albay province will start this October, Governor Joey Salceda said Monday.

President Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to allot P600 million for the project from the 2008 General Appropriations,

Salceda, who also chairs the Bicol Regional Development Council, said Arroyo identified the construction of Bicol's first international airport as one of the few super-region projects that can still be completed before her term ends.

The P3.5-billion SLIA will be built on a 200-hectare plateau in Barangay (village) Alobo, Daraga town and will replace the Legazpi City Airport.

The P600 million to be released this year under the National Economic Projects of the President is on top of the P250 million earlier released under the 2007 national budget.

Salceda said the first tranche of the budget released last year is being used for rapid detailed engineering, construction of an access road connecting the airport to the national road, and acquiring lands where the airport runway will be built.

He said the construction will immediately start once the airport's design is complete and the materials are specified.

Salceda said Arroyo wants the airport finished before June 2010.

This year's allotment will be used to purchase construction materials.

Salceda also reacted to comments that building an international airport in Albay is not necessary or viable due to the lack of support industries.

The Albay governor said Mayon Volcano itself, which is an icon, is a support industry.

“The economic strategy of Albay province is not based on contrived and artificial development but on eco-cultural tourism by using the natural endowments of the province without exploiting them,” Salceda said.

Impossible to upgrade Lumbia Airport to International Standards (http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/49887)

Even when I was still working with the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor Project Management Office, the proposal to extend the economic life of the Lumbia Airport while the Laguindingan airport was being constructed already had many proponents.

If I remember right, almost all LGUs in Region X (then sans Iligan and Lanao del Norte) wanted to be assured there would be no disruption of air traffic while Laguindingan Airport was being built lest this adversely affect the economic boom in Northern Mindanao.

Which is basically a sound idea, provided you can afford it. Even then, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) was already racking its collective brains to solve this dilemma. Problem was, and still is, seems we can’t afford to undertake the various suggestions to upgrade Lumbia while Laguindingan was being built, simply because we don’t have the money.

Just recently, some of the people who have been active in making Cagayan de Oro and Region X what it is today, met with the DOTC to look at ways to solve this dilemma. The proposals included lengthening the runway by 500 meters to allow bigger capacity aircraft to land, runway lights to extend operating hours well into the evening, and upgrading the navigation aids to enable aircraft to land even in inclement weather.

The feasibility study for the Laguindingan Airport completed in 1991 already explored the possibility of lengthening the runway in Lumbia to accommodate wide body aircraft.

Steven Doerr, senior airport engineer for Louis Berger International, Inc. (LBII) the consulting firm which conducted the feasibility study, master plan, initial geotechnical investigations and environmental impact study for the Laguindingan Airport in 1991, said in a report that Lumbia airport's operational capability can't be improved due to its surrounding high terrain which exceeds International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)-recommended standards. Lengthening the runway would not affect these constraints.

Doerr stressed LBII previously found that the development of Lumbia Airport as an alternative to a new CIC airport cannot be considered to provide “international standard airport facilities to meet commercial air transport needs,” as required by the LADP's Terms of Reference. While noting that the Lumbia airport can handle the forecast passenger traffic in the medium-term, operationally, night flights or wide-body aircraft operations is impossible and efficient, low-cost cargo operations would be limited.

Doerr notes that general air operations in the Lumbia airport vicinity are restricted by high terrain, with only very limited maneuvering possible south of the airport. The key constraint in terms of aircraft take-off performance is the high terrain some 2,500 meters south of the airport. This piece of land is approximately 70 meters above the runway elevation, which exceeds ICAO standards for the inner approach slope.

The high terrain also affects instrument flight operations. Even with the existence of navigational aids such as the VOR/DME and ILS (Instrument Landing System), present cariers restricts low-visibility operations because of the terrain's effect on missed approach and circling operations.

Even at the time of the study in 1991, PAL believed that navigational aids and instrument procedures would not significantly improve the reliability of commercial air service at the Lumbia airport. PAL also indicated they would not assign wide-body aircraft to the Lumbia airport because of the terrain constraints in the airport vicinity. Doerr notes that this represents an important limitation on Lumbia airport because as passenger levels grow, larger aircraft with lower average cost per seat-kilometer become more economical to operate.

Because of terrain constraints, Doerr said the Lumbia airport has permanent constraints related to 1) range of potential operational procedures; 2) installation of improved instrument procedures, and resulting enhancement of safety and adverse weather operational capacity; 3) operations by larger, more efficient aircraft; and 4) night and adverse weather operating restrictions.

Doerr notes that while runway extensions for the airport have been proposed and programmed in the past, “it should be noted that such extensions would neither significantly reduce existing operational constraints at the Lumbia airport nor enhance its operational capacity.”

In contrast, the operation of the proposed international standard Laguindingan Airport will result to major economic benefits resulting from improved airport operational capabilities, including: a) potential for wide-body jet operations, potential for night commercial flights, instrument operations for both approaches and improved capability for commercial operations during adverse weather conditions.

Due to its location near sea level it is anticipated that weather-related cancellations would decrease over those currently suffered at Lumbia. Even with the ILS operational, it only serves the south approach and cannot bring in aircraft coming from the opposite direction during adverse weather conditions.

Larger, more comfortable and more economical wide-body aircraft could be accommodated in Laguindingan, and these would make significant amounts of reliable cargo space available to local shippers. Some 75% of all cargo shipped through the Lumbia airport are perishable agricultural products.

In summary, significant benefits can be realized with the development of new airport facilities at Laguindingan which will not be available to an upgraded Lumbia airport. If the idea of an upgraded Lumbia airport just wouldn’t die despite all these hard facts, someone somewhere is probably going to benefit from such an “upgrading” project at no benefit to us.

When is Tacloban Airport going to be upgraded?

India has a 50 yr space exploration history, and now they are shooting for the moon!!! Joining the league of other asian nations like China, & Japan.

Europe's next ride to the Moon: Chandrayaan-1 (http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=24572)

Excitement is rising as ESA is in the final stages of preparation for the first collaborative space mission with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Chandrayaan-1 will study the Moon in great detail and be the first Indian scientific mission leaving the Earth's vicinity. Europe is supplying three instruments for the mission.

The Moon retains its fascination for planetary scientists and presents many mysteries still ripe for investigation. Chandrayaan, which means 'journey to the Moon' in Hindi, will study the Moon at many wavelengths from X-rays, visible, and near infrared to microwaves during its mission. It will orbit the moon in a circular path, just 100 km above the lunar surface.

"The low orbit will give us really high resolution data," says Detlef Koschny, ESA Chandrayaan Project Scientist. The principal mission objective is to map the surface of the Moon in unprecedented detail. At present the maps planetary scientists have show details of some 30-100 m across. Chandrayaan will produce maps with a resolution of between 5 and 10 m across the whole surface of the Moon. "We aim to have this in two years," says Koschny.

Building on the experience gained with SMART-1, Europe's first mission to the Moon, which was launched in September 2003 and concluded its work three years later, ESA is assisting ISRO with operations, data handling and flight dynamics. ESA is also coordinating the provision of three European instruments.

The Compact Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (CIXS) will carry out high-quality, low-energy (soft) X-ray spectroscopic mapping of the Moon. The Infrared Spectrometer, known as SIR-2, will observe the chemical composition of the Moon's crust and mantle. Both of these instruments were flown on SMART-1 and have been upgraded and rebuilt for Chandrayaan-1. They will continue the work on surface composition started by the original instruments.

The third European contribution is the Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA). Derived from the ASPERA (energetic neutral atoms analyser) instruments, flown on Mars Express and Venus Express, it will be the first lunar experiment dedicated to direct studies of the interaction between electrically charged particles and the surface of the Moon.

With no atmosphere, the Moon's surface is constantly bombarded by the wind of particles released by the Sun. SARA will monitor these interactions and use them to image the Moon's surface composition, study surface magnetic anomalies and study the gases released from the lunar surface by the collision of the solar particles.

All European instruments are nearing completion and will be delivered to ISRO soon.

The low orbit means that these instruments, all of which rely on collecting the energy or particles emitted by the lunar surface, will work better. "Being closer to the surface means that the signal received from the surface will be stronger. This is good for global mapping," says Christian Erd, ESA Chandrayaan Project Manager.

In addition to the great science it will address, Chandrayaan-1 will be a stepping-stone to future missions to other bodies, as well as to the Moon. For example, ESA's BepiColombo mission to Mercury will carry a replica of SARA's sensor subsystem, allowing the results from the two celestial bodies to be compared directly.

Everyone, please.

First of all, this is a great idea and a great Filipino Dream.

Its not because we just got promoted into a newly industrialized country or NIC, that doesnt mean we got some spare money to spend in any space program. We did have though sent atleast 1 or 2 out of 3 commercial satellites (The Mabuhay Satellites) that our government have projected under this space project.

In my own opinion, since even our ASEAN neighbors cannot afford this type of space program yet, i think its a good idea for the whole southeast asian nations to have a joint-venture space program. The idea is to build a launching space station in Aurora, Philippines, and another alternative one somewhere in Vietnam or Indonesia. While other ASEAN countries can contribute in this program by building parts of the space shuttle or space rocket propulsions, other parts and modules. Example, Malaysia can assemble the some of the parts, and while the Philippines can assemble the final space parts for the preparation of space launch.

This is because, i believe that among all the ASEAN countries, only the Philippines have the only practical and safer location to launch any space modules/rockets or shuttles. Meanwhile, Thailand cannot have one until they finish off their insurgent problems. This is a contrast in the situation of the Philippines, since our country is consisted of many islands, therefore it is safer here as we can pick up an island or a place which is more safer and away from terrorrists where we can build a space station. As our insurgency problems is more controllable than Thailand in which their capital city is in danger of being overrun by islamic terrorrists.

While Indonesian islands are prone to tsunamis.

this really made me laugh :lol:

i never thought we had a space program...:nuts:

Make and Color your own A380!
http://www.airbus.com/store/mm_repository/pdf/att00006638/media_object_file_A380_own_colours.pdf

KLM has changed its proposed B77W flying program for this summer to include Manila, after the withdrawal of Lufthansa from the Philippine capital, leaving KLM as the only European carrier there. The proposed flights for the two-strong B77W fleet will now be as follows:

KL427/428 AMS DXB AMS - Mo/Th/Sa
KL641/642 AMS JFK AMS - Tu
KL791/792 AMS GRU AMS - Tu/We/Fr/Su
KL803/804 AMS MNL AMS - We/Fr/Su

As a result of these changes, KLM will no longer deploy the new B77W to Osaka. Also Sao Paulo will see its proposed B77W reduced by one weekly flight. New York is back as a B77W destination to fill a small gap that could not be utilized in any other way.

The aircraft that will arrive from Manila in Amsterdam on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays is not scheduled to leave those same evenings, although it can - and likely will - be deployed to Cairo as KL553/554 in case of operational irregularities.

(courtesy of Airliners.net)

Space program? we barely can make mass produce kwitis in Bocaue without causing an annual fire. Government should buy jets for the air force first and maybe they can learn how to make artillery rockets too.

where can i buy PAL scale models in manila?

its about timw they upgrade the caticlan airport to accommodate larger aircraft...eh pag meh naglalanding na airplane dun kailangan pang isara temporarily ung daan malapit sa runway, baka tamaan eh hehehe

space program? eh ang philippine air force nga all air no force pa, eh diba usually sa military nakuha ng mga pilots...at kung magkaron man ng space progran ang pinas, it will just get bogged by the usual corruption and the meddling of our politicians.

hahaha... buksan na lang natin tong thread na ito kapag may totoong space program na tayo. :lol: wala na, naiwanan na tayo kahit ng asean neighbors natin.

It's not only doable, it's a matter of time. The way may not be with gov'ts though but with private sector. Probably more efficient in the long run. Let's not forget the moon buggy was designed by a pinoy. An ASEAN space program would be even more realistic.

Is that Agila satellite something considered as space program?

puro lait ata yung mga comment dito ah.
nega?
it's possible naman eh.

PHILIPPINES! The first Jeepney to go in Space!!:lol:

"That's one small journey for a jeepney, one giant leap for mankind" :lol:

time will only tell kung kelan magiging ready ang Pinas for a full blown Space program... pero let's not close our mind on the possibilities....

Is that Agila satellite something considered as space program?

nakisakay lang tayo...:lol:

^^oo nga... hahaha...

heres another news story.......

Agility to invest $10bn in the Philippines

by Ulf Laessing on Wednesday, 16 January 2008

BOOMING ECONOMIES: A shot of the Philippines' capital Manila. Gulf companies are looking to invest more and more in Asian countries. Kuwaiti firms including logistics provider Agility plan to invest more than $10 billion in infrastructure projects in the Philippines, the company leading the group said on Tuesday.

The firms and one non-Kuwaiti company plan to develop airports, ports, railways, power stations and telecommunications, Kuwait investment firm Al-Abraj Holding Company said in a statement.

The deal is pending a signing with the Philippine government expected at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, later this month, Al-Abraj Deputy chairman Sameer Nasser Ali Hussein told newswire Reuters.

The Philippines government has said it wants to invest 1.7 trillion pesos ($41 billion) in its power, water, telecommunications and transport industries by 2010. Last year, it offered 10 infrastructure projects worth $2 billion to foreign investors.

Gulf Arab states and companies, buoyed by record oil prices, have been looking to invest more in Asia, where economies are growing faster than in Europe and the US, traditional destinations for their surplus funds.

Qatar's $60 billion sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), said last month it plans to spend at least $850 million in Indonesia, its biggest commitment to the country.

Kuwait's Al-Abraj said the group would set up a holding company in Europe, of which the Kuwaiti partners would own 75% and British firm Argon, acting on behalf of Philippine authorities, 25%. This could change a little, Hussein said.

He said Al-Abraj wanted to raise the money possibly through an initial public offering, while Philippine institutions would also contribute to the project.

Kuwaiti partners include International Leasing & Investment and Al-Mal Investment Company, Al-Abraj said.

Agility said negotiations were continuing. "A big part of this project would come to Agility," Hussein said.

The biggest investment from the Middle East in the Philippines is a 40% stake held by state-owned Saudi Aramco in Petron Corporation, the largest oil refiner in the country. (Reuters)


yeahhhh baby!!! wooohooo!!!! i cant wait for this!!! :banana:

ATO to ask FAA to reconsider RP aviation safety rating

By Kris Anne Alcantara
Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080124-114577/ATO-to-ask-FAA-to-reconsider-RP-aviation-safety-rating)
First Posted 21:01:00 01/24/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang is confident the US Federal Aviation Authority will find "significant improvements" in government’s safety oversight functions over Philippine aviation in three months time.

During the taping on Thursday of "The Cabinet Speaks," a government television show, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said that local aviation authorities’ safety oversight rating could be upgraded back to Category 1 and that “substantial compliance” with US FAA requirements will be met.

He said the Air Transport Office (ATO) can't be expected to fully comply with the FAA demands in such a short time, but will still ask the FAA to reevaluate the country's ratings after the period.

“We must abide by their interpretation to have a good (rating)," he said.

Mendoza, who was designated last week by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as acting chief of the ATO, said that seven out of 10 items in the airworthiness category have already been achieved.

Further issues of concern to be addressed include the improved training of pilots to match international standards, the computerization and integration of records including information on pilots' credentials and the hiring of qualified inspectors to license pilots and check the airworthiness of carriers.

But he said that the passage in Congress of the law creating the Civil Aviation Authority is imperative.

The continued training of pilots is a specific issue of concern, particularly with the launch of the Airbus 380 in addition to the continual upgrading of carriers, he said.

He said one of the requirements set by the FAA is for Philippine pilots to be trained under international standards although due to the length of the training time and expense, this may not take place until after the proposed three-month period, as with the Civil Aviation Law.

Mendoza reported that the FAA was willing to send consultants to help craft the law, and to issue technical advice and work with the ATO in the future.

Mendoza said that while safety was an issue, security was not.

He said that the ATO "passes airport security" and is at par with international standards.

Mendoza added that the FAA was only concerned with the safety of Philippine carriers flying or intending to fly the trans-Pacific route to the United States.

Other air carriers flying to other countries outside the US are under the authority of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

According to the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment, for Philippine aviation standards to be upgraded back to Category 1, the Philippine government must have the following:

• Laws and regulations necessary to support the certification and oversight of air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards;

• Technical expertise, resources, and organization to license or oversee air carrier operations;

• Adequately trained and qualified technical personnel;

• Adequate inspector guidance to ensure enforcement of, and compliance with, minimum international standards;

• Sufficient documentation and records of certification and adequate continuing oversight and surveillance of air carrier operations.

Sana may mag open uli ng commercial flight dito sa Ormoc Airport para naman dito na kami sasakay at di na pupunta ng Tacloban na 2 hours ang byahe from Ormoc.

^^ ano ito.. space program talaga?

^^nagpadala tayo ng satellite c/o China ata. :lol:

Makaka-allocate kaya ng badyet para sa Space Program sa Pinas?

time will only tell kung kelan magiging ready ang Pinas for a full blown Space program... pero let's not close our mind on the possibilities....

o nga, malay nyo, tumino bigla yung government officials natin...o di kaya mahukay ang Yamashita Treasure? :nuts:

^^ Which is more convenient for Ormocnons: via Tacloban or via Cebu? I hope they open it too.

Kuwait Cos To Build In Philippines; Set Up $10B Fund-Report
Original report at Zawya
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZW20080115000004

BEIRUT, 15 January (Zawya Dow Jones)--A consortium of Kuwaiti companies led by Al Abraj Holding CoAl Abraj Holding Co, Al Abraj Holding Company has signed a contract for mega development projects in the Philippines and for setting up a $10 billion investment portfolio to fund these projects, Kuwait-based al Qabas daily reported Tuesday.

The consortium, which includes Agility, Al Mal Investment Co and International Leasing & Investment Co, will develop projects in Philippine's Batangas Province in partnership with the U.K.-based firm Aragon, the paper reported.

The projects include the construction of an international airport, an international port, railways, oil storage facilities, and an electric power station in addition to residential areas.

To implement these projects the developers will set up a joint venture which will be 75%-owned by the Kuwaiti side and 25% by Aragon, the paper reported.

President to meet with Aragon group in Davos
Original report at Gov.Ph News
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2008 | FOREIGN RELATIONS
http://www.gov.ph/news/?i=19944

ZURICH, Switzerland (via PLDT)—In a move to advance the country's energy independence program, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will meet with the officials of the Aragon Financial Group (AFG) Wednesday afternoon in Davos, her first activity in the ski resort city after arriving Tuesday night at the Zurich International Airport from Manila.

The President is scheduled to meet with the Aragon Group executives at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday (Swiss time, 12:15 a.m. Thursday in Manila) at the Casa Bracke in Klosters, Davos.

The financial group is assisting oil and natural gas companies that need funding from financial partners such as private investors, venture capital, equity and institutional and banking sources.

The AFG has available funding for natural gas projects in the United States and is currently looking for clients with existing operations that require funding through build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme, debt finance, equity refinance and even merger.

The financial group could help the government in its policy to ensure continuous and adequate supply of energy through integrated and intensive exploration, production, management and development of the country's indigenous energy resources such as oil and natural gas.

The natural gas industry in the Philippines began with the operation of the Malampaya gas-to-power project in offshore Palawan that now has three gas-fired power plants with a capacity of some 2,760 megawatts.

However, this output is insufficient to advance the government's program to utilize natural gas for cheaper public transport operation costs.

Also, the country still needs to explore and develop more energy sources to lessen its dependence on imported and expensive fossil fuel.

Under Executive Order No. 473 that was signed by the President in November 2005, the Department of Energy (DOE) has been tasked to pursue the immediate exploration, development and production of crude oil from the Camago-Malampaya reservoir.

Under E.O. 473, the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) that manages the Malampaya operations, or its designated subsidiary, was likewise directed to engage the participation of third parties, if necessary, in the exploration, development and production of crude oil in the country.

After her meeting with the Aragon Group officials, the President will also entertain a courtesy call of the executives of the Dredging International NV, a Dutch-based company that has more than 100 years of experience in river dredging, building ports and reclamation projects in Europe, South America, Australia, Singapore and Africa.

Under Executive Order No. 380 signed by the President in October 2004, reclamation has been identified as one of the primary sources of government revenue generation under the Medium Term Philippine Development Program (MTPDP) from 2004 to 2010.

Posted this also in "Airports and Airplanes"

Kuwait Cos To Build In Philippines; Set Up $10B Fund-Report
Original report at Zawya
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZW20080115000004

BEIRUT, 15 January (Zawya Dow Jones)--A consortium of Kuwaiti companies led by Al Abraj Holding CoAl Abraj Holding Co, Al Abraj Holding Company has signed a contract for mega development projects in the Philippines and for setting up a $10 billion investment portfolio to fund these projects, Kuwait-based al Qabas daily reported Tuesday.

The consortium, which includes Agility, Al Mal Investment Co and International Leasing & Investment Co, will develop projects in Philippine's Batangas Province in partnership with the U.K.-based firm Aragon, the paper reported.

The projects include the construction of an international airport, an international port, railways, oil storage facilities, and an electric power station in addition to residential areas.

To implement these projects the developers will set up a joint venture which will be 75%-owned by the Kuwaiti side and 25% by Aragon, the paper reported.

