Airlines, Airplanes and Airports - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 36

a s i a n a

February 12th, 2008, 03:23 PM

Asiana Introduces Remodeled B747 (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/119_17044.html)
01-10-2008 16:57
The Korea Times

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/news/080110_p11_asiana.jpg
First class on Asiana Airlines’ B747 which the carrier remodeled with 10 billion won investment. / Courtesy of Asiana Airlines

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Asiana Airlines has introduced a B747 aircraft with an upgraded interior along with high-end, high-tech facilities.

This is part of the carrier's effort to provide high-quality service by either adopting the next generation aircraft or improving existing ones.

The recent outcome is the B747, which now has in-flight facilities that suit the ``five-star airline'' title.

With 10 billion won of budget, the remodeling project was conducted by Taiwan's Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporation (EGAT), an aircraft maintenance company, for seven weeks from Oct. 9 through Nov. 24.

All seats are equipped with an audio and video on demand system. Monitors on each first and business class seat were also replaced with larger ones.

The number of seats was reduced from the previous 378 (12 in first class, 60 in business class and 306 in travel class) to 359 (10 in first class, 45 in business class and 304 in travel class), increasing the space between seats by three to 10 inches.

Asiana plans to invest more than 70 billion won to improve in-flight facilities of 16 passenger jets for international routes. The remodeling of six planes including five B777s and one B747 was completed in 2007, and the upgrading of the 10 others ― three B747s and seven B767s ― will be finished by January 2009. The number of seats on all the aircrafts will be reduced.

``Following the remodeling, we have a high quality in-flight environment that will satisfy business travelers' needs,'' an Asiana official said.

Asiana was awarded the ``five-star airline'' label by British transport research company Skytrax for two consecutive years since 2007. Only six carriers worldwide received the title, including Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines, and Asiana.

The carrier is making efforts to distinguish itself with luxury in-flight services from emerging low cost carriers which plan to operate the routes to China and Japan, Asiana's stronghold.

a s i a n a

February 12th, 2008, 03:24 PM

Mona Lisa’s Smile Awaits Flight to Paris (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/113_18148.html)
01-29-2008 17:54
The Korea Times

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/news/070129_p12_mona.jpg
Korean Air will decorate its aircraft with the image of Mona Lisa and “hangeul” letters in commemoration of the Louvre’s Korean-language guide service sponsored by the carrier starting in February. / Courtesy of Korean Air

Korean Air Seeks to Help Strengthen Cultural Exchanges Between Korea, France

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Mona Lisa's smile will welcome Korean passengers to Paris.

Korean Air will present an aircraft wrapped with the images of the famous portrait and the Korean alphabet ``Hunminjeongeum'' (or ``hangeul''), in commemoration of Musee de Louvre's Korean-language guiding service starting in mid-February, sponsored by the carrier.

Small hangeul letters will form the image of Mona Lisa. Some larger letters will also be placed around the portrait, to be put on a B747-400 passenger jet, along with the catchphrase ``Passionate Wings to Art.''

``The design symbolizes the `best encounter' between Korea's best cultural property of hangeul and the Louvre's representative painting of Mona Lisa,'' a Korean Air official said.

In the middle of February, Musee de Louvre will adopt a new multimedia guide service. The current audio guide is provided in six languages but not Korean, although 90,000 Koreans visit annually.

The aircraft, after the wrapping work in early February, will fly the Incheon-Paris route. Korean Air plans to decorate about three additional planes with the images for the promotion and operate them for three years.

``We expect the plane to become a symbol of friendship between Korea and France and open a new era of global culture marketing,'' the official said.

The wrapping operation will require skillful technique, as the two types of decoration will be applied together ― attaching a special film of Mona Lisa on the fuselage and writing the large hangeul letters and the catchphrase with paints. The operation will take about 10 days.

The image will be put not only on the aircraft but also on airport limousine buses and the building of Hanjin Group, parent company of Korean Air, in downtown Seoul.

gen1

February 12th, 2008, 03:37 PM

hay. . . , salamat naman. ang liit na talaga kasi ng domestic.

baka sa susunod upgrade din nila ang blind masseuse sa departure. isa lang ang bulag na mata :lol:

http://www.cebupacificair.com/aboutus/press/2008/02122008.html

MIAA, Cebu Pacific team up for domestic airport expansion

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Cebu Pacific (CEB), in a joint effort, will upgrade and expand the Manila Domestic Terminal (MDT) to improve its facilities for its increasing number of passengers.

The project will start by February 15, 2008 and should be completed by April 15, 2008.

The improvements will include:

The opening of a new arrival area with five baggage conveyors instead of the three conveyors today.
A 66% increase in seating capacity of the pre-departure area with the addition of more than 500 seats.
The expansion of the flight check-in lobby and security check areas.
The construction and addition of boarding gates, holding areas, and restrooms which will double the capacity of these structures from present.
The construction of a covered walkway to the aircraft parking bays at the ramp.
Candice Iyog, CEB spokesperson said, “We have definitely outgrown the MDT and we are looking forward to its expansion. We recognize how important the airport experience is to our guests so we are happy about this joint effort with the MIAA.”

The airline will relocate its cargo receiving section to pave way for the new arrival area.

MIAA will spend for the amenities upgrade in the arrival area and the construction and upgrading of the pre-departure lounge and departure areas.

CEB expects to carry more than 7 million passengers in 2008, 70 percent of whom will be domestic travelers. The airline carried more than 5 million passengers last year.