President to meet with Aragon group in Davos
Original report at Gov.Ph News
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2008 | FOREIGN RELATIONS
http://www.gov.ph/news/?i=19944

ZURICH, Switzerland (via PLDT)—In a move to advance the country's energy independence program, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will meet with the officials of the Aragon Financial Group (AFG) Wednesday afternoon in Davos, her first activity in the ski resort city after arriving Tuesday night at the Zurich International Airport from Manila.

The President is scheduled to meet with the Aragon Group executives at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday (Swiss time, 12:15 a.m. Thursday in Manila) at the Casa Bracke in Klosters, Davos.

The financial group is assisting oil and natural gas companies that need funding from financial partners such as private investors, venture capital, equity and institutional and banking sources.

The AFG has available funding for natural gas projects in the United States and is currently looking for clients with existing operations that require funding through build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme, debt finance, equity refinance and even merger.

The financial group could help the government in its policy to ensure continuous and adequate supply of energy through integrated and intensive exploration, production, management and development of the country's indigenous energy resources such as oil and natural gas.

The natural gas industry in the Philippines began with the operation of the Malampaya gas-to-power project in offshore Palawan that now has three gas-fired power plants with a capacity of some 2,760 megawatts.

However, this output is insufficient to advance the government's program to utilize natural gas for cheaper public transport operation costs.

Also, the country still needs to explore and develop more energy sources to lessen its dependence on imported and expensive fossil fuel.

Under Executive Order No. 473 that was signed by the President in November 2005, the Department of Energy (DOE) has been tasked to pursue the immediate exploration, development and production of crude oil from the Camago-Malampaya reservoir.

Under E.O. 473, the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) that manages the Malampaya operations, or its designated subsidiary, was likewise directed to engage the participation of third parties, if necessary, in the exploration, development and production of crude oil in the country.

After her meeting with the Aragon Group officials, the President will also entertain a courtesy call of the executives of the Dredging International NV, a Dutch-based company that has more than 100 years of experience in river dredging, building ports and reclamation projects in Europe, South America, Australia, Singapore and Africa.

Under Executive Order No. 380 signed by the President in October 2004, reclamation has been identified as one of the primary sources of government revenue generation under the Medium Term Philippine Development Program (MTPDP) from 2004 to 2010.

puro lait ata yung mga comment dito ah.
nega?
it's possible naman eh.

It's not nega. We should face reality and let's stop dreaming. The space is so high our country can't even reach it. We don't even have a decent airport for planes flying just around 35,000 feet high.

Sana may mag open uli ng commercial flight dito sa Ormoc Airport para naman dito na kami sasakay at di na pupunta ng Tacloban na 2 hours ang byahe from Ormoc.

That's feasible, flights to TAC have been increased to twice daily courtesy of 5J so Ormoc might be quite profitable. Ormoc can settle for 3x weekly.

if i'm not mistaken.. one of the proposed/existing runways in DMIA will/is capable of handling a Space shuttle.. kaso the space shuttle program by NASA will end in 2010 na, so useless din..:nuts:

Dreams a-crashing to the ground (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=106635)

A week into the New Year, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano was up in the clouds, presiding at a news conference to confirm what the sector had known: the country had breached its target, finally, of 3 million tourist arrivals for 2007, and all indications showed to even better performance in 2008.

Then the clouds burst, and the rains fell, in torrents, courtesy of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which let down the boom on Philippine civil aviation -- subsequently dealing the buoyant tourism industry a major blow.

It did this with the simple, sweeping act of downgrading the Philippines’ Air Transportation Office (ATO) from Category 1 to the very damning Category 2. Meaning, the system did not have what it takes to consistently ensure safety in all aspects of civil aviation; no matter that the flag carrier that flew so many times each week to the US had recently passed the tightest international safety audits.

The downgrade, which has drawn a wide, collective protest from Filipinos, including the usual grandstanders in Congress and the Pilate-like bureaucrats of the Executive, had a most telling effect on the country’s collective psyche because it signalled that the Philippines, one of the first Asian countries to operate an airline, had fallen so far, among other achievements. It has also affected Philippine Airlines (PAL), the only Filipino jetliner that flies to the United States. Until the problem is fixed, PAL would not be able to expand its coverage of the North American territory, while US citizens are warned at the same time to patronize only American flag carriers. The other local carriers, such as Cebu Pacific, are stymied from pushing through with plans to fly to the US routes while Category 2 is in effect.

The FAA regularly conducts an assessment of the civil aviation authorities of countries with air carriers that operate in the US as part of their International Aviation Safety Assessment (Iasa) program. The aim is to determine compliance with standards spelled out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the world’s civil aviation arbiter whose word is law and can only be ignored at one’s peril.

The Iasa audit of the ATO found a dearth of specific operating regulations, technical guidance, qualified technical personnel, licensing and certification obligations, continued surveillance obligations and resolution of safety issues. In July 2007, after completing its audit, the FAA held discussions with ATO to forge an action plan and corrective measures to improve its oversight functions. The government representative from ATO and Congress admitted the deficiencies and vowed to undertake corrective measures, including revising/updating of safety policies and procedures, hiring and training more qualified technical inspectors and passage of pertinent civil aviation laws. Between then and now, it seems nothing that local authorities did had convinced the FAA that the efforts would lead to somewhere soon.

The FAA will revert the Philippines to Category 1 only after the ATO shall have passed the next periodic review, which would at least take one year, according to an ICAO representative -- effectively putting in question the brave words of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), mother agency of the ATO, that we can get the upgrade in a few months. As an indication of how tedious is the review being conducted, the ICAO expert, one of five invited by ATO as consultants, had to read word-for-word a thick document -- one among dozens of documents -- correcting every word, comma and punctuation and adding new supplements, annexes and updates. The FAA churns out voluminous records of these documents every year, including the latest addendum, edict, decree, order, declaration, meetings and conventions and to keep up with their output, the ATO would need a separate building and staff to manage the paper tsunami.

Before the downgrading, the ATO had three hearings in Malacañang: the first with a Cabinet member, another during a Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) meeting, and the third in the presence of President Arroyo. Apparently moved by the report, the President, in her State of the Nation’s Address (Sona), urged Congress to approve the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) bill. But then it was too late. By the time the bill was being tackled by the 14th Congress, the FAA handed down its verdict downgrading the country.

Following the announcement that we have been removed from the company of first-class aviation bodies and dumped in the company of 19 other nobodies, local officials searched for scapegoats and the ax fell on the hapless Daniel Dimagiba, who was just an officer in charge, having been appointed to the post in October after former assistant secretary Nilo Jatico resigned.

The Philippines has reason to be embarrassed to be in the company of Bangladesh, Bulgaria, some African states such as the Congo (formerly Zaire), Gambia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and South American states of Guyana, Haiti, Honduras; including the dots in the Pacific such as Kiribati and Nauru.

Those were the days

In the heyday of Philippine aviation, flag carrier PAL used to span two-thirds of the globe; we were the first Asian airline to fly to Europe, touching down in Rome, Amsterdam, the United Kingdom, China, the Middle East, Australia, Southeast Asia and North America. We were the first country in Asia to mount a commercial flight, and PAL used to teach here in Manila the cabin crew of flight attendants and stewardesses of then-fledgling Japan Airlines.

Then as now, since it has more resources than ATO, Pal conducts its own oversight and has maintained an independent record of strict adherence to world safety levels. It passed the International Air Transport Association (Iata) operational safety audit in 2007; its fleet is being maintained by Lufthansa Technik Philippines, an affiliate of the world’s largest maintenance, repair and overhaul service provider. It also meets the requirements of the US FAA, French DGAC, European Aviation Safety, as well as the international aviation industry standards of the Iata.

Beginning of civil aviation

In 1931, long before the ICAO was organized, we had the Air Commerce Act that created the Office of Technical Assistant on Aviation Matters under the Department of Commerce and Communications. Eventually, we had a coherent aviation body with the crafting of Republic Act 776 that created the Civil Aeronautics Administration (Caa) in 1952.

We should have noticed early on what was wrong with our aviation policy. While commercial flights grew by leaps and bounds, from the popular 30-seater DC-3 in the ’50s, to the first B747 jumbo jet in the ’70s and now the 600-passenger behemoth that is the Airbus 380; and while communication and air traffic management had leapfrogged from High Frequency (HF) and Ultrahigh frequency (UHF) after World War II to the satellite-based system now in use worldwide, the Philippines seems to have gone in the opposite direction.

The CAA that used to govern our aviation was diluted, under strongman Ferdinand Marcos, to the Bureau of Air Transportation (Bat) and placed under the powerful Ministry of Transportation in July 1979 -- apparently for easier control by political leaders. And in April 1987 the creation of Executive Order 125 further diminished the Bat into what is now the Air Transportation Office (ATO), an adjunct of the DOTC. Certainly a far cry from the independent -- operationally and financially -- civil aviation agency mandated by international auditors.

The signs of deterioration of air service had become apparent as the whole legal and operational structure of civil aviation declined. Air-traffic controllers, who used to enjoy higher salary and perks, were included in the salary standardization law, making them no better off than regular government workers. The flimsy argument was that the air controller’s salary could not be higher than that of a military general or a Cabinet member -- ignoring the fact that these latter positions carry with them a bundle of perks. Or that the salaries of executives in government-owned and -controlled corporations run into the millions. The emasculated ATO could not intervene since its meager budget is dictated by its mother agency, the DOTC. We eventually saw the plunge in morale of a highly specialized group, many of whom joined the exodus to emerging aviation centers in the Middle East and Africa. The brain drain goes on until now. Our veteran air controllers, made to work under the ever-tightening constraints of the lack of infrastructure and a salary scale barely fit for survival, leave the service at an attrition rate of 10 percent a year.

Former FAA official David Moores, who came to the Philippines last year as an ICAO representative and had a short-term contract to evaluate the ATO, came away with reports detailing the critical lack of infrastructure, specifically the air-traffic control system. However, he had nothing but praise for the controllers who, in spite of great odds, have been able to do a good job. Shortly before he left the country sometime in July last year, Moores noted that the ATO’s organizational "infirmities" as caused by lack of funds could only be remedied when a CAAP is in place. The ATO, which would become the CAAP, could exercise fiscal autonomy to finance badly needed upgrading and maintenance and operating expenses. Unlike the situation now, when technical staff had to wait long even for vital equipment owing to budget constraints.

On the matter of the controllers, one notes that it costs millions of pesos to train them and it would take a particular trainee about two years before he is deemed ready or even allowed to handle sensitive assignment. In the screwed-up priorities of our officialdom, it seems better to allow them to leave after they have been with ATO for at least five years and trained with taxpayers’ money, than to upgrade their pay so they’ll stay. A supposedly cash-strapped government opted to let them leave and waste its training investment; and worse, spend millions more to train their replacements, when the money could have gone to increasing their take-home pay. At the moment, the ATO has lined up 300 trainees within the next three years, graduating about 100 a year -- yet the industry would not truly feel the impact of their costly training until two years after they have joined the service.

The noble ones who remain in the ATO stable are a morose lot but are still able to adhere to the high standards of their profession. There was a time they had this silent wish, that if only one legislator would meet an air mishap -- and yet survive -- because one of our old navigational aids malfunctioned, or a sudden thunderstorm caught him in midair and the radar conks out, then they could have a champion for immediate legislation to improve aviation service in this country. But because airplane and engine designs have improved so much that accidents are few and far between, the flying public has been lulled into believing that we are in the midst of progress.

The fragility of our state of safety and efficiency in the last few years, according to Cesar Cruz, the chief of the Manila Tower, is mirrored in the long separation times between airplanes, a tactic used by air controllers to minimize the risk of accidents in the face of infrastructure problems. The long separations have delayed airplane arrivals and departures, hurting airlines, especially during peak travel seasons like Christmas.

The infrastructure problems are legion: the old Tagaytay long-range radar, built with a guarantee of 10 years but actually in use for 26, had to be taken down regularly for repairs. That’s the "see" part of monitoring aircraft.

Through the years, air traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has kept mounting while departures are subjected to "slotting" -- where pilots are told when to leave because of congestion in the airways. The airlines, in turn, suffer the higher operating costs, while tourism is affected because tourists and airlines would rather be some place where there are superior runways, airport facilities and related infrastructure.

We are not alone

To be fair, we are not alone in this respect because in the US -- particularly in the busy hubs of Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago and New York -- air-traffic controllers have been leaving in droves, with the consequent implication on the safety margins of air travelers. According to a recent Associated Press report, the FAA has so few veteran controllers left that the workers’ union said it could not guarantee completely safe handling of the volume of aircraft of the four major airports mentioned during the busiest periods of the day.

"They are being asked to handle so much volume with so little rest and fewer eyes and ears that they are fatigued, and when you are fatigued you make mistakes," FAA’s chief operating officer Hank Krakowski was quoted as saying. He added that the agency is aggressively hiring new controllers, although new ones could take up to three years to become fully certified for all tasks at busy facilities.

The National Air Traffic Association (NATA), which has a continuing dispute with the FAA over contract negotiations, estimates that 500 veteran controllers will have retired during the first third of the budget year that began October 1, 2007; while in March 2007 the FAA estimated 695 more would retire during the remaining months of the year.

But the US, which has 14,974 controllers, has even more resources than the Philippines to address its problems. Meanwhile, the ATO, which has to look after the welfare of less than 400 controllers, has seen its regulatory function also retrogress. Certified pilots are offered a starting monthly salary of P25,000 when the going rate elsewhere starts at $4,000 (P200,000). Many pilot positions thus remain vacant. These pilots inspect and review airline companies, airplanes and their pilots before getting their licenses from the ATO. The permits run the gamut of aviation business permit, air-carrier permit, air agencies permit, trading permit, flight safety program, aircraft licensing and airworthiness, and pilot licensing. The ATO is also responsible for the maintenance of air navigation services, financial billings and air-traffic control.

The few remaining check-pilots of the ATO have had to make personal sacrifices to keep body and soul together. Despite such sacrifices, there are persistent rumors that some of them thrive by resorting to corruption -- in exchange for the certification, validation and renewal of licenses.

The weak infrastructure of the ATO and the corresponding weak links that bind the agency are not lost on either the FAA or the ICAO, which conduct regular oversight functions on 190 contracting states. It is said that ICAO had to intervene with ATO because it found it ironic that a country so far advanced in aviation in comparison with the other 18 -- which had practically just emerged from a state of aviation unconsciousness recently -- was in such dire straits.

For a bit of history, the ICAO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, was created with the signing in Chicago, on December 7, 1944, of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Initially it had 52 member-states which today have grown to 190. One of its early works was the adoption of the International Standards and Recommended Practices (Sarps) to regulate international air transport.

In 1998, during the 32nd ICAO General Assembly, it urged all 190 members to "establish autonomous civil aviation authority due to the problems on bureaucracy and difficulty to meet ICAO standards."

Local aviation master plan

Unknown to many, the ATO had already crafted a Civil Aviation Master Plan, under the aegis of the Asian Development Bank in 1996; and in 1997, a bill was filed in the 11th Congress, creating the Philippine Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), under the DOTC’s Third Airport Development Project.

However, the "CAAP" was later adopted because the PCAA initials were similar to Pakistan. At the moment, ICAO representative in the Philippines Florante Magdamo notes that majority of the members have had autonomous civil aviation authorities in their respective states, while the country remains among the laggards.

Magdamo, a former controller, coordinates between the ATO and the ICAO to streamline the paperwork necessary so that we could go back to our former Category 1 status.

During the 12th Congress, the CAAP bill was not discussed, busy as the nation was in the ouster of then-President Joseph Estrada. During President Arroyo’s tenure, the bill remained in the dustbin, and Malacañang certified it only as urgent when the FAA warned that we would soon lose our preeminent status in the aviation community.

It was also in 1998 that the ICAO had recommended adoption within 10 years of the Communication-Navigation-Surveillance/Air Traffic Management system (Cns/Atm), aiming to unite the communication and air traffic control of the world into a single, seamless network. So far, most countries have adopted the program, while others are right on target. The Philippines, after diverting the Cns/Atm fund to improve the Davao and Iloilo airports, said that it would have the system in place in 2012, with additional one year to streamline the network.

Why did the CAAP bill remain sleeping in Congress for the last decade? Some blame a turf war between the DOTC and the ATO. Sometime in the 10th or 11th Congress, the DOTC proposed a Transportation Security Authority (TSA) that would handle all of the country’s aviation matters. This was opposed by the ICAO, which mandated that a member-country should have a single authority where all civil aviation matters reside. At the same time, the Senate had balked at having a fiscally autonomous ATO able to dispense P3 billion in yearly income; it feared the money would be squandered through corruption. This was countered by the ATO, which pointed out that the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), with a larger income of P6.75 billion, is also subject to the Commission on Audit.

While the aviation bill continues to be refiled at every new Congress, the solution has remained elusive; its urgency lost on those who pull the levers of power. Until the FAA downgrade, the DOTC or the ATO has not set a single centavo to mobilize a campaign for the bill’s passage in Congress. Anacleto Venturina, a former controller, said that when he used to follow up the papers in Congress, he had to spend his own gasoline money going back and forth to the legislators. He stopped when the expenses burned a hole in his pocket. This year, when the ATO’s deficiency was exposed and the proverbial shit hit the fan, there was a flurry of finger pointing to assign the blame and the first to get it was Dimagiba, who was just an OIC recently thrown into the fray.

Dimagiba, an engineer who rose from the ATO ranks, is concurrently the flight safety officer in charge. He hopes to be appointed as Flight Safety Division head to assist the ATO in the implementation of the CAAP once it is adopted.

Meanwhile, tourism and all its auxiliary sectors and businesses bleed from the cruel blow, while those who did so little to avert the crisis now get the chance to play hero.

P250M spent for airport with no design (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080125-114620/P250M-spent-for-airport-with-no-design)

LEGAZPI CITY – Arroyo administration officials had already spent P250 million and will have P600 million more to spend this year, and use up a total of at least P3.5 billion for an airport project here that does not yet have an engineering or architectural design, officials said.

The Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) was touted as part of the development of Bicol into one of the super regions listed by President Macapagal-Arroyo.

Gov. Joey Salceda, former chief of staff of Ms Arroyo, said the project construction would start in October.

Salceda said Ms Arroyo had already directed the Department of Budget and Management to allot P600 million in the 2008 national budget for the project.

But the government, he said, had already spent P250 million for what he described as a rapid detailed engineering work, construction of an access road connecting a national road to the airport site, and buying lands that are in the path of the runway.

He said, however, that the airport’s design was still being created and on detailed engineering stage.

According to Macario Pavia, provincial planning and development coordinator, the Department of Transportation and Communications will provide updates on the progress of the engineering and architectural design of the SLIA on Feb. 8.

Survey work, he said, is already complete but will be finalized once the final design is completed by the DOTC.

Despite the absence of a detailed engineering and architectural design, officials said access roads had already been built and pieces of land in the project site are to be bought.

Pavia said a pre-feasibility study was done in 2000 for a new airport in Bicol during the term of then Gov. Al Francis Bichara, now a congressman.

But the site being considered at that time was different.

Pavia said that in 2000, proponents were looking at lands in Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Legazpi and Polangui in Albay.

Salceda said the P600 million that Ms Arroyo ordered the DBM to allot for the project would not be released without the detailed engineering design and project plan.

The allocation in this year’s budget, he said, would be spent for materials required in civil works.

Salceda, chair of the Bicol Regional Development Council, said Ms Arroyo identified the airport project as one of those that she wanted finished before her term ends in 2010.

The site was identified as a 200-hectare piece of property on a plateau in Barangay Alobo, Daraga.

Salceda defended the project against criticisms that it was not necessary because it was not viable.

No feasibility study was available for the project.

Critics said the planned airport might be underutilized because the surrounding areas did not have industries that could justify its existence.

But Salceda said Mayon volcano and the tourism income it generated would justify the new airport.

Kuwait Cos To Build In Philippines; Set Up $10B Fund-Report

is that for real?

unique runways :D

Lukla, Nepal
http://m4.bestpicever.com/pics/pic_11954366177834.jpg

Swope Farm Airport, Fan Rock, WV
http://img.airnav.com/ap/18649

Elk City Airport, Elk City, ID
http://img.airnav.com/ap/07435

^^ Those airstrips are often utilized by bush pilots using small light propeller planes that mostly transport goods to remote outposts.

^^ the middle one reminds me of the baguio airstrip...

This has been reported several times in international financial news.
See, for example, a Reuter report (http://in.reuters.com/article/asiaCompanyAndMarkets/idINL1655635420071216) quoted in The Guardian of UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7226502.

Latest update here: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSL1562255720080115?sp=true

Its for real! Its just a matter of signing and finalizing the deal at Davos.

The report is also indicating that they are building some infrastructure around batangas. Hmm no more sangley?

When is Tacloban Airport going to be upgraded?

Non-passage of nat’l budget delays airport rehab project
By: Joey A. Gabieta & Miriam G. Desacada, Staff Writers





TACLOBAN CITY - The rehabilitation of the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport is estimated to cost nearly P900 million and is projected to start within the year.This was revealed by City Administrator Jimmy “Jim Jim” Yaokasin who said that what “delay” the implementation on this project is the non-passage of this year’s national budget.

According to the city administrator, the counterpart of the national government, through the Department of Transportation and Communications, for this project is included on its budget for the current fiscal year.

The P1.227 billion national budget for 2008 is still being deliberated by members of the bicameral committee of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The said committee is responsible for the reconciliation and crafting of the National Appropriations Act.

It was learned from Yaokasin that under the memorandum of agreement between the city and national governments, the latter is set to provide P530 million while the former would come up P350 million for the project to be realized.

Based on the agreement, the funds from the DOTC would be used for the acquisition of lands, relocation for the affected families and for site development; improvement of the airport’s runway and procurement of navigational facilities, among others.

The city government, meantime, would be responsible for the construction of the airport’s terminal building.

Yaokasin said that they are positive that the project would commence within this year considering that no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had expressed her support on this undertaking.

Mayor Alfred Romualdez proposed that the city government undertake the rehabilitation of the airport’s terminal through the build and operate transfer scheme, a novel idea which has not yet been done anywhere in the country.

Yaokasin said that he already meet with Secretary Cerge Remonde, the Cabinet Secretary for Regional Development (CORD)-Eastern Visayas who promised to “fast track” the project starting with the approval of the memorandum of agreement between the city government and the DOTC, representing the national government.

The city administrator also said that under the proposal advanced by the city government, as represented by Mayor Romualdez, the city government would collect all the fees generated from the use and operation of the terminal building.

“And the fees collected by the city government would be use to pay off the amount it used for the rehabilitation of the terminal building,” Yaokasin said.


He said that they have yet to come up with a specific devise how the city government could raise the P350 million it projected to cost for the works. But Yaokasin said that they have several options for this like securing a loan from banks or even from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The JBIC was supposed to finance the improvement of the DZR Airport but dropped it after the national government failed to come up with its counterpart of around P600 million. The project was to cost P3.1 billion.

The rehabilitation of the DZR Airport has been in the drawing board for over 10 years now and had it been realized, it should have been finished by 2007

A former Batangas governor was campaigning for the upgrading of Fernando Air Base into an international airport. Could this be the international airport the Kuwaitis are involved in? A Batangas port-Lipa airport corridor would mimic the Subic-Clark zone.

I am based here in Kuwait,AGILITY is a big logistic company here in Kuwait formerly known as PWC.its serving the US forces in Iraq.

;17939119']unique runways :D

Lukla, Nepal
http://m4.bestpicever.com/pics/pic_11954366177834.jpg


This one is not on Lukla.It is in Courchevel,France. It's called an altiport wherein it is slanted to aid pilot in takeoffs and landing...

heres a video on how wild it is to land on that airport:D...
IqV0-ddyWRY

where can i buy PAL scale models in manila?

In Lils Futaba in Makati Park Square.

;17939119']unique runways :D

Lukla, Nepal
http://m4.bestpicever.com/pics/pic_11954366177834.jpg


Hindi ba ito yung ginamit sa 007 Goldeneye?

Anyway, do you guys remember that one cool Boeing - Forever. New Frontiers (http://www.lclark.edu/~soan370/global/videoone/boeing02-00.mov) commercial a few years ago? I recently found one copy on the internet. I extracted the audio and its now on my Ipod. I can still still remember recording it on tape - yung tipong nakatapat yung radio sa tv at inabangan ko ang commercial. :lol:

^^Aired in the Philippines? I saw an ad of Boeing in Time and Newsweek - Frontiers, it featured the 747 and some dolls thing. I'll try to scan it. Hindi ko na yata naabutan sa TV ang ads, parang 5 pa yata ako when those aired.

Indians flocking to RP flying
schools on ‘boom’ forecast

By Recto Mercene
Reporter


INDIA, the second economic powerhouse in Asia after China, is preparing itself for a forecast boom in its airline industry by sending 21,000 would-be pilots to learn from other countries, and in the Philippines about 1,000 of them are already learning how to fly.

This was gathered by BusinessMirror from an interview with Ronie Briones, a senior aviation-safety officer of the Air Transportation Office, which issues certificates to qualified pilots, air carriers, airline operators and chartered airline companies.

He said there are also other foreigners learning to fly here but most of them are from India; the rest are from Nepal, Pakistan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Korea, Japan and China.

The Indians are enrolled in 39 flying schools, 19 of them in the National Capital Region. The rest are scattered in Cebu, Clark, Dumaguete and Zamboanga, where the student- pilot starts by flying the single-seater Cessna 150, Piper Tomahawk or the four-seater Cessna 172.

Aeroflight, one of the flying schools near Villamor Air Base, has about 300 Indian students enrolled and one of them, Manish Pratap Singh, a 20-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, said of the 1,000 Indian students in the Philippines, about 50 to 60 are women.

He said 21,000 fellow Indians are learning how to fly in such places as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand besides the Philippines.

“This is a very competitive profession. There is a potential need of about 3,000 to 4,000 pilots in the near future but five times of that are enrolled in flying schools all over the world,” said Singh.

Abhimanyu Talwar, another 20-year-old trainee from New Delhi, is enrolled at the Flight and Simulator Training School with a dozen other fellow Indians. He chose to come to the Philippines rather than the US or Australia because it takes less time to graduate here.

“The flying hours required [in the US or Australia] are the same to be a licensed private pilot but I can finish the course here in six months, while it would take me more than a year if I take the same lessons in Australia or New Zealand,” he says.

He pays about P7,000 per hour of flying and would have spent about P2.3 million by the time he has logged about 40 hours to get his private pilot license.

In India, he says that the government requires he should have accumulated 1,500 flying hours before he gets accepted by the airline companies.

According to Briones, many foreigners choose the Philippines over other countries because they can easily get student visas or special student permits.

Nikhil Mittal, 19, from New Delhi, said he finds it easy to study in the Philippines because of the proficiency of the Filipinos in English. He also said it would take him two years to get his license in India because of the lack of training planes and flight instructors.

He is confident of making it as a commercial airline pilot, saying there are 10 or 12 airline companies in his country, Air India being the biggest.

Mittal, whose father is in the pharmaceutical business, said many fellow Indians are taking to the air, lured by a high salary that averages at about $12,500 (P512,500) a month.

Most of the students interviewed by the BusinessMirror agree Philippine flying schools have high standards with very proficient instructors. Mittal said “the quality is better than India.”

On studying in neighboring Asean countries, Singh said it is difficult to enroll in Bangkok because a would-be pilot needs to be a Thai citizen, while Malaysia enforces a different law when it comes to foreign students wanting to fly there.

Maynard Halili, owner of flying school Airwork, said these Indian students mostly come from well-to-do families, or are sponsored by an Indian company.

Ironically, his school has no Indian student because they accept only corporate or helicopter pilots for advanced training, one of the few schools catering to the “high-class” status.

Briones said he found the Indian student first rate in passing a grueling examination that encompass rules of the air, navigation, weight-and-balance, meteorology, civil air rules, and search and rescue.

There is a separate test on powerplants, which is about aircraft engines.

im not in the aviation program but in the program im taking, i believe, that somewhere to 3/4 are indians and .01% is filipino which happen to be me :lol:

hahaahaha. P 2.3 million for 40 flight hours is a total rip-off. Stupid.

Keeping the competition honest (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/jan/27/yehey/opinion/20080127opi5.html)

For want of a librarian, an airline was lost. That may be putting too much spin on the decision of the United States Federal Aviation Agency to downgrade the Philippines’ Air Transportation Office capability to ensure the safety of air carrier operations in the country. For example, FAA inspectors found that the ATO doesn’t have a librarian to keep and compile air transportation regulations. This, among other shortcomings impacts on the safety standards of Filipino-owned airlines and the airworthiness of their equipment.

Because of this, Philippine Airlines (PAL) met with a meteor of business and operational disaster predictions, ranging from being eliminated as a major international airline to a massive loss of market share in the lucrative US-Asia-US routes. Being made much of is the US Embassy advisory to Americans not to fly Philippine carriers i.e, PAL. It must be noted that it is an advice, not an order, which may count heavily on those who are just making their first flight to the Philippines and Asia from the US. But it may not have as much weight to the veteran travelers.

For if truth be told, if PAL only operated on the basis of the standards set by ATO, it would have long ago been blown out of the skies and thrown out of business. Not only because it would be avoided by regular air travelers but it would have been a victim of serious air accidents.

Massive investment on aircraft, equipment and manpower force airlines to rely more on their technical people for safety than on minimum public standards set by national aviation authorities. They, for example, have to meet standards and regulations set by the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) even as they meet the standards of their own civil aviation organizations.

What the FAA found unsafe are the safety standards and operations of the Philippines civil aviation authority. It would seem that for a long time now, the ATO has literally been operating “on a wing and a prayer.” The ATO budget appears to be heavy on personnel and minimal on equipment and technology. It appears to have become just another dumping ground for potential voters. Despite providing the biggest share of its budget for personnel, there is a shortage of technical workers.

To counteract the sensationalized report about the dire consequences that the FAA reclassification, PAL has to give its side by buying advertisement, which was what media may have in mind in putting PAL through the ringer. PAL can count itself lucky it can pay to give its side. And PAL could not have said it better:

“It was the Philippine Air Transportation Office (ATO) that was downgraded: not PAL.

“Indeed, PAL remains the only Philippine carrier flying to the U.S. and it proudly continues to fly there despite the ATO’s downgrading.

“Philippine Airlines adheres to the highest international safety standards, exemplified by its being the first and only Filipino carrier to pass the IATA Operational Safety Audit, the international accepted benchmark for global safety management in airlines.

“PAL’s fleet is maintained by no less that the world’s best in the field of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO)—Lufthansa Technik Philippines, an affiliate of Lufthansa Technik AG of Hamburg, Germany, the world’s largest MRO company.”

There is talk that the U.S. FAA downgraded the ATO to force the Philippines to approve the application of Hawaiian Airlines to fly the US-Philippine route. This is idle talk. One need not be blackmailed to do what is for one’s own good. But one can never tell about contemporary bureaucrats.

In any case, Hawaiian Airlines is supposed to start flying to the Philippines in a few weeks. It has been a long time since PAL had a competitor over its Pacific route. The new airline may serve to keep it “honest.”

^^ That is one crazy assumption of media. Hawaiian Airlines application have been approved long ago. and ATO has been given a warning since last year and they simply did nothing

^^ They're looking for scapegoats to blame for the downgrade and are grasping at straws on that one.

http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/photos/big/00005054.jpg

http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/photos/big/00000468.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/paB787lconceptlivery002.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palB747conceptlivery01-mabuhay.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palA340conceptlivery01-mabuhay.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palA330conceptlivery02-01.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palB747conceptlivery02-02.jpg

^^I love it!Really beautiful.Impressive.Great minds and great talents!
Sana ganito ang livery ng PAL para sa launching ng B777 nila.

^^ The last five were created by our very own talented Bondurant (aka Zach). :okay:

mas gusto ko pa rin yung current livery :) pero kung gagawing makulay ng PAL ang kanilang airplanes trip ko yung kay N.Khawaja :) but itd be nice if magka 787 nga ang pal no?

wow, i like zach's livery design. Especially on the 787:okay:

I prefer to see the sun "rising" above the horizon, not "peeking out from under." :colgate:

The Philippines in the future should send an a Filipino astronaut in the space.

http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/photos/big/00005054.jpg

of all the fictional liveries of PAL, i really love this one... So fancy and elegant...:)

still prefer the current one..ang first picture parehas na sa logo ng Saudi Aramco magkaiba lang ng kulay iyong second naman maganda rin siya kaya lang malayo na ang kulay pula nito....comments ko lang ha walang aaway sa ere.....PEACE!...:)

http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/photos/big/00005054.jpg

http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/photos/big/00000468.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/paB787lconceptlivery002.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palB747conceptlivery01-mabuhay.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palA340conceptlivery01-mabuhay.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palA330conceptlivery02-01.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palB747conceptlivery02-02.jpg

ang galing naman ni Zach! :okay:

pero mas gusto ko pa rin yung present livery. Simple but very catchy. Pag nakita mo, alam mo na talagang PAL yun at Pilipinas ang nirerepresent.

:cheer:Poro Point International Airport will open in mid-2008!

Cordillera tribes realize why they should not fear tourism

By Vincent Cabreza (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/Quay%20Side%20Gantry%20Cranes)
Northern Luzon Bureau

"To attract more tourists to the summer capital, the DOT has tasked tourism stakeholders with marketing the city jointly with the Poro Point International Airport in La Union, which will open in mid-2008."
A LOWLAND town is being eyed by tourism officials to be a partner in boosting the arrival of tourists to Baguio City and other provinces in the region.

With the opening of an international airport at Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union, the regional office of the Department of Tourism-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOTC-CAR) is looking into the possibility of twinning Poro Point and Baguio as one packaged destination tour.

The opening of an international airport in areas near Baguio is expected to boost the city's tourist arrival.

DOT-CAR Director Purificacion Molintas said selling Poro Point and Baguio as one tour destination is a helpful strategy in increasing tourist, particularly foreign tourists, arrivals in Baguio and the rest of the region.

"We have to maximize the use of international airports located near us," Molintas said.

The DOT director admitted the lack of an international airport in CAR bugs the arrival of foreign tourists.

The nearest international airport to Baguio at present is located at Laoag, Ilocos Norte, which is seven hours away from the city.

Statistics from the DOT showed more domestic tourists visit the region than foreigners. From the more than four million tourists who visited CAR from 2002 to 2006, only a little more than 300,000 are foreigners.

Earlier, Molintas said Europeans are CAR frequent visitors. She said Europeans prefer mountains over beaches.

The present airstrip in Poro Point is being rehabilitated to accommodate wide body aircraft. When the upgrade is finished in June or July next year, it will be able to take in international flights particularly from the tiger economies of Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan.

A Russian tourism expert said last year the Philippines must be able to provide direct flights to its top tourism destinations if the country intends to attract the Russian market.

The envoy said Russians consider ease of travel as a primary consideration in choosing a place to visit.

Close to a million Russians traveled to South East Asia last year, the
Philippines got a measly 30,000 from these international travelers.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/01/20/bus/baguio.poro.to.be.promoted.as.one.tour.destination.html

itong ba yong isa sa mga iaanounce ni gma pag uwi nya bukas sa pinas, sana meron ding syang nakuhang investments sa dubai....and daming talagang pera ang mga taga middle east...

EIkx6E0Mwsk
The SQ Super Mario ad, the Singapore Girl here is the pretties I've ever seen.

Kuwait's Abraj in final talks on $3.5bn Philippines deal
http://www.tradearabia.com/news/REAL_137877.html
Kuwait City: 5 hours and 8 minutes ago
27 January 2007

Kuwait-based investment firm Abraj Holding Co said on Sunday it was in final talks on a $3.5 billion services contract in the Philippines, but gave no details.

A group led Abraj had agreed to build an economic city in the Philippines, including a $1.3 billion airport, Al-Qabas daily reported on Sunday, without giving a source.

Abraj gave no further details of the investment in a statement on the bourse Web site.

Kuwaiti firms including logistics provider Agility plan to invest more than $10 billion in infrastructure projects in the Philippines, Abraj said on January 15.

The firms would build airports, ports, railways, power stations and telecommunications, it had said. -Reuters

Kuwait's Abraj in final talks on $3.5bn Philippines deal
http://www.tradearabia.com/news/REAL_137877.html
Kuwait City: 5 hours ago
27 January 2007

Kuwait-based investment firm Abraj Holding Co said on Sunday it was in final talks on a $3.5 billion services contract in the Philippines, but gave no details.

A group led Abraj had agreed to build an economic city in the Philippines, including a $1.3 billion airport, Al-Qabas daily reported on Sunday, without giving a source.

Abraj gave no further details of the investment in a statement on the bourse Web site.

Kuwaiti firms including logistics provider Agility plan to invest more than $10 billion in infrastructure projects in the Philippines, Abraj said on January 15.

The firms would build airports, ports, railways, power stations and telecommunications, it had said. -Reuters

Al-Abraj signs $10b investment deal with UK’s Argon
By Thaher Al-Zayyat
Special to the Arab Times
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/client/pagesdetails.asp?nid=10830&ccid=9

KUWAIT : The Al-Abraj Holding Company recently signed an investment agreement with the Argon Industrial Group of England to execute a number of infrastructure developing projects in the Philippines which is believed to be worth $10 billion. The Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Al-Abraj Sameer Nasser said the agreement was signed after Argon carried out several studies on the performance of the Al-Abraj Holding Company over the past few years and discovered the company has vast experience in executing huge projects in sectors such as the logistics, services, ports management, transportation and investment. Nasser added the projects will cover development of the infrastructure in the two main governorates of the Philippines in addition to developing one of the biggest ports in the country.

He added Al-Abraj will execute the projects through a Kuwaiti consortium which includes the Agility company, Al-Mal Investment Company, the International Leasing and Investment Company in addition to the Al-Abraj Holding Company which will lead the consortium. Nasser also pointed out the projects in the Philippines will be executed through another holding company which will be established in one of the important European capitals. The Al-Abraj Holding company will contribute 75 percent of the capital and the rest the Argon Industrial Group. He added both these companies will establish a new fund to create the capital of the new company. He said the capital of this fund will be between $10 billion and $15 billion. Nasser also pointed out the projects in the Philippines are ‘build-operate-transfer (BOT). The term of these projects will be around 40 years.

On going na ba yung facelift/rehab ng Poro Point Int'l?

^^yup and would finish on june 2009, according to the article above

Oh, thanks. Well, that's good news then.

Yeah, galing nga. I like yung design ni Zach.:)
But I still prefer the present livery... elegant and classy.

Monday, January 28, 2008
Cebu Pacific outflanks PAL in local routes (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/jan/28/yehey/business/20080128bus4.html)
By Darwin G. Amojelar, Reporter

IT’S official. Cebu Pacific carried more domestic passenger last year, overtaking close rival Philippine Airlines (PAL), the Civil Aeronautical Board (CAB) said.

Data from CAB showed that the Gokongwei-owned airline carried 4.56 million domestic passengers with a load factor of 83 percent last year, as against PAL’s 4.03 million passengers and 79-percent load factor. Air Philippines carried 1.17 million domestic passenger while Asian Spirit served 484,482. Newcomer Southeast Asian Airlines (Seair) flew 221,960 people as of November last year.

The industry’s increasing load factor reflects a steady growth in passenger demand in the country.

For the fourth quarter alone, Cebu Pacific flew 1.13 million passengers and PAL another 1.06 million.

Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice-president for marketing and products, said this makes the airline the single largest domestic carrier in the country, offering the most routes, destinations and flights in the Philippines.

“This is a new milestone that will further encourage us to continue offering low fares, new planes and quality service,” Iyog said.

For its part, PAL said it had a 53.8-percent market share last year compared with Cebu Pacific’s 46.2 percent share.

The PAL-Air Philippines alliance led in terms of seating capacity, with 6.46 million seats flown on 31 domestic routes.

In terms of cargo operations, PAL carried 62.67 million kilograms during the period followed by Cebu Pacific, 54.16 million; Air Philippines, 12 million; and Pacific East Asia Cargo, 9.8 million.

KLM has changed its proposed B77W flying program for this summer to include Manila, after the withdrawal of Lufthansa from the Philippine capital, leaving KLM as the only European carrier there. The proposed flights for the two-strong B77W fleet will now be as follows:

KL427/428 AMS DXB AMS - Mo/Th/Sa
KL641/642 AMS JFK AMS - Tu
KL791/792 AMS GRU AMS - Tu/We/Fr/Su
KL803/804 AMS MNL AMS - We/Fr/Su

As a result of these changes, KLM will no longer deploy the new B77W to Osaka. Also Sao Paulo will see its proposed B77W reduced by one weekly flight. New York is back as a B77W destination to fill a small gap that could not be utilized in any other way.

The aircraft that will arrive from Manila in Amsterdam on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays is not scheduled to leave those same evenings, although it can - and likely will - be deployed to Cairo as KL553/554 in case of operational irregularities.

(courtesy of Airliners.net)

Also KL announced just today that there will 0% commission on its IATA Travel Agent partners selling tickets along with AF. I think LH MNL-drop has something to do with this.

Yeah, galing nga. I like yung design ni Zach.:)
But I still prefer the present livery... elegant and classy.

kahit anong livery ng PAL basta may shining sun.....ok na sa akin.....as long as the beauty of the philippines is shining through!!!!!

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01270504

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01270504&size=large

BEFORE
http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01270502&size=large

AFTER
http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01270504&size=large

cebu pacific looks good in ATR........tropical colors look good with propeller planes

ok ung ATR ng CEBPAC, sana they'll focus also flights in ZAM to JOLO and TAWI-TAWI since mas maganda pa ang mga BEACHES dun... talo pa ang BORACAY... check niyo sa Mindanao Forum ang quezon beach ng JOLo..

EIkx6E0Mwsk
The SQ Super Mario ad, the Singapore Girl here is the pretties I've ever seen.

ang ganda... niyayayahahhhaha for children tlga..

^^ :lol: The irrepressible tagline that has become infamous.

ok ung ATR ng CEBPAC, sana they'll focus also flights in ZAM to JOLO and TAWI-TAWI since mas maganda pa ang mga BEACHES dun... talo pa ang BORACAY... check niyo sa Mindanao Forum ang quezon beach ng JOLo..