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

Arkdriver

February 12th, 2008, 07:00 PM

i think the 'smooth landing' was actually computer controlled.

you are right. It's doable manually (human control) but most of the time it's an autoland especially during low visibility. There's only 2 option, an autoland or go around. But some airlines (or pilots) do auto land on good weather just to keep their skills current.

ive done a couple of autoland also... heHehe. And they are smooth. But some people said that they tried it once but the auto-land flare/float too long.

Well for the benefits of everyone i decided to print screen this diagram from my computer based training session and upload it here. If you have any technical question you can ask and i'll answer to the best of my knowledge.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7938/autoapproachnotesrs2.jpg

but PAL pilots are among the best....im always at the Sydney Airporrt Observation deck...ive seen many carriers ususaly on weekend...right next to the runways...QF SQ, CX EK...& lots more... at 10:30 am PALS A330 come in....iba talaga ang landings nile....smooth...lol i saw alot of rough landings by CX & SQ last week..

it's not fair...how do you measure them as the best? It's so subjective but anyway pare no hard feelings :lol:

^^
HAHA, exactly...we flew PAL to Roxas City (this airport has got to be one of the least developed in all of RP!) and the pilots expertly landed the A320 jet on what looked to be way too short of a runway...but again smooth, touch landing! my cousins on an earlier fight had said their PAL flight had to be diverted to Iloilo because of the low cloudy visibility.

autoland engaged! One of the reason why autoland was created is to help pilots land the aircraft in unforgiving weather conditions. Low visibility.

kiretoce

February 12th, 2008, 10:18 PM

ATO getting ready for November audit (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080212-118288/ATO-getting-ready-for-November-audit)

MANILA, Philippines -- The Air Transportation Office is working double-time ahead of the arrival in nine months of an audit team from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for a weeklong inspection it said would be more comprehensive than last year’s air safety inspection by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The Philippine Daily Inquirer learned Monday the ICAO, a 190-member organization that lays down international civilian air travel regulations, will be in the Philippines on Nov. 19-27 to check on the country’s compliance with and implementation of ICAO regulations that the ATO had adopted in the local aviation industry under its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP).

USOAP aims to “promote global aviation safety” through a regular audit of member-states “to determine … [a state’s] capability for safety oversight,” particularly its enforcement of “critical elements of a safety oversight system … [and] of safety-relevant ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), associated procedures, guidance material and safety related practices.”

The notice of the audit came as the ATO has been grappling to remedy the deficiencies the FAA found in its audit of the country’s air safety practices, procedures and personnel.

US inspectors flunked the ATO in its international safety audit last year and classified the Philippines as a Category 2 country, a group of nations deemed noncompliant with ICAO standards.

The FAA downgrade imposed restrictions on the US operations of flag-carrier Philippine Airlines, the only local carrier currently flying into US states and territories.

ATO Executive Director Daniel Dimagiba said the audit will focus on five aspects of air safety regulations: The safe transport of dangerous goods, personnel licensing, operations based on adopted civil air transport regulations, airworthiness of aircraft and airport safety regulations.

“But they will not physically go to our airports. What they will do is check our airport safety regulations against ICAO regulations. They will do the same for the other parts of the audit,” Dimagiba said in an interview Monday.

kiretoce

February 12th, 2008, 10:20 PM

Turboprops and jets in the Philippines (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/02/11/221430/singapore-2008-turboprops-and-jets-in-the-philippines.html)

The Philippines' airline market is expanding but some operators are finding that increasing services is proving a challenge

Small Filipino carriers are branching out and trying to compete against the big players on international routes, while the big players in turn are muscling in on the smaller carriers' more profitable domestic routes. But it seems politics will determine the outcome.

The small, well-established airlines are Asian Spirit and Seair and their big rivals are Philippine Airlines/Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific. While Philippine Airlines and Air Philippines operate as separate businesses, they can be considered as one because both are ultimately owned by Lucio Tan, one of the Philippines' wealthiest businessmen.

http://www.flightglobal.com/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=21467

The other big player, Cebu Pacific Air, is controlled by another Filipino-Chinese magnate, Lance Gokongwei.

Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific have ordered three Bombardier Q300s and 10 ATR 72-500s respectively. They plan to use these smaller turboprop aircraft to compete head-on against Asian Spirit and Seair. The first route is Manila-Caticlan. Asian Spirit operates mostly de Havilland Canada Dash 7s and BAe 146s, while Seair operates Dornier 328s and Let 410s.

http://www.flightglobal.com/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=21468

The Manila-Caticlan route has traditionally been a cash cow for Asian Spirit and Seair because the larger airlines' jet aircraft are unable to land at Caticlan's runway which is only 950m (3,100ft) long. The route generates good revenue from wealthy western tourists that go to Caticlan as the gateway to the Philippines' famous Boracay beach strip.

The jet operators have to operate to an airport at Kalibo, which is less convenient for travellers, being at least one and a half hours' drive from Caticlan, where passengers then catch a ferry to Boracay, says Seair director, Nick Gitsis.

While Manila-Caticlan is by far the biggest domestic regional or secondary route in the Philippines "it is not the biggest compared to the trunk routes", says Gitsis. He says Seair operates 20 flights a day to Caticlan from five points in the Philippines including Manila. Asian Spirit executive vice president Joaquin Ernesto Po says his carrier has "at least 15 flights a day" to Caticlan from two points.