^^cebu pacific should try these routes......gawin nilang hub ang zamboanga for these island destinations.......

parang continental air micronesia :lol: seriously, nice po!! :cheers:


http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/photos/big/00005054.jpg

http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/photos/big/00000468.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/paB787lconceptlivery002.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palB747conceptlivery01-mabuhay.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palA340conceptlivery01-mabuhay.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palA330conceptlivery02-01.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/palB747conceptlivery02-02.jpg

^^ wow! nicely done!

^^ omg.. so exciting... andaming rumoured investors sa pinas... again, i would literally jump for joy if i would see some digging happening..

That's very colorful. Sana i-submit mo iyan sa PAL. hehe

^^ For Me, I like Batangas City to be developed by Aragon...:banana:

we could send a filipino to space, all we have to do is force one of our billionaires to be a space tourist... russia provides that service...

^^ Just wait for Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic to take flight. Cost of a ticket to ride is a minimum of $200,000.

This is what I mean, You want a space program fine. Create incentives to get these guys to relocate here! Clark is there and an alternative space shuttle landing strip anyway. Getting commercial space operators to operate from here in a tax free zone is the easiest and best way for Filipino's to get into the Space Age.


Commercial space flight
Starship enterprise: the next generation

Jan 24th 2008 | NEW YORK
From The Economist print edition
A fleet of privately financed spaceships is emerging. It heralds a new business in space travel

http://www.economist.com/images/20080126/0408BB1.jpgVirgin Galactic

THE way Will Whitehorn tells it, the story began in 2003 in Mojave, California, on a visit to Scaled Composites, a company with a reputation for designing and building futuristic and sometimes wacky-looking aircraft. Mr Whitehorn is one of the top brass in Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group; and Virgin Atlantic, Sir Richard's airline, was sponsoring Global Flyer, a Scaled Composites creation, on a non-stop voyage around the world. On his way out of the factory Mr Whitehorn saw something unusual and asked what it was. Burt Rutan, head of Scaled Composites, told him it was a spaceship. He was building it for another customer, but he couldn't say any more.

Mr Rutan's customer turned out to be Paul Allen, one of the founders of Microsoft. When SpaceShipOne, as the craft was called, reached space for the second time, on October 4th 2004, it won the $10m Ansari X Prize. The craft was taken to high altitude by White Knight, a more-or-less conventional aircraft, and then dropped, whereupon its engines ignited to shoot it 100km (60 miles) above the planet, and thus officially into space. After a short flight it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and glided down to land on a conventional runway. Manned space travel thus moved from the realm of governments to private enterprise.

However, Mr Allen was interested only in proving that the spaceship technology would work, not in exploiting it commercially himself. That left Mr Rutan with a very cool spaceship on his hands, but no way of making money from it. Mr Whitehorn and Sir Richard were intrigued. Virgin Galactic, a company in the Virgin stable and which was headed by Mr Whitehorn, decided to license the technology for SpaceShipOne and White Knight. Virgin Galactic said it wanted to offer commercial sub-orbital flights to paying passengers by the end of the decade.

Virgin Galactic has since accumulated a number of commercial rivals in the space-tourism market. One of them is Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com, who is building a competing sub-orbital spaceship at a ranch in Texas. His space company, Blue Origin, is so secretive that it will not even answer questions about its logo.

But Virgin Galactic has passed an important milestone. At an event held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, on January 23rd, the company unveiled the design of its new generation of vehicles, and said that the first examples had almost been finished at Mr Rutan's factory. White Knight Two is due to begin test flights towards the middle of 2008, but may roll out of the hangar in the next few weeks. Test flights of SpaceShipTwo itself could start towards the end of the year.
Fly me to the moon

The combination of a carrier aircraft and a spaceship to get into space is akin to building a two-stage rocket. Air-launched rockets have a long history. SpaceShipOne and White Knight were, in essence, vastly improved and much cheaper versions of the X-15 rocket plane that set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s and the B-52 bomber that carried the rocket plane under its wing. But pure rockets, such as the ones that lift the space shuttle, won out because the Space Race between America and Russia emphasised speed over cost, and rockets were proven technology, having already been developed as intercontinental ballistic missiles. However, they consume a huge amount of power as they claw their way up through the Earth's thick atmosphere. By contrast a rocket lifted by a plane with wings before being launched can be made much smaller and lighter. The plane itself is light because its engines breathe air. It thus needs to carry less fuel than a rocket, and no chemical oxidant to burn that fuel, as a rocket would. Each craft—plane and rocket—can therefore be optimised for its own job, which is easier than designing a single vehicle that has to make lots of compromises to do both.
Lifting more

Virgin Galactic's second generation of craft are based on SpaceShipOne and White Knight, but with plenty of differences. White Knight Two has been redesigned wholesale to lift a much larger spaceship with eight people on board instead of three. It has a wingspan equivalent to that of a Boeing 757, is three times larger than its predecessor and is the largest aircraft made entirely from composite materials like carbon fibre. It is powered by four Pratt & Whitney engines. With its twin boom and long wing, it looks more like the Global Flyer than its predecessor. It has also been engineered to be able to treat any passengers it carries to zero-gravity swoops on the way down after they have watched the spaceship being released for its trip into space.

SpaceShipTwo itself will accommodate two pilots at the front and also six passengers, who will have room enough to bounce around in zero gravity. It has more of a dolphin-like nose than its prototype and more windows. It will also go a little higher than its predecessor, so that its passengers will experience five minutes or so of weightlessness before flying back to receive their astronauts' wings. But, crucially, it has the same flip-up wings. These are used when the craft reconfigures itself for re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. The wings rotate through 90° to give it extremely high drag, which allows it to begin its slow deceleration through the atmosphere earlier and at higher altitudes than previous spaceflight re-entries.
http://www.economist.com/images/20080126/SpaceMain.gif
The spaceship will be fuelled by a “hybrid rocket”—so-called because it contains both liquid and solid propellants. These rockets can be cheaper to develop and operate, and the fuel is safer to store than in purely liquid-fuelled ones. SpaceShipOne used rubber and laughing gas. Scaled Composites is studying alternatives to rubber that may offer better performance.

Another change in the design of the spaceship is the insertion of a flexible glass-fibre section into its composite structure. This will allow the rocket's oxidiser tank to expand when it is full. All these changes mean that when SpaceShipTwo does begin flight tests, the programme will last at least a year before paying customers can take to the skies.

Work will also begin soon on fitting out another factory to start making more of these craft. Virgin Galactic has ordered five spaceships and two carrier aircraft. The spaceships will take longer to refuel for their next flight than the carrier aircraft do, so—thinking just as an airline would—the firm has concluded it needs more spaceships than carriers. Each spaceship should eventually be capable of making two trips into space every day, and the launch aircraft three or four flights. Mr Rutan says they could operate from a number of airports and spaceports around the world.

Virgin Galactic believes the fleet it has ordered should be large enough to furnish its space-tourism business in the early years. Trips are expected to cost some $200,000 each to start with. Hundreds of people have put down a total of $30m in deposits. However, as the firm also made clear at the announcement in New York, the new craft may one day do a lot more than ferry day-trippers to the edge of space and back. Stephen Attenborough, Virgin Galactic's commercial director, says the spaceship is revolutionary because it is able to take not just people into space, but other payloads too.
Up, up and away

What those other things will be is still unclear, but satellites are a possibility. Virgin Galactic says it thinks it could launch small satellites in the range of 50-100kg into low-Earth orbit using an unmanned rocket hung from White Knight Two for less than $2.5m. The market for launching small satellites is presently only partly served by the Pegasus rocket, which is launched at high altitude by a commercial jet aircraft. But a launch using Pegasus would cost many times the price that Virgin is talking about. If costs are brought low enough it could make even tiny satellites financially viable. These could be sent up by all sorts of organisations, including universities for research projects.

An air launch is constrained by the weight the carrier aircraft can lift, so big rockets blasting off from the ground will, for the time being, remain the only way to get the heaviest payloads into space. It is possible for small satellites to hitch a ride along with big payloads, but that can be difficult to arrange and is much more restrictive than having a dedicated low-cost launch vehicle like White Knight Two. Virgin Galactic is already having discussions with a company interested in creating a rocket that would launch satellites from White Knight Two.

Launching at high altitude has many advantages for space tourists and commercial loads alike. Using an aircraft to take up a rocket can avoid the numerous weather-induced delays—and costs—that get in the way of rockets fired from the ground. Aircraft can climb above bad weather to a more suitable launch position. Nor do they need specially built, reinforced launch pads. Any suitable runway will do.

In addition, an air launch promises a lot more scope to find a good “launch window” to get the spacecraft into orbit. Launching from the ground can mean waiting for the Earth to rotate until the launch window is accessible. But an aeroplane carrying a rocket can fly to the window instead.

Air launches are also a greener way of getting into space, because they avoid igniting rockets in the lower atmosphere. Earlier this month Virgin Atlantic said it would fly one of its Boeing 747s using biofuel during a demonstration flight in February. Mr Attenborough says this has “implications” for White Knight Two, which indicates that the company is also looking at greener fuels for the carrier aircraft.
Who knows if the moon's a balloon?

In the longer term Virgin Galactic's system could also be used to launch hypersonic vehicles, which could dash from one side of the world to the other in a few hours. In 2005 and 2006 White Knight test-launched the American government's experimental X-37 hypersonic plane. America's space agency, NASA, has signed an agreement with Virgin that covers co-operation on the planes. The company is also said to be discussing a third, more powerful generation of spaceships, designed to make longer sub-orbital journeys rather than just poking their noses into space in the way that White Knight Two will.

Mr Whitehorn and Mr Rutan have made no secret of their desire to see later generations of carrier aircraft and rocketry that can put people into orbit. Some within the industry are sceptical that Mr Rutan can develop such vehicles, which will have to travel many times faster than a sub-orbital plane and must have tougher heat-shielding in order to survive harsher re-entry. Nevertheless, business is taking an increasing interest in the possibilities and last year Northrop Grumman, a big aerospace and defence contractor, increased its 40% stake in Scaled Composites to 100%. Mr Rutan expects Scaled Composites to build 40-50 launch aircraft. He thinks that at least 15 will be used for space tourism, with the rest used for satellites and other payloads.

As the new generation of craft emerges, so will new ideas about their capabilities and potential. With some $70m already spent and another $130m still to come, Mr Attenborough says that Virgin Galactic expects to break even in 2014. Reducing the price of a trip into space to attract more customers is also part of the plan, as is exploiting every possible form of additional income, such as selling media rights.

Finding new markets for its carrier ship will help Virgin Galactic make money faster. Mr Whitehorn believes that wider use of the vehicle will ultimately come with lifting payloads and satellites into space. Although the customers for such launches are not yet putting down their deposits, the progress to commercial space flight—complete with a business plan and a profit goal—is nonetheless remarkable. There are surely easier and safer ways for businessmen like Sir Richard, Mr Bezos and others to make money. Then again, commercialising space is a venture for the unconventional.

i've also read somewhere that there are plans of putting up a hotel in space..:nuts:
it is expected to open in 2012..
http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070810/070810_suite_hmed_11a.hlarge.jpg

EIkx6E0Mwsk
The SQ Super Mario ad, the Singapore Girl here is the pretties I've ever seen.

nice!

I hope they fix up this mess soon...


its so disappointing..PAL has worked really hard & they finally got out of recievership through responsible management in the space of ten years....only to be affected by the downgrading...which really isnt they're fault at all....

what were all they're efforts for?>...& as for our other carriers..they will struggle to?

what can Mendoza do in space of 3 months?..Lets just see


Btw offtopic just curios.....how many daily flights does SQ have to Manila & what Aircraft & what config are the aaircraft SQ uses in Manila...never flew with them before..might try it later this year...cheers :D


Here the current sked of SQ MNL-SIN
SQ915
dep.0820/arr.11:50/B772
until feb 17

SQ917
dep.1420/arr.1750/B773
until further notice

SQ919
dep.1800/arr.2130/B772
until feb 18

there's picture of GMA with Kuwaiti investors in Arab Times newspaper.the news said, the Kuwaiti companies agreed to build an economic city in Batangas,Philippines.a 1.3 billion dollars airport,ports,railways,power stations and telecommunications.this is part of a vision to transform Batangas into a commercial center in the Philippines.

^^so, new airport again?

^^ cool thanks ....so manila is mostly 777 aircrafts..do u know what confir SQs 777 are in Manila....isnt it 3/3/3 for economy?..or is it the typical 3/4/3...i know Emirates is Definately 3/4/3 config.....based on my ovservation....Economy wise i reckon SQ offers the largest personla screen on Economy than any other Airlines....even opther 5 star carriers like CX dont have screens that big on economy.

‘Abraj’ in final talks with Philippines on $3.5b deal
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/kuwaitnews/pagesdetails.asp?nid=11465&ccid=9
By Thaher Al-Zayyat
Special to the Arab Times

KUWAIT : Kuwait-based investment firm Abraj Holding Company (Abraj) said on Sunday it was in final talks on a $3.5 billion services contract in the Philippines.

Under the leadership of Abraj, a consortium of Kuwaiti companies, which includes Agility, Al-Mal Investment Company and International Leasing and Investment Company (ILIC), has reached an agreement with the Philippine government and the English company Argon to invest more than $10 billion in infrastructure projects in the Philippines. The Kuwaiti companies agreed to build an economic city in Batangas, Philippines, a $1.3 billion airport, ports, railways, power stations and telecommunications. This is part of a vision to transform Batangas into a commercial center in the Philippines.

ILIC was chosen as the financial consultant for the project and for the establishment of a holding company in Europe. The Kuwaiti group also won three seats in the founding committee for the company.

Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Al-Abraj Sameer Nasser disclosed Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has invited the Kuwaiti group to visit the Philippines to finalize the deal.

Nasser added the agreement was signed during the Davos Conference in Switzerland, in cooperation with Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Argon. He also clarified the agreement is a continuation of an accord signed in Kuwait on Jan 14 indicating the Kuwaiti party will have a 60 per cent share in the capital and the rest of the shares will be given to the Philippines.

Confirming the Kuwaiti group took three seats in the founding committee of the new holding company, Nasser explained the company will be established in one of the European countries and will be in charge for the acquisition of the required equipment and distribution of infrastructure development contracts to subcontractors.

Meanwhile, ILIC General Manager Fuad Al-Hmoud confirmed the company is currently preparing a comprehensive plan on the establishment of an investment fund for financing the projects.

=====

So it seems that the port-and-airport project is in Batangas. It probably means, as I mentioned earlier, Batangas City Port and Fernando Air Base (not Sangley)?!

Interesting if this is all true. Another big airport in Luzon? Why not put that billion toward the development of DMIA? :) But this is great news anyway, I'm just wondering because this came out of nowhere.

so now, its batangas vs. subic-clark? wow. i hope the 2 goes well together. :)

^^cebu pacific should try these routes......gawin nilang hub ang zamboanga for these island destinations.......

correct, then Jolo and Tawi-Tawi will be one of the best tourist spot in the Philippines.... hahahaha

Interesting if this is all true. Another big airport in Luzon? Why not put that billion toward the development of DMIA? :) But this is great news anyway, I'm just wondering because this came out of nowhere.

Exactly. Just from out of the blue. Note that only ABS-CBN reported it once in a very brief article. On the other hand, it's been appearing in Reuters and in this Arab paper. That's why I thought it worth following because eventually all the work that came before it should come to light. But whoever has arranged it has done lots of work.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2228549938_bab7d32d3f_b.jpg


GMA with the Kuwaiti investors in Dubai.

^^ way to go pgma! :cheers:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2228549938_bab7d32d3f_b.jpg


GMA with the Kuwaiti investors in Dubai.

Thank you so much for the post. This picture says it all and clears up the mystery. Behind PGMA is former Batangas governor, then congressman Mandanas. To my knowledge, he has done a lot for his province, being a businessman himself, and he once spoke about converting Fernando Air Base to an international airport. He seems to be making good on his promise...and more. Here's a little background on him: http://www.lpp.gov.ph/govs/mandanas.html; http://i-site.ph/Databases/Congress/13thHouse/personal/mandanas-personal.html

VOLUME 13 | NO. 115 | June 08, 2006
Fernando Air Base eyed for joint civilian-military use
Committee Source: GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND PRIVATIZATION
http://www.congress.gov.ph/committees/commnews/index.php?pg=commnews_det&newsid=641

A LEGISLATIVE proposal seeking to redevelop the Fernando Airbase (FAB) in the province of Batangas as an international airport and an economic zone is now under consideration by the Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization under Representative Eladio Jala (3rd District, Bohol).

Embodied in House Bill 5469 authored by Rep. Hermilando Mandanas (2nd District, Batangas), the proposal specifically seeks to convert the FAB into the CALABARZON (Calamba, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) International Airport to serve the Southern Tagalog Region and act as a subsidiary airport to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The bill also seeks to establish a free trade and economic zone within the area to attract more investors and accelerate the socio-economic development in the region.

In filing HB 5469, the author explained that the Southern Tagalog Region, being one of the most dynamic regions in the Philippines handling no less than 60 percent of the total foreign trade of the country, needs to enhance its transportation network, particularly air transportation.

He pointed out that the FAB, which is strategically situated in the heart of the region, can fill in the gap through its conversion into a dual-use international airport serving both commercial and military air transportation needs.

With an area of over 20,000 hectares, Rep. Mandanas said the FAB can easily accommodate an airport 1,500 hectares in area, without the Philippine Air Force (PAF) losing any portion of it.

He stressed that the development of an airport in the airbase shall increase the region's competitiveness and also contribute to the perennial decongestion of NAIA.

To give impetus for such development, Rep. Mandanas' bill also creates a body corporate to be known as the CALABARZON International Airport Corporation (CIAC) which shall undertake the economical, efficient and effective development, control, management and supervision of the airport and the CALABARZON Free Trade Zone.

The CIAC shall encourage the active participation of the private sector in the development of the airport and free trade zone through joint ventures, build-operate-transfer (BOT) and such other arrangements allowed by law.

It shall coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PAF for the smooth, efficient, viable and safe operations of the airport and its joint civilian, commercial and military use.

In a meeting held before Congress adjourned, the author emphasized that the proposed airport will be a vital instument in the development of the CALABARZON region. He said the establishment of a free trade or economic zone will help government in creating millions of jobs per year and thus neutralize unemployment.

Batangas air base opened to civil use
By Macon Ramos Araneta
Manila Standard Today
June 9, 2006
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=regions03_june09_2006

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the opening of Fernando Air Base in Lipa City in Batangas for joint military and civilian use.

Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas said this was revealed by Philippine Economic Zone Authority director general Lilia de Lima during a recent hearing of the House committee on government enterprises and privatization.

She said the President has directed Trade Secretary Peter Favila and Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz to immediately facilitate the signing of an agreement with the Philippine Air Force for the civilian use of airstrip at night when not in use by the military.

She said the President’s order came in the wake of the traffic problem that is being anticipated because of the repairs that will be done on the Southern Luzon Expressway.

“Thousands of container vans from the industrial locators in the region will be affected by the Alabang viaduct repair in SLEX,” said De Lima.

Mandanas said the President’s directive is in line with House Bill 5469 which he filed for the redevelopment of the air base for joint civilian and military use. According to the bill, the redevelopment will be at no expense to the government via the creation of the Calabarzon International Airport Corp. and a free trade zone.

He said the bill aims to convert Fernando Air Base into a dual-use airport serving the Southern Tagalog Region and functioning as a subsidiary airport to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It also aims to develop the area contiguous around the air base into a dynamic zone through private-sector initiative.

The Air Force is expected to be a direct beneficiary of the redevelopment and the military reservation will not be diminished by even one square meter, said Mandanas.

BATANGAS RAIL, AIRPORT AND PORT
What the Kuwaitis are spending $10B on
By Sol Jose Vanzi
http://www.newsflash.org/2002/04/hl/hl015533.htm

Batangas City, April 17, 2002 – President Gloria Macapal-Arroyo today said she wants the separation of Region 4 into two distinct regions – the Calabarzon region and the Mimaropa region.

...

The President, Afable said, has expressed her desire to divide Region 4 into two after hearing out the discussions of the local officials of the region on this issue.

According to Afable, the President and the Cabinet likewise received an extensive briefing on projects for Region 4, particularly in the province of Batangas, from Governor Hermilando Mandanas who chairs the Regional Development Council (RDC).

Afable pointed out that three big ticket items that are now being worked on by the RDC and agencies of the national government are the (1) revival of the 201-kilometer railroad system linking Southern Tagalog provinces to Metro Manila, (2) the opening of the airport in Lipa City to both military and commercial traffic, and (3) the continuing improvement of the Batangas Port.

The Fernando Air Base (FAB) in Lipa City, which is being converted for dual military and civil use, is currently being used as a training facility by the Philippine Air Force.

According to Governor Mandanas, the conversion of FAB into the Calabarzon Airport will greatly relieve the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) of heavy traffic.

The rehabilitation of the proposed railway will contribute significantly to the reduction of traffic congestion by providing a convenient transport alternative. The project, estimated to cost $1.7 billion, runs from Batangas Port all the way to Fort Bonifacio, and will also serve as a mass transport system for commuters and cargoes.

The development of the Port of Batangas (Phases I and II) was conceived to complement the Port of Manila, whose capacity is nearing saturation.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez, during a presentation in the Regional Cabinet Meeting, said that the project is envisioned to respond to the demands arising from regional development, which include the Calabarzon, expanded Metro Manila areas and Southern Tagalog as well as the economic range of ro-ro (roll on-roll off) ferry serving Mindoro and other islands.

^^it will be the most expensive in the galaxy :lol magkano naman kaya ang flight insurance nya? :lol::lol:

^^ cool thanks ....so manila is mostly 777 aircrafts..do u know what confir SQs 777 are in Manila....isnt it 3/3/3 for economy?..or is it the typical 3/4/3...i know Emirates is Definately 3/4/3 config.....based on my ovservation....Economy wise i reckon SQ offers the largest personla screen on Economy than any other Airlines....even opther 5 star carriers like CX dont have screens that big on economy.
its the 3-3-3 config...hope SQ increases its freq to manila. i travel practically every month to/fro SIN via SQ and it's always full...wish there's an evening flight too. does anybody have any idea?

Lufthansa to leave Manila (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news6_jan29_2008)

LUFTHANSA GERMAN AIRLINES will stop flying to Europe from Manila on March 30 despite the double-digit growth of visitor arrivals from Europe to the Philippines, and largely because of stiff competition from Middle Eastern airlines.

The German airline becomes the latest European carrier to pull out of the country after British Airways, Swiss International, Alitalia and Air France.

Lufthansa’s reservation office in Manila confirmed that it will be out of Manila by April, and that all its European flights will be made via Hong Kong.

Filipino travelers who want to take Lufthansa flights to Europe may go to Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific and take their connecting flights there, Lufthansa said.

Lufthansa has been operating in the Philippines for more than two decades, accounting for nearly 30 percent of passenger traffic to and from Europe.

Its departure will make KLM Royal Dutch Airlines the only European carrier flying to Europe via Amsterdam from Manila.

Philippine Airlines has been prevented from adding new flights to the United States following the downgrading of the Philippines’ aviation standards by the Federal Aviation Administration, but it is not keen about flying to Europe.

PAL president Jaime Bautista said the European service was not profitable at this point because of the small passenger traffic.

But the tourism department says visitor arrivals from Europe have been growing at double-digit rates for several months now. Visitor arrivals from Europe grew 13.8 percent to 296,443 last year from 260,394 in 2006.

The top sources of European visitors in 2007 were the United Kingdom (79,670), Germany (55,894), France (19,273), The Netherlands (17,705), Switzerland (17,150), Italy (14,382), Sweden (13,049), Norway (12,925), Russia (12,853) and Denmark (11,882).

P900-M rehab of Tacloban airport set in 2008 (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080127-115174/P900-M-rehab-of-Tacloban-airport-set-in-2008)

TACLOBAN CITY -- The rehabilitation of the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, the lone airport operating in Eastern Visayas, will start in 2008 on an estimated cost of nearly P900 million.

The Tacloban city government will put up P350 million as its counterpart, with the national government footing most of the cost of rehabilitating the airport, according to city administrator Jimmy Yaokasin.

Once finished, the city government will run the airport for 15 years before turning it over to the national government.

Yaokasin said they have been waiting for the approval of the P1.227 trillion 2008 national budget to secure the P530 million national government counterpart, which would be released through the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Based on the proposed memorandum of agreement between the DOTC and the city of Tacloban, the funds coming from the DOTC would be used for land acquisition and site development; relocation of the affected families; improvement of the airport's runways and procurement of navigational facilities, among others.

The city government, in turn, would be responsible for the rehabilitation of the airport's terminal building.

The city would run the terminal on a build-operate-and-transfer scheme and turn it over to the DOTC after 15 years, enough for it to recoup its investment, Yaokasin said.

The city government would raise its P350 million counterpart through a loan from a still unnamed financial institution, Yaokasin added.

The city administrator said the MOA would be set for signing after the approval of the national budget in Congress.

The agreement will be signed by Mayor Alfred Romualdez, representing the city government, and DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, representing the national government.

Yaokasin said Secretary Cerge Remonde, head of the Presidential Management Staff, promised to help fasttrack the signing of the MOA.

He said Remonde, the Cabinet Secretary for Regional Development (Cord) for Eastern Visayas, earlier met with the city administrator in Malacañang and personally made a commitment for the immediate signing of the MOA after the passage of the national budget.

The 2008 national budget is still being deliberated by members of the bicameral conference committee, responsible for reconciling the House and Senate versions of the General Appropriations Act.

Mayor Romualdez said the DZR Airport must be improved as it would be an important component to his administration's campaign to attract tourists and investors to the city and other parts of the region.

NOW THIS IS WHAT A GOOD PRESIDENT CAN DELIVER!!!!!!

arab people really loves filipino ehy... C:

^ yeh i wanna fly with them this yr...if its a morning flight i could probably catch the
A380 on economy...lol...other wise it would be on a744 if its afternoon or evening...as i said i havent been on SQ flights yet...pero even so i think iba talaga sila..the best...

i wonder...does CX deserve to be on the 5 star club?...i mean i know they are really good
but 5 star good?...a lot of people say Asiana is really good too..


its nice to know all 5 start carriers are from Asia...i hope PAL can more up too 4 star soon...I mean if carriers like Royal Brunei can be rated at 4 star.....PAL i think is better than them overall if a generalise..sure they offer slightly better product on (SOME planes 767s)
but overall i think PAL exceeds them...its just that they fly to Europe & PAL doesnt..
but i dont think they RB has presence on US yes??...no?

?..im not sure

its the 3-3-3 config...hope SQ increases its freq to manila. i travel practically every month to/fro SIN via SQ and it's always full...wish there's an evening flight too. does anybody have any idea?



hey Eagle1974 whats the average cost of Economy return SQ fare between Manila to Singapore?

lol i think SQs Economy is already Business class quality on some other carriers

but i dont think they RB has presence on US yes??...no??..im not sure

For a moment there I had to think twice about what you were talking about....until I figured out that you're talking about Royal Brunei Airlines. :lol: "RB" here on SSC-Philippines has a totally whole other meaning. :wink2: Yeah, BI (that's the IATA airline code for Royal Brunei Airlines) flies to Europe, the Middle East, and Australia; they don't fly to the US.

:lol: haha well im lost as well Kimber...since i disppeared for a whle on these forums?....what is RB on our forums?>..well RB is my real actual initial btw...

i own Royal Brunei :D........

so its BI...maybe coz they have a small fleer....theyre widebodies are 767s only...they use to have A340s...

RB = Rainbow Brite = The LGBT community. :okay:

You should start hanging out in the Samahan section again and get into the loop of things. :colgate:

^^ Yeh i'll drop by there for sure....

^^ We definately love them back!

SINASABI KO NA NGA EH KUNG DI SA SANGLEY, cavite, gagawin yung alternative int'l airport na papalit sa naia, dyan na sa batangas! GOOD NEWS! so tapos na yung mga rumors na talim island int'l airport, sangley, at bulacan int'l airport! batangas na and this is the final piece we were waiting! go kuwaitis!!!

but the said airport is only about $1.3 billion! its gonan be a small airport... hopefully it will be expanded in the future once they finished it! so that we can now close tha naia and turn it into a new manila commercial district better than makati!!

Lufthansa to leave Manila (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news6_jan29_2008)

LUFTHANSA GERMAN AIRLINES will stop flying to Europe from Manila on March 30 despite the double-digit growth of visitor arrivals from Europe to the Philippines, and largely because of stiff competition from Middle Eastern airlines.

The German airline becomes the latest European carrier to pull out of the country after British Airways, Swiss International, Alitalia and Air France.

Lufthansa’s reservation office in Manila confirmed that it will be out of Manila by April, and that all its European flights will be made via Hong Kong.

Filipino travelers who want to take Lufthansa flights to Europe may go to Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific and take their connecting flights there, Lufthansa said.

Lufthansa has been operating in the Philippines for more than two decades, accounting for nearly 30 percent of passenger traffic to and from Europe.

Its departure will make KLM Royal Dutch Airlines the only European carrier flying to Europe via Amsterdam from Manila.

Philippine Airlines has been prevented from adding new flights to the United States following the downgrading of the Philippines’ aviation standards by the Federal Aviation Administration, but it is not keen about flying to Europe.

PAL president Jaime Bautista said the European service was not profitable at this point because of the small passenger traffic.

But the tourism department says visitor arrivals from Europe have been growing at double-digit rates for several months now. Visitor arrivals from Europe grew 13.8 percent to 296,443 last year from 260,394 in 2006.

The top sources of European visitors in 2007 were the United Kingdom (79,670), Germany (55,894), France (19,273), The Netherlands (17,705), Switzerland (17,150), Italy (14,382), Sweden (13,049), Norway (12,925), Russia (12,853) and Denmark (11,882).

Now this really sucks. That means Manila now has only 1 direct connection with Europe. Is Europe not a popular destination with Pinoy tourists? Aren't there alot of Filipino OFWs working in Europe?

And as for European visitors, hope that doesn't include Filipinos with Euro passports whether they're from the UK, Germany, France or Cindy Kurleto :eek:

http://timetableimages.com/i-or/qatar6.jpg
Qatar Airways featured Cebu on its 2003 Winter Timetable.
Source: timetableimages.com

Additional:

http://www.airlineempires.net/images/stories/skywars.jpg
Billboard wars in India: CHANGE.

galing ng mga indian airlines.... hahaiiiz, buti pa sila, they've CHANGE! lol

Just curious. Why isn't PAL on either One World or Star Alliance? Are they capable?

^^ i think before they do that they need i bit more improvement on some aspects such as product offerings & over all some aspect of they're service..........not saying that they're bad...they're actually getting better & are on the right track i think, ..

the time they get the 777s too & once they have started they're expansion particularly in US would be a better time...i (i believe the CAT 2 rating affecting them now..wont really be a major factor on a very long run..its just for now)....i think they would be better with One World Alliance...

Move over, NASA, here comes PASA (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=61935)

A retiring government scientist dreams of creating the Philippines’ first aeronautics and space agency that would bring much progress to Filipinos through science and technology.

Space science chief Bernardo Soriano of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the proposed Philippine Aeronautics and Space Administration (PASA) would be similar to the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the acknowledged world leader in aeronautics and space exploration.

"PASA will be like US’ NASA. It will lead us to rapid progress in S&T and thus economic prosperity like the developed nations," he told The STAR.

NASA, which is based in Washington, leads in pioneering the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research. US President Dwight Eisenhower established NASA in 1958, partially in response to the Soviet Union’s launch of the first artificial satellite.

He said by undertaking a space program, Filipinos’ knowledge in many fields like physics, chemistry and electronics would be enhanced.

"Given the right support from the government, Filipino scientists will stand out from the rest of the world," he said.

Last year, a Filipino astronomer Christopher Go of Cebu discovered the Red Spot Junior on the planet Jupiter.

Go, a 1991 Physics graduate of the University of San Carlos and an avid observer of Jupiter, discovered that the brown spot on the planet, which was previously white in color, had turned brick red.

Reports said that Go’s observation, which was reported to the Jupiter Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, has sparked renewed interest in the planet.



The article might be old but it is giving some hope for Filipinos in space exploration.

meron pa ba yang agila satellite?

haha :D lol nag change ba o hindi??


spoke to a workmate who flew last week on th SQ A380 singapore-sydney...economy

he said A380s economy is 2 4 2...Damn they must be big seats for economy....since its an A380...SQs the best

^^ :lol:

Open-skies EO finalized in March

By Mia M. Gonzalez
Reporter
The Business Mirror


PRESIDENT Arroyo wants the draft of an executive order (EO) mandating open skies completed in a month, and has given the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) up to a year to turn the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) into the country’s premier international airport in preparation for the eventual closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said Tuesday the President issued the directive at the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)-Cabinet Group meeting.

She issued the twin orders to DOTC chief Leandro Mendoza and chief presidential counsel Sergio Apostol.

“The President gave a directive that DMIA would be the premier airport already of the country,” Fajardo said in a news briefing after the Cabinet meeting.

She said Mendoza reported to the Cabinet that the Naia will be “downgraded and eventually closed down.”

The President gave a time frame of six months up to one year to turn the DMIA into the country’s premier airport, which would support her bid to turn Clark and Subic Freeports as the regional logistics hub and the new international gateways of the country.

Fajardo said the designation of DMIA as the premier airport was recommended by the DOTC and the Department of Tourism.

The recommendation was prompted by congestion at the Naia, which cannot be solved as there is no room for expansion.

Fajardo said that even if the controversial Naia Terminal 3 were to eventually become operational, it would still not be enough to handle the volume of traffic.

“We really have to prepare for the future. We can see in some studies that even if Terminal 3 is opened, we would still need (another international airport),” she said.

The DMIA is one of the biggest aviation complexes in Asia, with its two 3.2-kilometer parallel runways that will be extended to four kilometers to accommodate new-generation wide-bodied aircraft.

The DMIA is certified by the International Civil Aviation Organization with ratings of Category 1 for Precision Approach Runway and Category 9 for the Emergency Services.

Fajardo also said that preparations for the presidential directive include the EO on an open-skies policy, which will be reviewed by concerned officials in view of the “best policy” that would give the Philippines a competitive edge over neighboring countries.

Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan of the Subic Clark Alliance for Development Council said that the EO would liberalize air traffic over the DMIA and the Subic International Airport.

Pamintuan said in a statement that the President also instructed the DOTC to study the aviation policies of Vietnam, whose tourism industry has grown dramatically.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/01302008/nation04.html

^^ so, they're planning to completely shut down NAIA., hmmm. malaking real estate deal to kung ibebenta nila ang lupa ng NAIA., it could be the next global city., :)

Just curious. Why isn't PAL on either One World or Star Alliance? Are they capable?

Financial stability partnered with product and service enhancement upgrades should happen first before it joins an airline alliance. I also read somewhere that they [PAL] wants to be invited to join an alliance, not apply for membership. That's why PR is positioning itself to regain its lost glory as one of the better Asian carriers and be at par with competitors SQ, MH, TG, CX, KE, OZ, and JL.

Move over, NASA, here comes PASA (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=61935)

PASA? How original is that? :ohno: ( :lol: )

^^hahaha... ni hindi paPASA sa panlasa natin yan. wahahahaha...

Now this really sucks. That means Manila now has only 1 direct connection with Europe. Is Europe not a popular destination with Pinoy tourists? Aren't there alot of Filipino OFWs working in Europe?

There are thousands of OFWs in Europe, and most of them use Middle Eastern and/or other Asian carriers to get there from the Philippines. The competition is cutthroat, and European carriers are backing out since they can't take the heat and are losing out.

And as for European visitors, hope that doesn't include Filipinos with Euro passports whether they're from the UK, Germany, France or Cindy Kurleto :eek:

They [airport authorities] get their figures from the different passports that are being processed upon entry to the Philippines. So if you an ethnic Filipino and uses a foreign passport, you're counted as a foreigner. ;)

Has it been confirmed that Yemenia will really be flying to MNL from DXB this year?

Whatever happened to Pacific Pearl Airways?

^ yeh i wanna fly with them this yr...if its a morning flight i could probably catch the
A380 on economy...lol...other wise it would be on a744 if its afternoon or evening...as i said i havent been on SQ flights yet...pero even so i think iba talaga sila..the best...

i wonder...does CX deserve to be on the 5 star club?...i mean i know they are really good
but 5 star good?...a lot of people say Asiana is really good too..


its nice to know all 5 start carriers are from Asia...i hope PAL can more up too 4 star soon...I mean if carriers like Royal Brunei can be rated at 4 star.....PAL i think is better than them overall if a generalise..sure they offer slightly better product on (SOME planes 767s)
but overall i think PAL exceeds them...its just that they fly to Europe & PAL doesnt..
but i dont think they RB has presence on US yes??...no?

?..im not sure





hey Eagle1974 whats the average cost of Economy return SQ fare between Manila to Singapore?

lol i think SQs Economy is already Business class quality on some other carriers

ave. SGD 700 on econ R/T

^^baka Mabuhay Satellite Corporation yon:banana:

^^ i think they're only using one plane., subic ata hub nila., they're also flying to kalibo, i saw their check-in counter there., :)

Has it been confirmed that Yemenia will really be flying to MNL from DXB this year?

Late 2007 or early 2008, not sure.

They have a fleet of good old aircraft. But they've ordered 10 A350 XWBs!

Lufthansa to leave Manila (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news6_jan29_2008)

LUFTHANSA GERMAN AIRLINES will stop flying to Europe from Manila on March 30 despite the double-digit growth of visitor arrivals from Europe to the Philippines, and largely because of stiff competition from Middle Eastern airlines.

The German airline becomes the latest European carrier to pull out of the country after British Airways, Swiss International, Alitalia and Air France.

Lufthansa’s reservation office in Manila confirmed that it will be out of Manila by April, and that all its European flights will be made via Hong Kong.

Filipino travelers who want to take Lufthansa flights to Europe may go to Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific and take their connecting flights there, Lufthansa said.

Lufthansa has been operating in the Philippines for more than two decades, accounting for nearly 30 percent of passenger traffic to and from Europe.

Its departure will make KLM Royal Dutch Airlines the only European carrier flying to Europe via Amsterdam from Manila.

Philippine Airlines has been prevented from adding new flights to the United States following the downgrading of the Philippines’ aviation standards by the Federal Aviation Administration, but it is not keen about flying to Europe.

PAL president Jaime Bautista said the European service was not profitable at this point because of the small passenger traffic.


I just flew Manila-Frankfurt-Manila (with stopover for crew change and picking up more passengers in Guangzhou) via Lufthansa last year and the other week. And the plane was only 1/3 full from Manila to the stopover in Guangzhou. But it was completely filled after taking in more passengers in Guangzhou. I guess I was lucky to have been able to fly them while they still flew here. I found out they were pulling out the day after I flew back!

Too bad about the pull-out but it's kind of a no-brainer really. Unless you have a special deal (like Lufthansa had with our company) you really won't choose to pay the rates they ask for once you've seen how much less airlines like Qatar and Kuwait are asking for. Also, the German taxes on the airfare are really high while the other airlines don't have you pay as much taxes. For example, Qatar business class to Europe costs around $1200 with taxes worth around $100, while Lufthansa economy to Europe is already $1100 with taxes worth around $200 so it's practically the same price!

Just a correction to the piece above, Air France didn't pull out from flying to Manila, they just merged with KLM to become KLM Air France. And that's how they're supposed to have been called in the article - KLM Air France and not KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Swissair also merged with Lufthansa.

well that $10b that they gonna pour on our country is not free we're all gonna pay for it...in the future.

^^pay? how? I thought it is a private enterprise?

haha :D lol nag change ba o hindi??


spoke to a workmate who flew last week on th SQ A380 singapore-sydney...economy

he said A380s economy is 2 4 2...Damn they must be big seats for economy....since its an A380...SQs the best


Hi @Sou-jiro,

Your friend is must have been on the upper deck where the layout is 2-4-2. On the lower deck, the lay-out is 3-4-3. Please check it out at http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Singapore_Air/Singapore_Air_Airbus_A380.php

Hope this helps...

well that $10b that they gonna pour on our country is not free we're all gonna pay for it...in the future.

who said that? the report said we are not paying any single centavo. its a pure investment by the kuwaitis through BOT for 40 yrs before they hand it over to our government ...

BY MARIAN GRACE C. RAMOS
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW013108/content.php?id=004
Congress rushes aviation authority approval

IN A RACE to pave the way for a rating upgrade from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) within the year, the bicameral conference committee approved late last Tuesday night the proposed Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), harmonizing House Bill 3156 and Senate Bill 1932.

After less than two hours of deliberations, the committee adopted the fiscal autonomy provision present in the House version which the Senate removed in its counterpart bill.

The fiscal autonomy provision lies at the core of the CAAP bill, enabling the new body to keep its revenues — instead of remitting them to the National Treasury, under the current system — and use them to improve facilities and services, when and as needed, to keep them up to date with global standards.

But this means that the new authority will no longer be given a budget. "’Di na kami kasama sa budget sa 2009 [We are not going to be included in the 2009 national budget]," said Daniel A. Dimagiba, director and former officer-in-charge of the Air Transportation Office (ATO) which the CAAP will replace.

He said the ATO aims to collect P3 billion in revenues this year, compared to the P2.8 billion it collected last year. ATO earns from operational charges, landing and take-off fees; aircraft parking fees; passenger service charges; telecommunications fees; rental of floor space at the terminal building; rental of floor space at the airport building; rental of airport land area; concession privilege fees; aviation fuel, oil and lubrication services; advertising and other fees.

The impending law now provides for tax, customs and tariff duty exemptions to the new aviation body for imported equipment, machineries, spare parts, accessories, materials, and other supplies needed for its projects.

Under the harmonized bill approved in the bicameral conference and now awaiting ratification by both chambers of Congress, all transactions of the new authority will be scrutinized by the Congressional Oversight Committee.

Corporate powers of the new authority will be vested in a seven-man board consisting of the Transportation and Communication Secretary as chairman; the CAAP director-general as vice-chairman; as well as the secretaries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Interior and Local Government, as well as of Labor and Employment as members.