Tourists

Gitsis says all passengers on the Manila-Caticlan route are foreign tourists whereas on the Manila-Kalibo route it is "about 75% or more".

Air Philippines put its first Q300 into service on 15 December, and operates the aircraft on four flights a day, says the airline's president chief executive, Edilberto Medina.

The second Q300 will be delivered in March and dedicated to the Manila-Caticlan route, says Medina, while the third aircraft will arrive in April, and will be used to increase the frequency on that route to 11 a day while also used to launch services on the Cebu-Caticlan route.

Air Philippines' Manila-Caticlan service is already fully booked until March, says Medina, adding that some international tourists travelling to the Philippines with PAL have onward bookings to Caticlan with Air Philippines. As a result Air Philippines has refrained from trying to undercut the incumbents, says Medina.

He declines to comment on whether he thinks there will be a price war in future but says Cebu Pacific has a habit of offering discount fares whenever it enters a new market.

Cebu Pacific says it plans to launch services on the route on 29 February with a five-times daily flight using its first ATR 72 and on 28 March it plans to launch services on the Cebu-Caticlan route, also using ATR 72s. Services on the two routes will increase as its takes delivery of other ATR 72s on order, it adds.

Medina at Air Philippines says his carrier might have to compete more aggressively on price if Cebu Pacific sparks a price war.

Medina says the turboprop operation has been so successful it has spurred Air Philippines to try and lease or purchase second-hand Bombardier Q400s and it hopes to get the first in April. It plans to have a total of six Q400s and this could later increase to 10, says Medina, adding that it prefers secondhand aircraft because new Q400s cannot be delivered until last quarter 2009.

Secondary routes

Air Philippines will use these aircraft to operate on many of the domestic regional routes that PAL once served. PAL used to operate on secondary routes in the Philippines but abandoned this market when it phased out its Fokker 50s in the late 1990s. Medina says some of the cities Air Philippines is considering operating to using the Q400s include: Basco, Busuanga, Pagadian, Surigao and Ozamis.

While Air Philippines is preparing for a major expansion on secondary routes, Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit are working to shore up their competitiveness on the Manila-Caticlan route. The two together are spending 30-40 million Philippine pesos ($680,000- $910,000) to lengthen the runway by 100m (300ft) so that Asian Spirit's 83-seat BAe 146s and Cebu Pacific's 70-seat ATR 72s can land fully loaded, says Asian Spirit' s Po.

Asian Spirit's Dash 7s can land on the old runway fully loaded but Asian Spirit wants to only use the BAe 146s there because jet powered aircraft are faster than turboprops. Po says the airline has received in-principle approval for the runway extension and hopes to receive the official approval documents in time to complete the runway extension by the end of May.

Asian Spirit leases a Boeing MD-83 from United Aircraft Leasing in Singapore and operates it from Kalibo and Laoag in the Philippines to Seoul Incheon. South Korea was the first major international market Asian Spirit targeted because South Koreans form the largest group of foreign visitors to the Philippines.

Po says the carrier is seeking to lease one more MD-83 and plans to launch more services to South Korea from other points in the Philippines such as Cebu and Manila. But he is unable to give more details because "it depends on approval from the Civil Aeronautics Board" in the Philippines.

Philippines start-up Pacific Pearl Airways, which launched late last year and has two Boeing 737-200s, also wants traffic rights to South Korea.

And Seair wants to operate internationally but its efforts so far have been bogged down in red tape. In September 2006, Seair and Singapore low-cost carrier Tiger Airways announced a deal in which Tiger would lease Airbus A320s to Seair. Seair would license the Tiger brand name and use Tiger's sales channels to sell tickets on Philippine domestic trunk routes as well as international routes mostly out of Manila's secondary airport, the former Clark airbase, now called Diosdado Macapagal international.

Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is from the province where the airport is located and renamed it after her father, former Philippine president Disodado Macapagal. Her close affinity with the area and desire to see the airport develop has meant Tiger's chief executive, Tony Davis, has had several meetings with the president.

But despite having the apparent goodwill of the president, and Seair's good reputation for safety, Tiger's attempt to have a Philippine carrier operating by February last year were thwarted following objections from quarters such as PAL.

The objections led the country's CAB to hold hearings to determine whether Seair should be allowed to operate A320s. The carrier has never had a fatal crash but despite its unblemished safety record it is up against competitors that have a lot more political clout. "We are coming up to the one year anniversary since we applied on 22 January" 2007 to have A320s included on Seair's air operator's certificate (AOC), says Gitsis.

The airline is still waiting for a decision from the CAB but it "keeps getting delayed and deferred", he says. "We believe there has to be a breakthrough soon because this is the longestapplication process" that any airline in the Philippines has had to go through with regards to an aircraft lease, he adds.

Financial issues

"One issue they [the CAB] have with us is that we are partly foreign owned," says Gitsis, who is US-born and established the airline in 1995 with long-time friend Iren Dornier, who is the airline's chairman and the grandson of Claude Dornier, the famous German aircraft designer who founded the Dornier aircraft company.

The other issue the CAB has focused on is whether Seair is strong enough financially to take on A320s because operating an A320 is a big step up from Dornier 328s and Let 410s.

At a CAB hearing in early January the airline was asked to provide updated financial figures, says Gitsis, adding that the CAB normally holds a hearing once a month although they are are often cancelled two or three times in a row.

While Tiger and Seair have been tied up in hearings, competitors such as PAL and Cebu Pacific have been working furiously to build up their presence at Diosdado Macapagal. Cebu Pacific announced in August that it planned to make Diosdado Macapagal its third international hub - after Manila and Cebu - but two months later disclosed that several foreign governments had rejected its application to operate scheduled passenger services from the former military base.

The disclosure by Cebu Pacific highlighted an apparent discrepancy.

The government issued an executive order in January 2006 - rescinded in August the same year - granting foreign carriers unlimited traffic rights to Clark but failed to ensure Philippine carriers operating from the airport enjoyed the same air traffic rights from the relevant foreign governments.

PAL, meanwhile, has taken a sudden interest in Clark and worked hard to generate awareness for its new efforts to invest there.

In June 2006, PAL issued a statement quoting the airline's president Jaime Bautista as saying "our chairman Lucio Tan is excited at our plan to join in the development of Clark.

"The Clark investment will entail at least 30-50ha of property, over 25 years, where PAL will construct its catering, ground handling and aircraft maintenance facilities," says Bautista, adding that the investment will create at lease 2,000 jobs.

Bautista says PAL also plans to launch international services from Clark but it "hinges on the results of ongoing negotiations with the Clark Development Corp".

bustero

February 13th, 2008, 05:09 AM

^^you can see the hidden hand of PAL in frustrating SeaAir's application!

Sou-jiro

February 13th, 2008, 05:43 AM

it's not fair...how do you measure them as the best? It's so subjective but anyway pare no hard feelings :lol:

lol relax...im just saying from a Photographer view (hehe as if a am) as Im a regular at the deck. im not saying the other landings are bad or GOOD..they all just look different besides is SQ is one of my favorite to spot since theyre very common in Sydney...i took videos of many landing inclusing SQs :D

it was awesome last week as it was raining really heavy & windy then an SQ 744 mega ark came i got it on video...so awesome...i hope there a storm on the weekend & ill go again..ok maybe not a storn but heavy rain like last week

lol i hate to admit it but its actually quite fun & its getting addictive?..lol i hope im not the only one here..im going there again this week
...i wish i could to the same in Manila but they might think im a terrorist..

kiretoce

February 13th, 2008, 05:50 AM

Sou-jiro

February 13th, 2008, 05:57 AM

^^ :lol: That's called "plane spotting," and no, you're not alone with that obsession. I do that too (when I have time off course). But we don't have a viewing deck at Orlando International Airport (MCO), so I have to go to Tradeport Drive which borders one of the runways and watch planes take-off and land. Pre-September 11, I used to just go to the airport (past the security checkpoint and all the way to the international gates) and just people watch. It's nice to see passengers from all over the world embark and disembark from the planes that makes a call at OIA. :colgate:

i wanna upload my videos at youtube kimber im only hesitating for one reason

coz i know all these looser at youtube once you upload you videos there are some who have nothing better to say on comments..anyway i will upload my ones

i do a sched eg last week i focused on Thai JAl PAl Sqq etc..

next week i will take videos on Royab Brunei 736 and AC767er & 773...i saw at leaast 3 Air Canada Aircraft in One day...plus when it rains make for an interesting spotting day...when i went there i didnt realise there was so many peole spotting & taking Photos..I think those are some of the guys that post them on A.net

hopefully i can catch SQs A380 which is daily flights anyway

kiretoce

February 13th, 2008, 06:04 AM

^^ I believe there's a feature that disables comments about your vidclip on YouTube.

Sou-jiro

February 13th, 2008, 06:06 AM

^^ wow kewl didnt know that..will have a look

ianers_ianized

February 13th, 2008, 07:29 AM

Secondary routes

Air Philippines will use these aircraft to operate on many of the domestic regional routes that PAL once served. PAL used to operate on secondary routes in the Philippines but abandoned this market when it phased out its Fokker 50s in the late 1990s. Medina says some of the cities Air Philippines is considering operating to using the Q400s include: Basco, Busuanga, Pagadian, Surigao and Ozamis.

At last secondary airports have been notice...

Ozamis had been recently being service by 2P

I hope they include Baguio, San Jose, Jolo, Tawi-tawi, Camiguin, Tandag, Catarman, Mamburao, San Fernando and Virac. All of them are former PAL regional routes

Sou-jiro

February 13th, 2008, 10:34 AM

Chrisvenz

February 13th, 2008, 01:01 PM

At last secondary airports have been notice...

Ozamis had been recently being service by 2P

I hope they include Baguio, San Jose, Jolo, Tawi-tawi, Camiguin, Tandag, Catarman, Mamburao, San Fernando and Virac. All of them are former PAL regional routes

IF 2P will invest in Zamboanga International Aiport to be its hub for its Zamboanga-Jolo and Zamboanga-Tawi-Tawi route, the competition on this route will be more exciting and passenger will increase since everyday fully loaded ang SEAIR and Asian Spirit plying this routes. :)

tigidig14

February 14th, 2008, 08:43 AM

^baka tutulong lang sa pagbili ng extrang bentelador

chocolato1000

February 14th, 2008, 10:16 AM

isama mo narin yung timba saka tabo sa banyo. :lol:

diz

February 14th, 2008, 11:02 AM

Philippines look for daily flights to Macau (http://www.macaudailytimesnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6747&Itemid=28)