The House of Representatives and the Senate adjourned yesterday without ratifying the bicameral conference report. While Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said his committee is still preparing the document for ratification, House Transportation Committee Chairman Bacolod Rep. Monico O. Puentevella said via mobile "text" message that his chamber was hoping to ratify the bicameral conference report in time to be signed by President Gloria M. Arroyo next week. "We are hoping that it can be signed by PGMA maybe early next week," Mr. Puentevella said. "If signed into law, we are optimistic we shall be elevated back to category 1 before the year ends — of course, with other reforms within the aviation industry."

In a telephone interview, Philippine Air Lines (PAL) Vice-President for Corporate Communications Rolando G. Estabillo welcomed the quick passage of the bill in the bicameral conference. "If that will hasten the lifting of the Category-2 downgrade, that is most welcome," he said.

PAL, the only Philippine carrier that flies to the US at 33 flights a week, halted its expansion plans because of the downgrade and expects to lose 10% of its revenues from its US operations. Its US operations, in turn, account for about 30% of total revenues. — with A. K. K. Austria and BUA

Cebu Pacific (CEB), apart from being the No. 1 domestic carrier, now leads local airlines in serving ASEAN, offering 92 direct weekly flights on the most number of ASEAN routes and destinations from the Philippines.

“Our ASEAN service has topped the industry without counting help from other airlines through code shares, and we expect to grow both domestic and international services further this year and beyond as we take delivery of more aircraft,” said CEB president and CEO Lance Y. Gokongwei.

He said the JG Summit airline business unit offers a total of 92 direct weekly flights on nine routes to six ASEAN destinations, namely, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), and Hanoi. The competition has only 78 weekly flights to three non-stop cities on three routes to the Philippines.

Outside ASEAN, CEB also flies to Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Seoul, Pusan, and will add several more destinations this year.

“The past twelve months has been a terrific growth period for us as we expanded into Asia not only from Manila but from our Cebu and Davao hubs as well. Its quite noteworthy that the top seven growth areas for tourist arrivals in 2007 are areas where CEB started or expanded operations over the past year and we believe this is because of our trademark low fares,” he said.

Based on a recent UBS Investment Research report (Jan-Sep, 2007), domestic air travel passenger growth for the Philippines grew by 23%, growing even faster than China which registered a 16% growth rate.

“As the leading domestic carrier in the Philippines, we are very proud of this because we know that we are able to effectively bring air travel closer to more Filipinos. This has always been our vision as an airline and we intend to continue with our expansion in order to bring our low fares to more people,” he added.

CEB is to take delivery of four Airbus A320 and six ATR 72-500 brand new aircraft this year for further service expansion of its domestic and international network. It now has ten A319s and five A320s. The first of six turbo-prop ATRs will be delivered in February to serve short runways like Caticlan (Boracay), among others.

Its the start of manipulation starting april 1 KLM is implementing 0% commision on travel agents booking their flights

I just flew Manila-Frankfurt-Manila (with stopover for crew change and picking up more passengers in Guangzhou) via Lufthansa last year and the other week. And the plane was only 1/3 full from Manila to the stopover in Guangzhou. But it was completely filled after taking in more passengers in Guangzhou. I guess I was lucky to have been able to fly them while they still flew here. I found out they were pulling out the day after I flew back!

Too bad about the pull-out but it's kind of a no-brainer really. Unless you have a special deal (like Lufthansa had with our company) you really won't choose to pay the rates they ask for once you've seen how much less airlines like Qatar and Kuwait are asking for. Also, the German taxes on the airfare are really high while the other airlines don't have you pay as much taxes. For example, Qatar business class to Europe costs around $1200 with taxes worth around $100, while Lufthansa economy to Europe is already $1100 with taxes worth around $200 so it's practically the same price!

Just a correction to the piece above, Air France didn't pull out from flying to Manila, they just merged with KLM to become KLM Air France. And that's how they're supposed to have been called in the article - KLM Air France and not KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Swissair also merged with Lufthansa.

Yes, it is build-operate-transfer. That's why even the Air Force in Fernando Air Base will benefit, without spending anything.

haha :D lol nag change ba o hindi??


spoke to a workmate who flew last week on th SQ A380 singapore-sydney...economy

he said A380s economy is 2 4 2...Damn they must be big seats for economy....since its an A380...SQs the best

That is the economy for the second level,the first level economy downstairs is in 3-4-3 configuration

sabi sa website ng ceb pac soon na daw yung direct flights nila from clark to taipei, hongkong, macau, bankok ang singapore., :) and nakalagay na dun na hub na nila ang clark., kelan kaya magsastart ang mga ito?

http://www.cebupacificair.com/flightinfo/newroute/index.htm

oh sorry i thought its being loaned to our government..eheh lol

Frequent Traveler Q & A: "Direct" or "nonstop" flight? Beware the difference (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/31/travel/trqa1.php)


Planning a trip to Hanoi, my fiancée and I decided that it was worth paying a premium for direct flights with Air France rather than saving money by flying via Bangkok, or somewhere in Europe. I was assured by the Air France agent on the phone that the flights were indeed direct. We received our tickets by e-mail and everything seemed fine. Only at the gate at Charles de Gaulle we found that the plane did in fact make a stop in Bangkok, adding at least three and a half hours to the trip. We complained to Air France, but they have not replied to our letter. Is there anything we can do?

Jonathan Lennard, Paris


Alas, I think you'll have to write this off to experience. A "direct" flight is not necessarily the same as a "nonstop" flight; it will typically stop somewhere en route to refuel, or to embark, or disembark passengers; you may, or may not, stay on the plane while this is going on. A direct flight has a single flight number (or code-share numbers); whereas a "connecting" flight has two flight numbers and will involve a change of aircraft, or a change of terminal or airport. A nonstop flight means just that: no stops.

Had you booked online, you would have noticed that there was one stop; this is clearly indicated at AirFrance.com. OAG printed guides show the number of stops for direct flights, and a dash for nonstop flights. It is easy for misunderstanding to arise on the phone.


I am a Gold Class frequent flier on Qatar Airways with more than 100,000 miles to my credit. For ages I have been trying to get an upgrade from economy to business class for a meeting in Helsinki. Either I get no reply to my e-mails or I am told there is nothing available for the dates I want. A colleague says he has no problem getting upgrades with Emirates.

Robin Davies, Male, Maldives


Airlines run frequent flier programs as a marketing tool, and always seem to make it difficult to redeem miles at the times you want to travel, if they can sell all the seats on popular routes to fare-paying travelers. It's often more difficult on partner airlines.

In your case, it may be a simple misunderstanding because Qatar has no flights to Helsinki, so could not upgrade you all the way, only to Frankfurt, where you would have to connect with Lufthansa. Qatar partners with Lufthansa, but only for mileage award flights, not upgrades. You might have better luck talking to an agent on the phone, rather than by e-mailing.


We are traveling to the Philippines on Oct. 24 for a week. Is it too early to start looking for cheap fares? What airlines do you recommend? We'd like to make a side trip to Hong Kong; is it better to include this on the main ticket, or buy a separate round-trip ticket in Manila?

Joselito Benitez, Geneva


It is certainly not too early to start shopping for fares; you may even find it hard to get seats on some flights. And it is much better to buy a separate ticket for travel between Manila and Hong Kong. You can do this online either before you leave, or in Manila. (Sidestep.com gave me a round-trip fare with Cebu Pacific Air of $157 for the two-hour flight; Cathay Pacific and Philippine Airlines also fly that way.)

OAGflights.com shows four carriers flying from Geneva to Manila: KLM (via Amsterdam); Qatar Airways (via Doha); Lufthansa/Swiss (via Frankfurt) [soon to be defunct]. A quick search at KLM.com gave me the best round-trip fare of 1,347 Swiss francs, or $1,472, for your dates, but fares vary according to flight times. Expedia.com came up with Singapore Airlines (via Zurich and Singapore) for $1,460.

You may want to consider doing things the other way round by flying from Geneva to Hong Kong and making a side trip to Manila; or buy an "open-jaw" ticket - flying to Manila and back from Hong Kong (or vice versa). British Airways quoted me 1,055 Swiss francs for a round-trip ticket from Geneva to Hong Kong (via Heathrow); and Finnair quoted 1,162 Swiss francs (via Helsinki).

^ 'Expedia.com rates will change from time to time as it works on real time basis'. Gosh I still remember my verbiage. lol.

sabi sa website ng ceb pac soon na daw yung direct flights nila from clark to taipei, hongkong, macau, bankok ang singapore., :) and nakalagay na dun na hub na nila ang clark., kelan kaya magsastart ang mga ito?

http://www.cebupacificair.com/flightinfo/newroute/index.htm


I am sure Clark will glad to accept CEB but here is the reason bakit di pa natutuloy


( Repost from CRK-DMIA Thread)
Lack of reciprocal flight privileges keeps Cebu Pacific international flights grounded at Clark



Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ leading domestic airline, cannot fly internationally from Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga, as most regional destinations have denied the budget airline’s application for regular scheduled service despite CEB showing intent and full commitment to the operations.

Bangkok, Macau and Taipei agreed to only restricted charter services, which may not be advertised in their country and holds a one-way carriage clause, because of limited CEB flight entitlements. Hong Kong, on the other hand, rejected the application due to already depleted flight allocations given to Philippine carriers. Only Singapore has given the necessary approvals for CEB to launch regular scheduled service from CRK.

CEB had previously announced earlier this year that it would base a dedicated airbus aircraft at the growing DMIA airport and would launch international services to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Macau & Singapore.

Candice Iyog CEB’s VP for Marketing & Product said “It’s clearly very disappointing that despite us having the aircraft available we haven’t seen other countries matching the already highly liberal policy that is open to foreign carriers at Clark. In our eyes it just goes to highlight the dangers of having non-reciprocal Open Skies whenever & wherever that may be to or from. In this case we have been rejected flights from Clark where foreign airlines are allowed to operate with complete freedom. We support Open Skies whole heartedly as we are about growing the market for air travel. However, that must be fair to all airlines from all countries & not lopsided as it seems to be in this particular case.”

CEB also cited that foreign carriers could operate in Clark without having to work on their entitlements. CEB said that the foreign carriers’ apparent advantage in flight privileges may only be solved via government-to-government air agreements to grant the Philippines the same open skies privilege as granted to foreign airlines flying into Clark.

Iyog finished “We are still hopeful that we are successful in acquiring all necessary approvals from other countries. We at CEB certainly remain committed to growth at DMIA and with our growing fleet we certainly have the tools and the ambition to make it happen sooner rather than later. However, we really find it frustrating that other foreign airlines can grow at DMIA almost at their will while we and other Filipino airlines have to almost beg and borrow the necessary air rights that are required to expand service there.”

Department of Transportation and Communication’s (DOTC) plans to position DMIA as the country’s main international gateway within a decade.

they're not serious. Just playing with politics. They know the flights will be grounded anyway. They're making news out of small things. Why can't they just concentrate in Manila and let other foreign airlines start their business at Clark? Why block them? They are afraid of pure competition. They are not ready to let go dominance enjoy by them. Because they know they're not really cheap. Merely making money from Filipinos who dont have much choice. Clark idea is just a gimmick.

Lufthansa will stop flights to Manila (http://www.mb.com.ph/TOUR20080201115962.html)
Jaser A. Marasigan

Lufthansa Airlines, Europe’s leading airline, will stop its Manila–Europe flights starting April 2008.

This comes on the heels of the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) aggressive promotional efforts in Europe particularly in Germany, France and Russia.

The German airline claims that the decision to pull out their Manila route is part of its business strategy in light of strong competition.

DoT Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said that they are consulting with the Civil Aeronautics Board and other partners in the tourism sector to make the country more accessible to more travelers, especially from the European region.

The Civil Aviation Board, meanwhile, informed the DoT that the air seats vacated by Lufthansa will most likely be taken up by Middle Eastern airlines.

Lufthansa currently flies seven times weekly from Frankfurt to Manila with 66 business class and 279 economy class allocations per flight. It provides over 30 percent of traveler traffic between the Philippines and Europe.

European visitor arrivals increased by 13.8 percent in 2007. The United Kingdom and Germany are among the country’s top 12 sources of tourists; Russia is the fastest growing market with a 128.9 percent hike in arrivals last year.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will be the only European carrier in the Philippines by April.

Well a few good things this week. I await the EO for the pocket open skies though I must say to see is to believe.

Also I'm glad to see the GOP and Congress hussle a little bit after that slap in the face by the FAA re our Air Transport situation!

Better than Philippine International Space Agency or PISA!

huhuhuhu

^^nagpadala tayo ng satellite c/o China ata. :lol:

http://www.mabuhaysat.com/images/img-agilasat.jpg
http://www.mabuhaysat.com/
http://www.orbireport.com/OReOL/OReOL1.10.html

http://www.mabuhaysat.com/images/pic-mabuhaysubic.jpg
http://www.mabuhaysat.com/images/pic-satellite-zambo.jpg
http://www.mabuhaysat.com/images/img-agilalaunch.jpg
Launch Date:
August 20, 1997

Launch Vehicle:
Long March 3B

Launched in:
Xi Chang, China

Designed, built and launched by Space Systems/Loral, Agila2 delivers broadcast television, telephone and data services to an area that covers the Asia-Pacific region. It can transmit more than 190 channels of high-fidelity digital programming to cable companies and home satellite dishes as well as handle more than 50,000 simultaneous two-way telephone conversations.

Agila2, with 10KW of on-board power, is one of the most powerful satellites serving the Asia-Pacific region. It is a typical three-axis stabilized satellite, whose modular design has proven its worth during more than 20 years of cumulative on-orbit service amassed by SS/L satellites to date.

For enhanced reliability, Agila2 is augmented with redundant equipment, fail-safe self-monitoring satellite control system, flight-proven control algorithms, automated satellite control functions capable of using block, manual and time-tagged commands for routine operations and station-keeping maneuvers as well as automatic rain fade compensation to assume a robust link for the satellite traffic.


The Mabuhay Philippines Satellite Corporation (MPSC) was established in 1994 as the the result of the efforts of a multinational joint venture composed of telecommunication and broadcast companies based in the Philippines, Indonesia and China. The participants in this joint venture included the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), High Rise Realty Development Corporation, Pilipino Telephone Corp. (Piltel), Beijing High Den Enterprises Limited, Walden Group of Companies, GMA Network Inc., Philippine Satellite Corporation (PSC), Cable Entertainment Corporation (CEC), Siy Yap Group (SYG) and Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation (PCSC).

http://www.mlesat.com/Sat_JPG/agilapho.jpg

http://www.mlesat.com/Agila.html

Agila-II and Superbird-C both carry Ku-band transponders that operate within the same frequency spectrum. This makes it virtually impossible for both satellites to share the same orbital location without causing interference to each other. Moreover, Agila-II's relocation did not entirely eliminate it as a potential source of interference to Superbird-C. The problem was finally resolved through a coordination agreement reached between the two satellite operators. This agreement undoubtedly includes some restrictions involving MPSC's operation of Agila-II's Ku-band payload that reduces the satellite's revenue generating abilities.

By 1998, the currency crisis which had swept through Southeast Asia in the fall of the previous year had also exacted its toll, forcing MPSC to suspended its plans to launch a new Agila-III communications satellite before the year 2000. The system planners initially envisioned that Agila-III would provide new regional services, while Agila-II would continue to serve the domestic Philippine market. If, as the management now anticipates, MPSC indeed turns the corner to new profits by next year we can expect a revival of the company's plans for a follow-on satellite to handle increased demand for multimedia services in the region.

I think CEB would like to position itself at DMIA as Philippine Airlines is signing a deal at Clark. As of now, CEB has 3x a week flight at Clark which is bound to Cebu. Since I am from Pampanga, I prefer to fly from Clark, so I hope CEB will soon make Clark as its hub.

I think the government must first make sure that the FAA downgrading be reversed before thinking about opening our skies. In doing so, everything will follow. We can have a leverage in the negotiating the terms with foreign governments especially with the US.

^ 'Expedia.com rates will change from time to time as it works on real time basis'. Gosh I still remember my verbiage. lol.

Hahaha!!! We do not recommend that it will still be at the same price within the next few minutes as we operate on real-time basis. We advise you to purchase the ticket immediately under certain rules and restrictions...nyeh nyeh nyeh...non refundable and non transferable...nyenye...change..."

Same here bai Ashton, after a year I still have that Expedia verbiage! hehehe!! :D

^^ That is one crazy assumption of media. Hawaiian Airlines application have been approved long ago. and ATO has been given a warning since last year and they simply did nothing

For anybody who's criticizing HA's entry to the Philippines, check this out! This one's from HA's response to PR's application to fly to SAN via YVR. It reads "Although PAL objected to Hawaiian's recent application with the Philippine Civil Aviation Board for it's operating certificate for its new route between Honolulu and Manila, Hawaiian believes in extending the oppurtunity for fair competition here in the US and play by the rules just the same as it hopes to enjoy in foreign skies to which it flies. Hawaiian therefore takes no positionon either the substance of PAL's application or to the extent PAL is permitted to do so while in Category 2 status under the International Aviation Assessment Program, its expansion or change in service." It's interesting to learn that despite the criticisms or accusations being thrown to HA, it did not opposed or blocked PAL's appplication. It must be noted that HA filed it's application in August 2007 ( at least in US DOT's record so I assume that they submitted the same application to Phil CAB around the same month) while PAL filed it's application just last month. Of course its natural for PAL to object because that is seen as, in PAL's view, invasion of territory (so to speak) but the fact that HA never objected to PAL's proposed expansion further proves that the accusations being hurled against them is baseless and unfair.

To read HAs complete response, click on the following link: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ContentViewer?objectId=09000064803a2921&disposition=attachment&contentType=pdf

haha. And then the boring "AAB" is next.... Which made my AHT very high then! :)

Hahaha!!! We do not recommend that it will still be at the same price within the next few minutes as we operate on real-time basis. We advise you to purchase the ticket immediately under certain rules and restrictions...nyeh nyeh nyeh...non refundable and non transferable...nyenye...change..."

Same here bai Ashton, after a year I still have that Expedia verbiage! hehehe!! :D

As for me, I think it's LH's pathetic service is the reason why they cannot compete with CX, SQ and the Mid-East airlines, forcing them out of MNL. I'm pretty sure, other airlines will pick the slack up.

Back in December 2006, I flew with them from LHR to HKG via FRA and then on the MNL via CX. I heard some anecdotes from colleagues how bad this airline was, but no other seats were available and besides, I was keen on keeping my silver status with Star Alliance where LH belongs.

London was shrouded with fog so my flight to FRA was delayed and I was forced to stay for 24 hours in FRA for the flight the following day to HKG (FRA-MNL was full to the rafters).

I arrived at HKG at noon on the 24th, but CX could not confirm my flight to MNL until Christmas day, so I was forced to buy a one-way PAL business class ticket for £250, about PHP26,000 then.

I was able to claim this against my travel insurance, but they needed a note from LH that my flight was delayed before I got paid back. To request that, here's the most frustrating thing - LH DOES NOT have a call center for customer service, only for reservations. Instead, I had to FAX my request. I tried getting phone numbers by calling their offices around the UK and Germany, but I got the same answer, NO customer service line.

Once faxed, there was not even a confirmation, so you just hope and pray they received it (I faxed it twice just to be sure). LH's reply? It took them TWO (2) MONTHS to send it.

And not only that, our plane (a very old A300 - meron pa sila nun kahit na sa 2006, yuck!) from LHR to FRA stuck at the tarmac for almost 3 hours, and was only served WATER, absolutely pathetic..! I swore never to fly with them again.

LH gone from MNL? I am not surprised and serves them right, indeed...!



Lufthansa will stop flights to Manila (http://www.mb.com.ph/TOUR20080201115962.html)
Jaser A. Marasigan

Lufthansa Airlines, Europe’s leading airline, will stop its Manila–Europe flights starting April 2008.

This comes on the heels of the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) aggressive promotional efforts in Europe particularly in Germany, France and Russia.

The German airline claims that the decision to pull out their Manila route is part of its business strategy in light of strong competition.

DoT Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said that they are consulting with the Civil Aeronautics Board and other partners in the tourism sector to make the country more accessible to more travelers, especially from the European region.

The Civil Aviation Board, meanwhile, informed the DoT that the air seats vacated by Lufthansa will most likely be taken up by Middle Eastern airlines.

Lufthansa currently flies seven times weekly from Frankfurt to Manila with 66 business class and 279 economy class allocations per flight. It provides over 30 percent of traveler traffic between the Philippines and Europe.

European visitor arrivals increased by 13.8 percent in 2007. The United Kingdom and Germany are among the country’s top 12 sources of tourists; Russia is the fastest growing market with a 128.9 percent hike in arrivals last year.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will be the only European carrier in the Philippines by April.

^^ Maybe you were just unlucky!
Although from pictures I wouldnt want to fly in their economy ahah NO PTVS?!
Its a flag carrier from one of the most industrialised nations in the world! My gawd!
D:
I wouldnt mind their first class... but even that looks dodgy ahahah :D

Hawaiian Airlines of course have nothing to do about PAL's application for that SAN via YVR route. From the looks of it, it's just mere competition that triggers the media to go bunkers over it. And ATO was already been warned earlier but then they didn't move their arses to avoid being downgraded.