The Philippines Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) will seek bilateral talks with the Macau government to allow Philippine Airlines (PAL) to add more flights to the SAR, the Manila Times reported.
A CAB official said the agency would schedule a meeting with Macau aviation officials to appeal for additional seat entitlements.
“We want to operate daily flights to Macau by making use of our Airbus A320,” Jaime Bautista, PAL president, was quoted by the paper.
The PAL executive said the CAB should ask for more than 1,000 seat entitlements a week. “The current 550 seats a week are already being fully utilised. Many airlines, not only PAL, want to operate and expand there [in Macau],” he said.
Cebu Pacific also wants to operate out of Clark to Macau four times a week and daily to Hong Kong. Currently the airline already operates twice a week, with another two extra section flights under a temporary permit.
Bautista said that for this year PAL would also want to increase its flight frequency to Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
“In Bangkok, we want to add four more flights with our Airbus A320. We now fly there 10 times a week,” he said.
According to the report, PAL also has plans to increase flights to Singapore by four more from the current 17 weekly flights.
The Philippines flag carrier also wants to service non-stop flights to Jakarta from Manila to five times a week, the report quoted Bautista as saying, adding that at present, PAL flies to Jakarta via Singapore.
“For Kuala Lumpur, we would also want to increase the frequencies by five more weekly. We also plan to revisit the India route. These are our regional expansion plans for the year,” he said.
PAL has extended its popular 88 Philippine Pesos, around 17 patacas, fare promotion on any domestic route to the high Lenten days of Good Friday and Black Saturday-a move seen to benefit travellers during one of the peak travel periods of the year.

ashton

February 14th, 2008, 11:15 AM

^ For KL, it must be the code share with MH they are talking about? thanks.. :)

chocolato1000

February 14th, 2008, 11:51 AM

PAL incurs $11.3M net loss in Oct-Dec 2007

Philippine Airlines on Thursday announced that it incurred a net loss of $11.3 million during the October to December period of 2007.

However, PAL said in a statement, that for the first nine months of of its fiscal year, it still posted a profit of $11.5 million.

The quarterly loss, the company said, was due primarily to the absence this time of some major one-time gains that boosted the airline’s revenues the previous year.

In the same period in 2006, PAL had a net income of $79.5 million.

However, in terms of operating income alone, PAL earned $15.3 million in October-to-December 2007, and $86.7 million in the first nine months of its fiscal year, which starts April.

But expenses, led by higher fuel, manpower and lease costs, increased by 23 percent to $383 million in the October to December quarter. Fuel expenses alone rose to $121.5 million during the period, the company said. - GMANews.TV

kiretoce

February 14th, 2008, 03:15 PM

Philippines look for daily flights to Macau (http://www.macaudailytimesnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6747&Itemid=28)

The Philippines Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) will seek bilateral talks with the Macau government to allow Philippine Airlines (PAL) to add more flights to the SAR, the Manila Times reported.

A CAB official said the agency would schedule a meeting with Macau aviation officials to appeal for additional seat entitlements.

“We want to operate daily flights to Macau by making use of our Airbus A320,” Jaime Bautista, PAL president, was quoted by the paper.

The PAL executive said the CAB should ask for more than 1,000 seat entitlements a week. “The current 550 seats a week are already being fully utilised. Many airlines, not only PAL, want to operate and expand there [in Macau],” he said.

Cebu Pacific also wants to operate out of Clark to Macau four times a week and daily to Hong Kong. Currently the airline already operates twice a week, with another two extra section flights under a temporary permit.
Bautista said that for this year PAL would also want to increase its flight frequency to Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

“In Bangkok, we want to add four more flights with our Airbus A320. We now fly there 10 times a week,” he said.

According to the report, PAL also has plans to increase flights to Singapore by four more from the current 17 weekly flights.

The Philippines flag carrier also wants to service non-stop flights to Jakarta from Manila to five times a week, the report quoted Bautista as saying, adding that at present, PAL flies to Jakarta via Singapore.

“For Kuala Lumpur, we would also want to increase the frequencies by five more weekly. We also plan to revisit the India route. These are our regional expansion plans for the year,” he said.

PAL has extended its popular 88 Philippine Pesos, around 17 patacas, fare promotion on any domestic route to the high Lenten days of Good Friday and Black Saturday-a move seen to benefit travellers during one of the peak travel periods of the year.

PR codeshares with NX on the route to MFM, and with MH on services to KUL.

a s i a n a

February 14th, 2008, 04:46 PM

Filipina is Asiana crew of the year 2006 (http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun18/trav4.htm)

Marie Rose Ann Villahermosa, Senior Cabin Crew and Safety Instructor for Overseas Crew of Asiana Airlines (OZ), recently bagged the 2006 Foreign Cabin Crew of the Year Award.

Villahermosa, who has been with Asiana for five years, joins a growing roster of high-achieving Filipino employees of the Korean national carrier.

After graduating from the University of Sto. Tomas with a BS Tourism degree, she worked as a reservations agent and flight attendant for a domestic airline. From that initial travel experience, Villahermosa joined Asiana in 2002. Her work as a safety instructor has had her working out of Asiana headquarters in Seoul, Korea where she received her recognition amidst applause from an international assembly of colleagues.

Working far away from home was really one of the hardest decisions I had to make," she said. But the best thing about Asiana Airlines is the fact that flight attendants are home based. We can go home and spend our days off in Manila with our loved ones."

Asiana Airlines flies from three points in the country, Manila, Cebu and Clark daily, so going home will not be much trouble for their globe-trekking Filipino crew. The company has been hiring Filipino crew members since 1995, all of whom go through stringent training and assessment to uphold the quality standards the multi-awarded airline has become known for. Distinguished cabin crew members such as Villahermosa have earned high ratings based on regular performance grading and even passenger commendations.

Villahermosa says she truly appreciates company programs that keep homesickness at bay, especially for employees of other nationalities. Employee support and cross-cultural appreciation are highlights of an Asiana Airlines career.

She cited a memorable experience with Asiana’s Korean Family Experience program where she had to spend a day with a Korean co-worker’s family. From dining on bulgogi, to learning the language and appreciating Korean culture, crew members savored all things Korean.

I have learned to love Korea and have considered it my home far away from home," Villahermosa said. When World Cup season starts, the 27-year old award winner promises to be cheering along with millions of Korean soccer fans.

bongskie09

February 14th, 2008, 06:27 PM

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/bongskie09/DSCF2390.jpg

bongskie09

February 14th, 2008, 06:30 PM

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/bongskie09/DSCF2389.jpg

This plane bound for Davao, which on my estimate was around 90% full of passengers en route to DC
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/bongskie09/DSCF2387.jpg

Snack served Manila-Davao flight
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/bongskie09/DSCF2410.jpg

gen1

February 15th, 2008, 04:26 AM

my cebupacific tacloban to manila flight yesterday was cancelled due to bad weather. had to stay overnight at tacloban.

but unlike the kalibo experience of the other forumer here, the cebu pacific people at tacloban were generally ok. they didn't give us hotels to stay at nor did they assure us of confirmed bookings for the next days' flights. but somehow I just couldn't blame them for the bad weather.

I guess at the end of the day, as a frequent air traveler, I appreciated a better-safe-than-sorry pilot than a derring-do pilot who could land in heavy showers in a non ILS equipped airport. :)

Chrisvenz

February 15th, 2008, 04:43 AM

good for PAL na revisit ang India. Yehey... =]

flymordecai

February 15th, 2008, 05:07 AM

I'm watching the Philippine Economic Briefing live on ANC, and members of the press are currently asking questions for the President. A question was just asked about a 1st class international airport is needed to pave the way to becoming a 1st world nation and what the government will do about it. Arroyo answered by talking about what was needed to do to NAIA (which she said was technical) She mentioned DMIA and how several private companies are interested in developing the airport. There are enough private companies that can undertake the development of the airport under the BOT scheme that the government will not have to spend on it. She also mentioned smaller airports in development like an airport in Northern Luzon.

bustero

February 15th, 2008, 05:35 PM

The DMIA folks are expecting the repeal of EO500A anyday soon and are talking about finally getting the new air asia thailand flight working on march. There are some people interested in the airport but the difference is on how it will be paid. The Chinese offer was basically to develop the whole airport immediately but it would have to paid by the GOP primarily as a lease basically no go. MacroAsia already signed their contract and SIA, anyday soon. One interesting thing is is with the advent of open skies, they expect a lot more new airlines coming in this year (they're looking at atleast half a dozen) for DMIA but CIAC still recognizes that MIA will be the primary gateway and do not expect to get close in terms of air traffic numbers any time soon.

spearhead

February 16th, 2008, 04:18 PM

This is what they could have done to Sangley Point.

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/aboutus/photo/large/hkia_lar_20000515CLK12.jpg

lochinvar

February 16th, 2008, 06:06 PM

Gusto ko ring madevelop ang Sangley. Pero mas safe ang offer ng mga Arabe kaysa sa mga intsik. Malayo ang mga Arabe para magkaroon ng malalim na balak sa Pilipinas. Ang Pulahang Tsina ay malapit at hindi maaalis na mayroon silang iniisip sa Pilipinas. Huwag tayong tatanga-tanga.

mwg12a

February 16th, 2008, 06:21 PM

Easy ka lang, wala naman ang pilipinas masyadong choice di ba? Maramin din namang investements and China sa Pinas kahit nuong una pa. We won't really be able to tell if and what their hidden agendas are.... Distance isn't a factor.. US is far from the Philippines yet we always welcome their presence...

spearhead

February 16th, 2008, 07:43 PM

i think the chinese people are great and peace lovers. truly, they must have clean and honest intentions to develop our country, beside, they needed us too specially for their baby boomers and retirees...

lochinvar

February 16th, 2008, 08:33 PM

Naivete is the root of some misfortunes. That's is why there is this word, Caveat Emptor. It happened to the Sultan of Sulu, Rajah Humabon, Emilio Aguinaldo, Neville Chamberlain, etc.

spearhead

February 17th, 2008, 12:59 AM

lochinvar

February 17th, 2008, 05:24 AM

mwg12a

February 17th, 2008, 07:38 AM

In the other hand, the arabs don't really do all the works and designings, as they mostly hire foreign consultants and experts to do the job for them. And generally speaking, the arabs can better understand the muslim filipinos, more than the chinese can figure out. Meanwhile, the chinese are indeed mostly self-reliants, though still quite new when it comes to quality issues, and they still have a bad record in some cases. The Chinese infrastructure quality issues have yet penetrated the world's elite. But, i dont see any reasons why we should doubt our chinese friends, and its about our trust, as to chinese we trust when it comes to developing our country's infrastructures. Only a paranoid person will ever think that chinese will invade the islands of the philippines. Im sure they are fully aware of our history and how hard was it for the spaniards, americans, and the japanese to invade us. For there is no such thing now for a superpower country that can invade another nation even if they have one mass land, and no matter how helpless they were, without spending more than $ 200 billion US dollars.