I think to some extent they do because (1) HA is one of three designated US carriers under the 1995 US-RP bilateral (the other 2 is CO and NW, HA's designation was approved with the granting of the authority to fly HNL-MNL service thereby replacing UA) and (2) HA flies to LAX, SFO, LAS, YVR and SAN the same cities that PR is serving/ will soon serve. If you look at it, once HA starts its MNL service it will not just directly compete with PR's HNL service but will also indirectly compete with PR's LAX, SFO, LAS and YVR service and soon SAN.

We are all better off with more competition in the marketplace. I hope that one day all skies will be open all over the world. But Governments everywhere like to protect their own. It is only natural and political. I have flown to the Philippines from the United States three times now on three different airlines. I rank the ones I flew in the order that I liked them.

1. Korean Airlines.
2. Philippine Airlines.
3. Northwest Airlines.

It's cool how Philippine Airlines manages to serve customers well despite being in such deep debt. Love it.

We are all better off with more competition in the marketplace. I hope that one day all skies will be open all over the world. But Governments everywhere like to protect their own. It is only natural and political. I have flown to the Philippines from the United States three times now on three different airlines. I rank the ones I flew in the order that I liked them.

1. Korean Airlines.
2. Philippine Airlines.
3. Northwest Airlines.

makiki-rank na nga rin ako

1. korean
2 jal
3 northwest

^^ Ayaw mo ba ng in-flight service ng C-17 ni Uncle Sam? :lol:

ayaw, nasuka ako duon

^^ Parang hindi aakyat sa ulap ba? :lol:

baka dahil matanda na ang attendants nila? :lol:

I've never flown Korean Air or JAL at all, always NWA, cheap ko kase !!! LOL. Honestly, l i get alot of milleage from NWA and has used alot of free airfare so I guess I can't biotch about it.... Hey, tigs? Do they have direct flight from Chicago? JAL and Korean Air?

^^ my grandma took Korean Air couple years back.. she's from IL btw..

I've never flown Korean Air or JAL at all, always NWA, cheap ko kase !!! LOL. Honestly, l i get alot of milleage from NWA and has used alot of free airfare so I guess I can't biotch about it.... Hey, tigs? Do they have direct flight from Chicago? JAL and Korean Air?

Direct flight from Chicago to Manila? Carriers will always go through their homebase hub before continuing on to their final destinations, in this case Narita for Japan Airlines and Incheon for Korean Air before landing at NAIA.

eva air or some chinese airlines, i think i was offered with that last time i tried to go home but i chose jal
next time ill choose that

magkakaroon na daw ng MANILA-CHICAGO ang PAL.

^pinarerequest ko sa a.t.o so far no response
I've never flown Korean Air or JAL at all, always NWA, cheap ko kase !!! LOL. Honestly, l i get alot of milleage from NWA and has used alot of free airfare so I guess I can't biotch about it.... Hey, tigs? Do they have direct flight from Chicago? JAL and Korean Air?

actrually nw is much expensive than the other two
i only paid about 780 for jal back n forth i recall n if i try to pursue nw mileage it wouldve cost me about 900+ for nw , this was low season btw hehe
a year n ahalf b4 that i paid almost 1400+ for nw,xmas season tho:ohno:

magkakaroon na daw ng MANILA-CHICAGO ang PAL.

Supposedly. But with the recent downgrade, all plans for expansion are on hold until the Philippines achieves Cat 1 level again. And if the proposed MNL-ORD route is a go, I presume they will route it via YVR, much like the LAS flights and the planned SAN flights.

^pinarerequest ko sa a.t.o so far no response


actrually nw is much expensive than the other two
i only paid about 780 for jal back n forth i recall n if i try to pursue nw mileage it wouldve cost me about 900+ for nw , this was low season btw hehe
a year n ahalf b4 that i paid almost 1400+ for nw,xmas season tho:ohno:

Wow, thanks!! Didn't know that. I knew Asianna is supposed to be cheaper than NWA, it's always good to know that Korean Air offers a much lower fare than NWA. With JAL, I think they aren't always cheaper than NWA...

Direct flight from Chicago to Manila? Carriers will always go through their homebase hub before continuing on to their final destinations, in this case Narita for Japan Airlines and Incheon for Korean Air before landing at NAIA.


Yeah, I was meaning to ask if Korean and JAL flies to Chicago, unlike PAL who serves Cali , YVR and Nevada only.... I knew they would have to go through their homebase hub prior to final destinations... Thanks for the info though...

HA HA, thanks Kiretoce!!! I usually see the other comments abit too late so i just hit "quote" then entered my comment , hit sent right away and then " forget about it!" ...LOL

^^ You're welcome, next time use the "multiquote" function when replying to more than one post. :okay:

Yeah, I was meaning to ask if Korean and JAL flies to Chicago, unlike PAL who serves Cali , YVR and Nevada only.... I knew they would have to go through their homebase hub prior to final destinations... Thanks for the info though...

JL and KE do fly to ORD. As for the former, it may also codeshare with OneWorld Alliance partner AA since ORD is also its homebase hub.

baka dahil matanda na ang attendants nila? :lol:

Baka tigasan ka, pag nakita mo yung mga bebot na loadmasters ng mga cargo plane ni Uncle Sam. :lol:

chicago - manila??? how long would that flight be? 20 hours? lol

^ yeah, they should just make it non-stop.

Baka tigasan ka, pag nakita mo yung mga bebot na loadmasters ng mga cargo plane ni Uncle Sam. :lol:

i know:lol:
baka tigasin rin sya sa piloto kung yung namn ang choice nya..jok

Cebu Pacific delayed flight
Video by consumerwatch888

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRn4ZeDwMvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRn4ZeDwMvw

Cebu Pacific lost my luggage last Christmas when i was on my way to Cebu. since then, PAL na ko. and besides, the Manila Domestic Airport is just comparable to an empty 7-Eleven store IMO. haha

4 February 2008
PAL embarks on P3.5-B cabin upgrade
PAL Media Release

MANILA – Philippine Airlines has embarked on a comprehensive, P3.5-billion renovation of its long-range wide-body fleet, highlighted by the reconfiguration of the passenger cabin from a tri-class to bi-class layout, along with a major upgrade of the interiors and amenities.

The project, which covers PAL’s five Boeing 747-400 and four Airbus A340-300 aircraft, will be implemented in phases with the first aircraft sporting the new interiors in June 2008. The entire program is due to be completed by the last quarter of 2009.

During the transition period, from now until the roll out of the last reconfigured aircraft, all B747-400 and A340-300 flights will be sold as bi-class flights, PAL said.

The project involves the installation of state-of-the-art inflight entertainment systems, new business-class and economy-class seats, and the infusion of a new, modern look that emulates the tranquil seas and sandy beaches of the Philippines.

The wide-body reconfiguration dovetails the ongoing modernization program for PAL’s narrow-body fleet that features many of the same key elements – Audio/Video On-Demand (AVOD) technology, German-made Recaro seats, and tropical-themed cabin interiors.

A new, personalized inflight meal service in Mabuhay (Business) Class, called “One by One,” also complements the cabin upgrade.

The major modification is the reconfiguration of the wide-body aircraft layout from the current tri-class to bi-class, which involves the expansion of the Mabuhay Class section into the erstwhile First Class section.

The move is intended to address the growing popularity of business-class service and the competitive pressures to upgrade the service, PAL said.

New interiors, new seats

The focal point of the new Mabuhay Class cabin is luxurious “cocoon” seats supplied by Recaro of Germany. The new seat has a fixed privacy shell that enables the passenger to enjoy utmost privacy while an ergonomic design transforms it into a lie-flat bed.

The seats are adjustable to a variety of positions at the passenger’s option. Each seat is equipped with its own programmable position controls with memory, individual directional LED reading light, oversized tray table and bottle holder.

Fiesta (Economy) Class passengers will likewise benefit from the technology – their new seats, also from Recaro, are ergonomically designed, with new-generation, thinner seatbacks. These provide bigger “living” space and enhance passengers’ comfort.

The new cabins will have a generous seat pitch of 60 inches in Mabuhay Class and 32-to-34 inches in Fiesta Class.

Cabin aesthetics will likewise be enhanced, PAL said, with a modern look and ambience that evokes the coastal areas of the Philippines – one of the signature elements of the flag carrier’s service.

Mabuhay Class seats will be outfitted in plush, deep-blue upholstery accented with touches of silvery-copper threads that simulate reflections of light on water

Fiesta Class seats feature the same undulating wave-pattern design in a blue, aqua and terracotta palette.

The relaxed, tropical feel extends to the front and back ends of the cabin where interiors, curtains, carpets and surfaces are in various shades of blue, white, gray, silver and tan.

Full-cabin Audio/Video On-Demand (AVOD)

Further, the entire cabin on reconfigured aircraft will be equipped with AVOD technology – a fully digital inflight entertainment system that enables both Mabuhay and Fiesta Class passengers to choose from a full library of video and audio content.

Each seat will be outfitted with personal TV and passengers can start, pause, rewind, and fast-forward any of the video programs at any time using the touch-screen controls or the passenger control units.

The AVOD system gives passengers a wide range of digital on-demand entertainment options – they can individually select from a variety of digital games and entertainment programs anytime.

The selection includes 18 of the latest Hollywood movies, two Tagalog-language films, eight popular TV programs, 12 radio channels and 50 CD albums.

Each passenger can also create his own audio playlist from the collection of CD albums. On-screen instructions are available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

Digital games include Tetris, Bejeweled, Galaktor, Reversi, Bookworm, Solitaire, Head-to-Head Chess and the inflight Trivia Challenge. Noise-canceling headsets and in-seat power for laptops are provided in Mabuhay Class.

As well, the Mabuhay Class cabin is equipped with 15.4-inch, seatback-mounted monitors and 10.6-inch, in-arm monitors, while Fiesta Class seats come with 8.9-inch monitors.

‘One by One’

Finally, the upgraded interiors and advanced technology will be complemented by a new inflight-meal service method in Mabuhay Class, dubbed “One by One,” where the service is designed to fit each passenger’s individual needs.

The new approach is an a la carte service where passengers can select their own meal from a variety of choices. Each dish is exquisitely plated by the cabin crew, giving every meal a distinctive and tailored touch, in the tradition of fine-dining restaurants.

Indeed, passengers will delight in the airline’s unique interpretation of such well-loved Filipino classics as arroz caldo (rice porridge) with tokwa (tofu) and tapas (canapés), which have become PAL signature dishes in themselves.

This time, however, even the meal presentation is upgraded, with dishes like these and more served on dinnerware inspired by country’s coastlines, in keeping with the tropical theme.

Appropriately named “The Coastal Collection” and finely crafted by Noritake of Japan, the new line of serving equipment displays a fresh, modern aesthetic that PAL’s Mabuhay Class patrons are certain to appreciate.

More pragmatically, the new “on-demand” style of meal service allows passengers to partake their meals anytime during the flight.

^^ How exciting!!!

Finally!! Personal tvs!! I can't wait to fly Philippine Airlines again!

Cebu Pacific delayed flight
Video by consumerwatch888

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRn4ZeDwMvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRn4ZeDwMvw

Wow. That's mean. That's what they mean by Filipinos not being able to bear with their own countrymen. We won't go anywhere with that attitude.

Look at Koreans. They gave their own jewelry to the government to help the country.

same here, i will be in manila next may, 2009....so excited...for family reuniong....i want to meet all of you SSC people!!! yeay!!!

I'm excited to ride PR with their latest upgrades in services and products.

Hopefully it will make them a 4 star airline!

4 February 2008
PAL embarks on P3.5-B cabin upgrade
PAL Media Release

MANILA – Philippine Airlines has embarked on a comprehensive, P3.5-billion renovation of its long-range wide-body fleet, highlighted by the reconfiguration of the passenger cabin from a tri-class to bi-class layout, along with a major upgrade of the interiors and amenities.

The project, which covers PAL’s five Boeing 747-400 and four Airbus A340-300 aircraft, will be implemented in phases with the first aircraft sporting the new interiors in June 2008. The entire program is due to be completed by the last quarter of 2009.

During the transition period, from now until the roll out of the last reconfigured aircraft, all B747-400 and A340-300 flights will be sold as bi-class flights, PAL said.

The project involves the installation of state-of-the-art inflight entertainment systems, new business-class and economy-class seats, and the infusion of a new, modern look that emulates the tranquil seas and sandy beaches of the Philippines.

The wide-body reconfiguration dovetails the ongoing modernization program for PAL’s narrow-body fleet that features many of the same key elements – Audio/Video On-Demand (AVOD) technology, German-made Recaro seats, and tropical-themed cabin interiors.

A new, personalized inflight meal service in Mabuhay (Business) Class, called “One by One,” also complements the cabin upgrade.

The major modification is the reconfiguration of the wide-body aircraft layout from the current tri-class to bi-class, which involves the expansion of the Mabuhay Class section into the erstwhile First Class section.

The move is intended to address the growing popularity of business-class service and the competitive pressures to upgrade the service, PAL said.

New interiors, new seats

The focal point of the new Mabuhay Class cabin is luxurious “cocoon” seats supplied by Recaro of Germany. The new seat has a fixed privacy shell that enables the passenger to enjoy utmost privacy while an ergonomic design transforms it into a lie-flat bed.

The seats are adjustable to a variety of positions at the passenger’s option. Each seat is equipped with its own programmable position controls with memory, individual directional LED reading light, oversized tray table and bottle holder.

Fiesta (Economy) Class passengers will likewise benefit from the technology – their new seats, also from Recaro, are ergonomically designed, with new-generation, thinner seatbacks. These provide bigger “living” space and enhance passengers’ comfort.

The new cabins will have a generous seat pitch of 60 inches in Mabuhay Class and 32-to-34 inches in Fiesta Class.

Cabin aesthetics will likewise be enhanced, PAL said, with a modern look and ambience that evokes the coastal areas of the Philippines – one of the signature elements of the flag carrier’s service.

Mabuhay Class seats will be outfitted in plush, deep-blue upholstery accented with touches of silvery-copper threads that simulate reflections of light on water

Fiesta Class seats feature the same undulating wave-pattern design in a blue, aqua and terracotta palette.

The relaxed, tropical feel extends to the front and back ends of the cabin where interiors, curtains, carpets and surfaces are in various shades of blue, white, gray, silver and tan.

Full-cabin Audio/Video On-Demand (AVOD)

Further, the entire cabin on reconfigured aircraft will be equipped with AVOD technology – a fully digital inflight entertainment system that enables both Mabuhay and Fiesta Class passengers to choose from a full library of video and audio content.

Each seat will be outfitted with personal TV and passengers can start, pause, rewind, and fast-forward any of the video programs at any time using the touch-screen controls or the passenger control units.

The AVOD system gives passengers a wide range of digital on-demand entertainment options – they can individually select from a variety of digital games and entertainment programs anytime.

The selection includes 18 of the latest Hollywood movies, two Tagalog-language films, eight popular TV programs, 12 radio channels and 50 CD albums.

Each passenger can also create his own audio playlist from the collection of CD albums. On-screen instructions are available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

Digital games include Tetris, Bejeweled, Galaktor, Reversi, Bookworm, Solitaire, Head-to-Head Chess and the inflight Trivia Challenge. Noise-canceling headsets and in-seat power for laptops are provided in Mabuhay Class.

As well, the Mabuhay Class cabin is equipped with 15.4-inch, seatback-mounted monitors and 10.6-inch, in-arm monitors, while Fiesta Class seats come with 8.9-inch monitors.

‘One by One’

Finally, the upgraded interiors and advanced technology will be complemented by a new inflight-meal service method in Mabuhay Class, dubbed “One by One,” where the service is designed to fit each passenger’s individual needs.

The new approach is an a la carte service where passengers can select their own meal from a variety of choices. Each dish is exquisitely plated by the cabin crew, giving every meal a distinctive and tailored touch, in the tradition of fine-dining restaurants.

Indeed, passengers will delight in the airline’s unique interpretation of such well-loved Filipino classics as arroz caldo (rice porridge) with tokwa (tofu) and tapas (canapés), which have become PAL signature dishes in themselves.

This time, however, even the meal presentation is upgraded, with dishes like these and more served on dinnerware inspired by country’s coastlines, in keeping with the tropical theme.

Appropriately named “The Coastal Collection” and finely crafted by Noritake of Japan, the new line of serving equipment displays a fresh, modern aesthetic that PAL’s Mabuhay Class patrons are certain to appreciate.

More pragmatically, the new “on-demand” style of meal service allows passengers to partake their meals anytime during the flight.

Wow. That's mean. That's what they mean by Filipinos not being able to bear with their own countrymen. We won't go anywhere with that attitude.

Look at Koreans. They gave their own jewelry to the government to help the country.

All i remember CEBPAC nag advertise ng 98% no delay ata un. Since nag advertise sila ng ganun, its their fault kasi, wag sila basta basta mag advertise ng ganun kung di naman sila sure. The employee of Cebu PAc must accept the risk kung bakit ganun na lang ang reaction ng mga passengers nila. Masakit sa ULO kasi ang mag hintay eh. Ganyan tlga ang buhay. The Cebu Pacific Manager should always at the airport, para kung merong problema, madali lang maayus ito. Ayan tuloy laki ng bukol nakuha ng Cebu Pacific sa mga passengers.

Cebu Pacific lost my luggage last Christmas when i was on my way to Cebu. since then, PAL na ko. and besides, the Manila Domestic Airport is just comparable to an empty 7-Eleven store IMO. haha

Naunsa na to bai? What happened? Did they found the luggage or did they compensated you?

By the way, when will 2P start upgrading their fleet to B737-300s and A319s/320s?

does the upgrade include, an upgrade to the overhead bins/lockers to a newer look? like how air india is doing to their 744s.

is it going to rival now with Singapore or Thai Airways? :cheers:

wht abt their a-330s their seats are rather suggy and old already

that kewl finally...been waiting for that for a long time.......but what about A330s....are they just gonna leave them the way they are?...theyre a major part of the wide body fleet...they have 8 of them after all....i hope would

90% of flights i've had with PAL are on A330...since they use them mainly in asia..i think they still should upgrade....im probably rushing lol :D anyway i hope they do upgrade them..

:cheers:China Southern Airlines has began chartered flights to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

The Guangzhou-Clark flights are scheduled for Fridays and Sundays. The chartered flights would run for an initial six months using CSA's 166-seat Boeing 737 jets, according to Victor Jose Luciano, president and chief executive officer of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), the government agency overseeing the development of the DMIA.

Luciano welcomed the entry of CSA, saying the flights "open potentials of having Chinese tourists and businessmen coming to our region to invest." The CIAC, he said, would help the CSA in its plan to mount regular flights to Clark.

Luciano said the 2,500-hectare DMIA receives an average of 54 international and domestic flights a week. Last year, a total of 533,619 passengers arrived through the DMIA, higher by almost 45,000 than 2006 figures.

Asian routes are served by Asiana Airlines of South Korea, Air Asia and Tiger Airways of Singapore. Domestic flights are available through Cebu Pacific, South East Asian Airlines (Seair) and Asian Spirit.

Shanghai Airlines also offered chartered flights from January to May last year while Deer Air made a chartered flight in December.

RP aviation system up for new audit (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080205-116836/RP-aviation-system-up-for-new-audit)

MANILA, Philippines -- As it crams to fill in the safety gaps that US investigators recently found in the country’s aviation system, the Air Transportation Office (ATO) is girding for yet another audit that industry insiders say would be more meticulous than last year’s safety check by the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

ATO officials confirmed Monday that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a global aviation coalition that lays down industry standards, will conduct a comprehensive audit of the country’s aviation systems, personnel and facilities later this year.

“The FAA audited the operations part, airworthiness inspections... but the ICAO will check our compliance [with international regulations] in terms of the aerodrome (airport area), navigation services, runways,” said ATO safety division vice chief Jose Saplan.

Using ICAO standards, the FAA found the Philippines non-compliant with air safety standards following an audit of the ATO’s safety oversight system, including regulations and procedures in airworthiness, aircraft and pilot inspections, personnel qualifications, record-keeping and certifications, and licensing practices.

Spotting several flaws, the FAA downgraded the Philippines’ air safety rating to Category 2 or second-rate in its two-class grouping, where countries non-compliant with ICAO standards are placed.

“We never fail an ICAO audit. What they’ll do is check our systems if they are up to date but there will be no sanctions. Unlike the FAA, they do not have a categorization. The audit is a way to help member-countries comply with international regulations,” ATO Executive Director Daniel Dimagiba said.

A regular ICAO audit is held every three to four years, said ATO officials.

Five ICAO experts are currently working full time with the ATO to help it measure up to ICAO regulations, as required by the FAA for the country to regain a Category 1 rating.

Whether the ATO will pass or fail, ICAO audit results will not deal a blow to Philippine civil aviation as the organization cannot exercise punitive action against a member-country, Dimagiba said. It can only recommend improvements to be done.

In contrast, the FAA downgrade has restricted the US operations of Philippine-licensed air carriers, specifically that of flag-carrier Philippine Airlines. The downgrade has resulted in stricter US surveillance of PAL flights into US states and territories, preventing the airline from expanding its service to other American destinations.

Authorities said the downgrade could severely affect the country’s tourism and air travel outlook.