And to add to all these, other nations would be watching. We have United Nation council who would address an invasion without any provocation. US alone would make sure that the Philippines will not be invaded because they want keep the military presence in the Philippines.

Naivete is the root of some misfortunes. That's is why there is this word, Caveat Emptor. It happened to the Sultan of Sulu, Rajah Humabon, Emilio Aguinaldo, Neville Chamberlain, etc.

They have already occupied some isles in the Kalayaan island that the Philippines used to hold. They also occupied some isles which are nearer to Zambales than to Guandong. Hindi ako laban sa infrastructure na itatayo ng Pulahang Tsina. Maari nilang itayo ang mga riles. Pero airport o port na kalapit ng capitolyo may problema riyan. Puede silang magtago ng gadgetry para gamitin sa ispiya.

My dad told me of a likeable Japanese guy who resided in our town ten years before WWII. He befriended the townpeople. The townpeople liked him. But underneath that facade, he was actually doing subterfuge the townpeople was later sorry to have discovered. He emerged during the war as a Major of the Japanese Imperial Army.

Don't dwell too much on the past. As far as Spratley Islands is concern, China is not the only country who is claiming ownership of the said chain of islands in that area, everybody has interests to it , they all see it as a "gold mine" because there is a big possibility that there is oil ithere otherwise, the Philippines would probably drop it's claim to it if it is just an island with no benefit to our country.

As for China's interest in the Philippines, I don't think they can really conceal any weapons they wanted to keep in a supposedly civilian international airport and shipyard where alot of civilians would be manning the area, it would take alot of secrecy to do that and requires full chinese military presence to hide their internal dealings which will be against the Philippine constitution. I dont think the Philippine government is that naive, heck every little things in the Philippine politics are being noticed by the politicians and the mass. What more if there is something big like China's secret operations in the Philippines? And why would China want to invade the Philippines? If they are targetting to match the power of the US, it would be hard for them because the US military is operating in the Philippines under the guise of anti-terrorism campaign it's easy for the US to send help because they have military bases in Japan and Korea. If China wanted to wage war with the US, sophisticated long range missile isn't impossible in this day in age to hit the mainland US with one... but that's just me two cents on this matter.

spearhead

February 17th, 2008, 02:36 PM

They have already occupied some isles in the Kalayaan island that the Philippines used to hold. They also occupied some isles which are nearer to Zambales than to Guandong. Hindi ako laban sa infrastructure na itatayo ng Pulahang Tsina. Maari nilang itayo ang mga riles. Pero airport o port na kalapit ng capitolyo may problema riyan. Puede silang magtago ng gadgetry para gamitin sa ispiya.

My dad told me of a likeable Japanese guy who resided in our town ten years before WWII. He befriended the townpeople. The townpeople liked him. But underneath that facade, he was actually doing subterfuge the townpeople was later sorry to have discovered. He emerged during the war as a Major of the Japanese Imperial Army.

Holy.... You're really into it........

Well first of all, the japanese are totally different people from the chinese.

If china gonna invade us, they will never touch the islands of mindanao.

In fairness of your argument, the only thing that we should really think about our chinese friends are their past history of supporting the communist armed struggle. Although upto this date, its possible that some chinese can still smuggle firearms and bring it over there (pinas), but by invading us is next to impossible. And i wouldn't believe that China will ever risk their reputation and their economy to wage war against the people of the philippines. Im telling you, they will need hundred's of billions of dollars to do that, plus they gonna have to be prepared for a possible World War IV, or they have to be prepared to face the UN council with legitimate reason why invading our islands. Afterall, why would chinese will ever be interested in our coals and for what, when our ASEAN neighbors are even richer with their more abundant minerals?

I think you should listen to mwg12a.

Anyway this is way off topic and its no longer a legitimate reason why we should be talking about that chinese invasion here. You should start your own thread you know. Peace. :)

swahi

February 17th, 2008, 06:25 PM

gen1, did cebpac give you anything for the cancelled flight? Room? Food?

My flight from cebu to manila last friday etd 520pm, was delayed for 5 hours due to a defective engine on the 747. We eventually took off at past 10pm. PAL gave out meal vouchers, worth 125 pesos, at around 7pm. If it was Ceb Pac, i don't think they would be giving out such vouchers. Unfortunately, mactan terminal's food outlets wasn't able to prepare for the vouchers of over 350 passengers. That flight was an overbooked 747, with passengers being bumped up into mabuhay class. By the time I decided to utilize my vouchers, only drinks were available in the 3 stores that you could use the vouchers from. Good thing around 915pm, dunkin donuts was able to have a rush delivery of donuts. Better than nothing.

All through out, you could hear the complaints of the passengers. I just kept my mouth quiet, though I wanted to tell them that they are better off being delayed with PAL than with Ceb Pac or Airphil because they won't provide you with any food or drinks.But decided to hold on to my comment as there is nothing positive from that statement-lesser of two evils, but still, the fact remains we were horribly delayed. When the plane landed, the passenger to my left kept on grumbling, complaining that the flight is delayed, yet the passengers were not getting off the plane fast enough (hey dumb dumb, you are seated at the back of a fully loaded 747!), that it was not a great flight (hey dumb dumb again, who are you talking to? Hello, our flight was delayed, everybody knows that!), then the same passenger complained that there was too long a line for the guard to inspect the bag tags (hey, dumb dumb, the guards are just doing their job, and you are part of a fully loaded 747 with over 300 passengers!), sumingit na nga si dumb dumb, ang binigay, ang boarding pass niya, when the bag tag coupon was stickered onto your ticket.

PAL accomodated passengers with international connections for LA on the 730pm flight. Though the rest, like those for San Francisco and Bangkok were left behind. I know that the Manila-SFO flight will be delayed because the defective 747 is the same plane for the Manila-SFO flight. I don't know with Bangkok, as I heard only that there were passengers for bangkok when we arrived in Manila and a PAL staff was calling out for any Bangkok connecting.

gen1

February 17th, 2008, 06:55 PM

nope. no food nor hotel. not even the promise of a confirmed seat for the early morning flight out the next day.

but it was a force majuere thing, so ok lang sa akin.

skylinefan

February 17th, 2008, 07:43 PM

WawaY[625]

February 17th, 2008, 07:49 PM

my barkada once worked for cebu pacific at natatandaan ko once nakwento nya na nung na delay (or cancel ata) ang flight nila eh binook nila sa isang hotel dito ang mga passengers..pero that was mga 2 years ago pa ata

Sinjin P.

February 17th, 2008, 09:57 PM

Naibook na namin ang aming flight with PAL from CEB to MNL on 22 Mar, 1120 hrs. P3,000 kami per head. Mas mura ang one-way ticket ngayon ng P1,000 compared to last year's.

gen1

February 18th, 2008, 07:26 AM

icarusrising

February 18th, 2008, 10:34 AM

Dornier to make planes in Clark

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
Special to Business Mirror

DORNIER Technology Philippines, a company owned by Iren Dornier, chairman of Southeast Asian Airlines (Seair), will set up the first aircraft- manufacturing plant in the Philippines.

In an exclusive interview with BusinessMirror, Nikos Gitsis, cofounder of Seair and business partner of Dornier, said the aircraft-manufacturing business will be undertaken in joint venture with Dornier Technologie Aviation Services GmbH based in Gilching, Germany. “It is something no one else has done and is in line with our vision of aviation growth,” he added.

Initial investment for the venture is estimated at $20 million, half of which will be borne by Dornier. Gitsis said: “He’s looking for another partner [to invest the other half].”

The German firm, he explained, is “transferring its technology” to the Philippines to manufacture two- and six-seater amphibian sea planes, such as its flagship Dornier S-Ray 007, dubbed the “Stingray,” and the DO-009, respectively. The Stingray is based on the 1921 Libelle, one of the first successful “flying boats” originally designed by Dornier’s grandfather, Claude Dornier, the famous engineer and designer of military aircraft for Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II. Dornier Aviation is also owned by Iren Dornier.

The manufacturing plant will initially be set up in a hangar at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga. “It’s much cheaper to make the planes here in the Philippines because of the [lower] labor costs,” Gitsis said, “but the most difficult part is to have the technology.” The planes are for sale outside the Philippines, he added.

Gitsis said Dornier Technology, currently headquartered at Hangar 7224 at the DMIA, already has some 20 Stingray orders from individual buyers in the international market. “We showed two planes [which were made in Germany] at the Airventure air show in Osh Kosh [Wisconsin] last July, and picked up orders from various buyers.”

He said a local team is currently undergoing technology training in Germany and will return in October. “When the plant transfers from Germany, we hope to roll out at least the half of the 20 orders within three to six months.”

According to the Stingray’s web site, it is a two-seater plane with a wing span of 29.5 feet, and measures 21.6 feet in length and 6.9 feet in height. It has a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour. The plane was designed by a team headed by Iren Dornier at his aircraft technology firm Dornier Technologie GmbH & Co. KG in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, and the Steinbeis Transferzentrum (Steinbeis Transfer Center) in Stuttgart. “[The Stingray] has been modernized as an amphibian multipurpose aircraft to handle the land and the sea,” according to Dornier in the plane’s product brochure. “It is simple, functional, understated, beautiful—the aircraft for a passionate pilot to fly the soul,” he adds.

The aircraft is described as versatile and built to be transportable in a container or on a trailer, “where the wing can fold 90 degrees within seconds.”

According to reports in some German newspapers last year, the first prototype of the Stingray was developed at a cost of €2 million ($2.3 million or P119.04 million) with funding mostly from the Steinbeis Transferzentrum. The plane carries a sticker price between €100,000 and €150,000 ($145,000 and $218,745), or P5.95 million and P8.93 million, and is targeted mainly for the US market. The German firm hopes to sell about 40 to 50 planes a year.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/02182008/economy02.html

WawaY[625]

February 19th, 2008, 02:09 AM

from pagadian thread

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2329/2154355506_743fac4219.jpg?v=0

lightsaber46

February 19th, 2008, 03:31 AM

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/feb/19/yehey/metro/20080219met3.html

Domestic airport starts
expansion, improvement

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Cebu Pacific have jointly started the expansion of the Manila Domestic Airport on February 15, which will be completed by April 15, 2008.

The expansion of the domestic airport facilities will increase seating capacity by 66 percent and ease passenger congestion, especially during the peak season.

The seating capacity at the pre-departure area of the domestic airport will increase by