“The ICAO is not a regulatory body. It can only recommend what needs to be done,” said Amado Soliman, chair of the Air Safety Foundation.

The ATO is currently revising and updating its safety oversight system as it works against the three-month deadline that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo imposed for the agency to rectify the problems.

It received an encouraging sign when the Congress bicameral committee recently approved a bill that would turn the agency into a separate authority and give it fiscal autonomy.

The bill, which would reorganize the ATO into the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), is waiting final approval by Congress for transmittal to Malacañang for signing.

The Senate on Monday passed the final version of the proposed law creating the CAAP, which was approved last week by a bicameral conference committee.

Airline company plans to have Iloilo-Hong Kong flight (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2008/02/01/airline.company.plans.to.have.iloilo.hk.flight.html)

City Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday said Cebu Pacific is now contemplating of having flights from Iloilo to Hongkong and vice versa. The plan is part of the campaign to boost the tourism industry in the city and island-province of Guimaras.

Treñas did not release the full details of the supposed plan as the airline is still on the verge of making their business plan for future international flights to Iloilo through the Iloilo airport of international standards in Cabatuan-Sta. Barbara area.

The airline company's business plan may include services, market analysis, strategy, management plan and financial plan before venturing into a new market. The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are among the target market for the proposed Iloilo-Hongkong flight.

Nevertheless, Treñas said the Cebu Pacific would have a direct flight from Iloilo to Davao vice versa. The flight will start in May 2008. The launching of new flights is a product of the efforts of the Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau, city government and the provincial government of Guimaras.

Iloilo and Guimaras both belong to the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC). The council includes Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Leganes and Oton. They are identified as new growth areas.

Treñas said the Davao-Iloilo flight would help in the tourism industry both of Iloilo, Guimaras and neighboring towns. There are people who want to go to the beach and yet they have to pass by Iloilo to shop and eat before coming to Guimaras.

He compared the situation of the Iloilo-Guimaras tourism promotion to the Cebu-Bohol promotion. Cebu serves as a shopping destination for tourists while Bohol as the rest and recreation place.

Recently, United States Counselor for Economic Affairs Larry Memmott said additional flights to Iloilo could boost the tourism industry of both Iloilo and Guimaras provinces.

WOW good for ilo-ilo...:ohno: kakaingit... =]

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j55/extra_kurt/YCL.jpg
The Recaro economy seat for 744 and 343,
pic courtesy of Clarkent of PinoyExchange.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j55/extra_kurt/Litrato.jpg
A343 also by Clarkent

^^ walang built-in individual entertainment system? :weird:

btw, here are pics of PAL taken at HK international, I got the photos from the aviation and airports thread.

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1698/10588304/18969014/302848415.jpg
http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1698/10588304/18969014/302848272.jpg

And also, all French registered aircraft will be re-registered here in the Philippines progressively.

Government woos Taiwan airlines (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business1_feb7_2008)

The Department of Tourism has met with a group of Taiwanese airlines to discuss additional charter flights to accommodate more tourists into the Philippines.

“Bilateral meetings with several Taiwanese airlines were set, opening the possibility of creating more charter flights from either Kaohsiung or Taichung to Laoag, Batanes and other gateways to major Philippine tourist attractions,” Tourism Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr. said.

The tourism department has recently intensified its marketing activities to lure more tourists from the three major cities of Taiwan into the Philippines.

The department said it had expanded its reach in the Taiwan market with the recent exchanges with travel trade players in the cities of Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung.

“Taiwan has traditionally been one of the Philippines’ major trading and investment partners. Our strategy involves not only reinforcing our presence, but also offering something new and reaching out to travelers based outside Taipei,” said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano.

Taiwan is currently the country’s sixth leading source of tourists globally and the fourth in the Asian region. A total of 112,206 Taiwanese nationals visited the islands in 2007.

The department said it planned to bring up the figures and strengthen the country’s presence in this market in 2008.

Jarque recently led a Philippine delegation around Taiwan. He was accompanied by marketing head for Team Asia Pacific Rica Bueno and Tourism Attaché to Taiwan Rene Reyes.

The Philippine delegation attended the Taipei International Travel Fair, which drew over a hundred thousand business decision makers and potential travelers this year.

A total of 861 organizations from 62 countries and regions set up shop in 23,500-square meter exhibit hall at the Taipei World Trade Center.

“The private sector participants were very pleased with how the fair turned out. Not only were they able to align with their Taiwanese counterparts, they also generated business with the tourists who booked their Philippine holiday on-site. One agent was able to make Boracay bookings for as much as 60 people,” Jarque said.

He said a special Philippine Tourism Gala was held at the Shangri-La Far Eastern Hotel to celebrate the renewed marketing activities to the Taiwanese market.

Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s second largest city located in the southern part of the country. Taichung lies on the west-central area and the third most populous.

The Philippine contingent further held travel exchanges at these two cities, where 15 travel wholesalers and other tourism establishments met with Taiwanese counterparts.

“Many of the Taiwanese operators were interested in including Boracay and Palawan in their packages, as these are relatively new destinations for their clients,” said Bueno.

The department also took part in the formal launching of a Boracay guidebook in the Mandarin language. The publication features popular Taiwanese TV personality and model Kelly (Xiao Xian).

Uh-oh. looks like the armrest in between seats cannot be pulled up for more space if the next seat is vacant or to cuddle with your seatmate..!

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j55/extra_kurt/YCL.jpg
The Recaro economy seat for 744 and 343,
pic courtesy of Clarkent of PinoyExchange.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j55/extra_kurt/Litrato.jpg
A343 also by Clarkent

Uh-oh. looks like the armrest in between seats cannot be pulled up for more space if the next seat is vacant or to cuddle with your seatmate..!

Usually, the seats that are in the front row of a section do not have movable armrests. Because these rows have no seats ahead of them (on whose backs the folding tables are mounted), their tables are instead the inward-folding type incorporated in the armrests. If you want a movable-armrest row, consider choosing seats that are in the second row and back.

Uh-oh. looks like the armrest in between seats cannot be pulled up for more space if the next seat is vacant or to cuddle with your seatmate..!

yung design= OK
yung quality=PAL-PAK^^

^^ The quality should be high. They should have personal tvs behind the seats.

Supposedly. But with the recent downgrade, all plans for expansion are on hold until the Philippines achieves Cat 1 level again. And if the proposed MNL-ORD route is a go, I presume they will route it via YVR, much like the LAS flights and the planned SAN flights.

i'm just wondering why PAL has to route ORD flights via YVR since the frequency alotment in the RP-Canada bilateral, which is 4x per week, are all used up. in fact, PAL has to apply for a limited extra frequency to accomodate the current demand [click on http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/rulings-decisions/decisions/2007/A/347-A-2007_e.html]. if PAL does get FAA approval for SAN, that means PAL has to decrease the frequency in its YVR-LAS segment, to accomodate the YVR-SAN segment.which leaves no room for a MNL-YVR-ORD routing.

^^ i think they will lets just see....the article Asiana posted earlier seems positive...i cant wait actually...

if there's one thing i dont like about PAL thougjh is the customer service lines...although i dont really know if Cebupacific is any better...never had to deal with them before...

British-designed jet could reach Australia in under five hours

LONDON, Feb 5, 2008 (AFP) - British engineers unveiled plans Tuesday for a hypersonic jet which could fly from Europe to Australia in less than five hours.

The A2 plane, designed by engineering company Reaction Engines based in Oxfordshire, southern England, could carry 300 passengers at a top speed of almost 4,000 mph (6,400 kmh), five times the speed of sound.

The LAPCAT (Long-Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Technologies) project, backed by the European Space Agency, could see the plane operating within 25 years, the firm's boss Alan Bond told the Guardian daily.

"The A2 is designed to leave Brussels international airport, fly quietly and subsonically out into the north Atlantic at mach 0.9 before reaching mach 5 across the North Pole and heading over the Pacific to Australia," he said.

The plane, which at 143 metres (169 feeet) long would be about twice the size of the biggest current jets, could fly non-stop for up to 12,500 miles (20,000 km).

It operates on liquid hydrogen, which is more ecologically friendly as it gives off water and nitrous oxide instead of carbon emissions.

Passengers would have to put up with having no windows, due to problems with heat produced at high speeds. Instead designers may put flat screen televisions where the windows would be, giving the impression of seeing outside.

Fares would be comparable with current first class tickets on standard flights, of around 3,500 pounds (4,700 euros, 6,900 dollars).

The flight time from Brussels to Australia would be four hours and 40 minutes. "It sounds incredible by today's standards but I don't see why future generations can't make day trips to Australasia," he said.

"Our work shows that it is possible technically; now it's up to the world to decide if it wants it."

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1698/10588304/18969014/302965192.jpg

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1698/10588304/18969014/302965191.jpg

^^ What is the main reason why this aircraft's design is windowless?

BTW, I find this aircraft aesthetically fugly and bland.

^^ to avoid the plane from being shattered at supersonic speed? anyway, that plane has 25 years more before it'll be fully operational.

ahah yeah ^^ if there were windows, theyd probably melt at the speeds that plane flies at... wouldnt want that now would we?

i reckon it looks like some kind of space ship from some sci-fi movie

^^ The very reason why SSTs (Supersonic Transports, like the Concorde) have smaller than average windows compared to regular jets. They fly at higher altitudes and at speeds faster than sound.

^^^^ I don't think I want to be in an aircraft that looks more like a missile!!! I've got a feeling that it will be just another supersonic aircraft /timebomb in the making.....

Chinese banned from RP for yelling at immigration agents (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080208-117701/Chinese-banned-from-RP-for-yelling-at-immigration-agents)

MANILA, Philippines -- Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said Friday he has banned a Chinese woman from entering the Philippines for allegedly bad-mouthing immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport recently.

Libanan issued an order placing 36-year-old Chen Chiung Yu on the immigration blacklist, a few days after the latter caused a commotion at the NAIA immigration office as a result of her allegedly scandalous behavior.

"As I have repeatedly said, we welcome tourists but undesirable aliens, like this woman, who are so arrogant and rude, do not deserve the privilege to enter our country," Libanan said.

According to the Bureau of Immigration chief, the woman's alleged display of arrogance and disrespect toward Philippine immigration officers was uncalled for and was an affront to the country's sovereignty.

Libanan issued the blacklist order after receiving a report on the incident which happened at the NAIA arrival area last February 2 when Chen and a 12-year-old boy named Peter Sin arrived aboard a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong.

The report said Chen had just presented her travel papers to the immigration counter when she was asked by the immigration officer on duty if she had documents to prove that her minor companion, who had a different surname, was her real son.

The woman was invited to the airport's immigration office and was informed that the boy could be the subject of exclusion for being an unaccompanied minor if she could not prove that he was indeed her child.

Instead of politely answering the immigration officers' queries, however, Chen allegedly became furious and kept shouting at the top of her voice while hurling invectives at the immigration officials.

She also insisted that it was no longer necessary for her to prove that the boy was her son and called the requirement a "silly" procedure which she claimed was not done in other countries where she had been to.

The woman allegedly continued her rowdy ways even after she was advised to just pay the fees for a waiver of exclusion so that the two of them could enter the country.

Instead of heeding the advice, she insulted the immigration officials and told them that it was her money that they wanted, Libanan said.

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1698/10588304/18969014/302965192.jpg

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1698/10588304/18969014/302965191.jpg

kailan kaya magkakaroon pnas ng ganto
siguro pag naswallow tayo ng black hole:lol:

Chinese banned from RP for yelling at immigration agents (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080208-117701/Chinese-banned-from-RP-for-yelling-at-immigration-agents)




^^^I've got mixed feelings on this news. It's really disrespectful for a foreign guest to act and treat our local immigration officers the way they described it, but then again, they should of not allowed her to have something that can be used against them, that is when she was asked to pay a waiver fee for it... the immigration officers should of stick with their policy to make sure that the minor who was with her was not a kidnapped victim....

kailan kaya magkakaroon pnas ng ganto
siguro pag naswallow tayo ng black hole:lol:

kahit yung A380 nalang muna...kapag nagkaroon tayo ng A380 this year, magpapashot ako! :cheers1:

can someone tell me anung model ng aircraft na nakatatak PR 126 ng PAL?

ano itchura ng 150-seater Arabs AYE aircraft?

Will the new 77Ws sport the same cabin described below? Anyway, i checked out recaro's website to see how the seats looks like. here's the link:

First/Business class full-flat seats:
http://www.recaro-as.com/ras/product-range/full-flat/cl-6510/index.html

Economy class:
http://www.recaro-as.com/ras/product-range/economy-class/longrange/cl-3510/index.html

as far as i recall, VS has the same economy seats on their A346s. was on VS in their LHR-LAX flight last year.

i hope they re-configure the A330s too with the same seats described below on the economy then the business class with these: http://www.recaro-as.com/ras/product-range/business-class/longrange/cl-4420/index.html
looks very nice and comfy!

4 February 2008
PAL embarks on P3.5-B cabin upgrade
PAL Media Release

MANILA – Philippine Airlines has embarked on a comprehensive, P3.5-billion renovation of its long-range wide-body fleet, highlighted by the reconfiguration of the passenger cabin from a tri-class to bi-class layout, along with a major upgrade of the interiors and amenities.

The project, which covers PAL’s five Boeing 747-400 and four Airbus A340-300 aircraft, will be implemented in phases with the first aircraft sporting the new interiors in June 2008. The entire program is due to be completed by the last quarter of 2009.

During the transition period, from now until the roll out of the last reconfigured aircraft, all B747-400 and A340-300 flights will be sold as bi-class flights, PAL said.

The project involves the installation of state-of-the-art inflight entertainment systems, new business-class and economy-class seats, and the infusion of a new, modern look that emulates the tranquil seas and sandy beaches of the Philippines.

The wide-body reconfiguration dovetails the ongoing modernization program for PAL’s narrow-body fleet that features many of the same key elements – Audio/Video On-Demand (AVOD) technology, German-made Recaro seats, and tropical-themed cabin interiors.

A new, personalized inflight meal service in Mabuhay (Business) Class, called “One by One,” also complements the cabin upgrade.

The major modification is the reconfiguration of the wide-body aircraft layout from the current tri-class to bi-class, which involves the expansion of the Mabuhay Class section into the erstwhile First Class section.

The move is intended to address the growing popularity of business-class service and the competitive pressures to upgrade the service, PAL said.

New interiors, new seats

The focal point of the new Mabuhay Class cabin is luxurious “cocoon” seats supplied by Recaro of Germany. The new seat has a fixed privacy shell that enables the passenger to enjoy utmost privacy while an ergonomic design transforms it into a lie-flat bed.

The seats are adjustable to a variety of positions at the passenger’s option. Each seat is equipped with its own programmable position controls with memory, individual directional LED reading light, oversized tray table and bottle holder.

Fiesta (Economy) Class passengers will likewise benefit from the technology – their new seats, also from Recaro, are ergonomically designed, with new-generation, thinner seatbacks. These provide bigger “living” space and enhance passengers’ comfort.

The new cabins will have a generous seat pitch of 60 inches in Mabuhay Class and 32-to-34 inches in Fiesta Class.

Cabin aesthetics will likewise be enhanced, PAL said, with a modern look and ambience that evokes the coastal areas of the Philippines – one of the signature elements of the flag carrier’s service.

Mabuhay Class seats will be outfitted in plush, deep-blue upholstery accented with touches of silvery-copper threads that simulate reflections of light on water

Fiesta Class seats feature the same undulating wave-pattern design in a blue, aqua and terracotta palette.

The relaxed, tropical feel extends to the front and back ends of the cabin where interiors, curtains, carpets and surfaces are in various shades of blue, white, gray, silver and tan.

Full-cabin Audio/Video On-Demand (AVOD)

Further, the entire cabin on reconfigured aircraft will be equipped with AVOD technology – a fully digital inflight entertainment system that enables both Mabuhay and Fiesta Class passengers to choose from a full library of video and audio content.

Each seat will be outfitted with personal TV and passengers can start, pause, rewind, and fast-forward any of the video programs at any time using the touch-screen controls or the passenger control units.

The AVOD system gives passengers a wide range of digital on-demand entertainment options – they can individually select from a variety of digital games and entertainment programs anytime.

The selection includes 18 of the latest Hollywood movies, two Tagalog-language films, eight popular TV programs, 12 radio channels and 50 CD albums.

Each passenger can also create his own audio playlist from the collection of CD albums. On-screen instructions are available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

Digital games include Tetris, Bejeweled, Galaktor, Reversi, Bookworm, Solitaire, Head-to-Head Chess and the inflight Trivia Challenge. Noise-canceling headsets and in-seat power for laptops are provided in Mabuhay Class.

As well, the Mabuhay Class cabin is equipped with 15.4-inch, seatback-mounted monitors and 10.6-inch, in-arm monitors, while Fiesta Class seats come with 8.9-inch monitors.

‘One by One’

Finally, the upgraded interiors and advanced technology will be complemented by a new inflight-meal service method in Mabuhay Class, dubbed “One by One,” where the service is designed to fit each passenger’s individual needs.

The new approach is an a la carte service where passengers can select their own meal from a variety of choices. Each dish is exquisitely plated by the cabin crew, giving every meal a distinctive and tailored touch, in the tradition of fine-dining restaurants.

Indeed, passengers will delight in the airline’s unique interpretation of such well-loved Filipino classics as arroz caldo (rice porridge) with tokwa (tofu) and tapas (canapés), which have become PAL signature dishes in themselves.

This time, however, even the meal presentation is upgraded, with dishes like these and more served on dinnerware inspired by country’s coastlines, in keeping with the tropical theme.

Appropriately named “The Coastal Collection” and finely crafted by Noritake of Japan, the new line of serving equipment displays a fresh, modern aesthetic that PAL’s Mabuhay Class patrons are certain to appreciate.

More pragmatically, the new “on-demand” style of meal service allows passengers to partake their meals anytime during the flight.

By the way, with A380 on service, I've heard on CNN that a SIN-SYD flight for economy class costs P1,500 at SQ. Is that the right fare for the said route?

well thast good that its confirmed the PALS 744 are A343 have been given the go ahead for a cabin upgrade..

i wonder if any plans for a330s at all...they do have 8 of them after all...i think its only fare for passengers ..CX's A333 are pretty good

SC orders Northwest to pay seaman nearly P1M

For bumping him off US-bound flight

MANILA, Philippines -- The Supreme Court has ordered Northwest Airlines to pay nearly P1 million in damages to a Filipino seaman who was bumped off a United States-bound flight in favor of an American passenger and thus failed to report to his job on the scheduled date.

In its ruling, the high court gave credence to the complaint of seaman Steven Chiong that he was at the airport three hours ahead of his scheduled flight on April 1, 1989, but was not issued a boarding pass and thus was unable to board the flight, contrary to Northwest's claim that Chiong did not show up at the airport on that date.

The high tribunal also affirmed the findings of the Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals.

According to the Supreme Court, Northwest acted in an "oppressive manner" toward Chiong although the latter was able to present evidence that he was at the airport on the day of his scheduled flight. Chiong was barred from boarding the plane after being given the "runaround" and his name was crossed off the passenger list and replaced with that of an American.

"It is borne out by the records that Chiong was given the runaround at the Northwest check-in counter, instructed to deal with a 'man in barong' to obtain a boarding pass, and eventually barred from boarding Northwest Flight No. 24 to accommodate an American, W. Costine, whose name was merely inserted in the flight manifest and did not even personally check in at the counter," the high court said in its Jan. 31 decision.

The court awarded Chiong $8,400 (around P300,000 then) in compensatory damages; P15,000 in actual damages; P200,000 in attorney's fees and P400,000 in moral and punitive damages.

In his complaint, Chiong said he arrived at the airport three hours before his flight to the US where he was to work as third engineer on the M/V Elbia in San Diego, California. He first went to the Coast Guard counter to get his clearance.

He then went to check in at the Northwest counter, but was told his name was not on the passenger list. He was made to speak to a barong-clad man who demanded $100 in exchange for the boarding pass.

Chiong did not have the money and thus failed to board his flight. He was only able to leave the country on April 17.

what an ass move. =] i will never fly NW again after PAL gets their upgrade.

wow after almost 20 yrs:lol:

Grabe na NW....never flew them before but i've heard many negative things about them particullarly towards filipino's how insulting... such jack a**es....how are they compared to United btw

My aunt flies with them because she say she has no choice but even PAL is way better than them even service wise. She says they're staff are rude & FA's tend to show lack of interest in customer service.

Is there a possibility United will ever go back to Manila....or they just totally gave up??..whats the go on this?

if filipinos could only be hardcore nationalist. just like the japanese and the koreans, they would never fly with any other airlines except with their national airline/flag carrier, unless there's a necessity to do otherwise.

ahah there are pretty hardcore nationalists filipinos here down under! :D most of them prefer to fly on PAL rather then the cheaper SQ ... i think its cuz they cant be bothered transferring planes in singapore

but yeah, most of the filipinos i know would prefer to fly on PAL

NW is okay, if you're flying Business/First Class. :okay:

Wow. That's mean. That's what they mean by Filipinos not being able to bear with their own countrymen. We won't go anywhere with that attitude.

Look at Koreans. They gave their own jewelry to the government to help the country.

damn... id hate to be working when THAT happens :ohno: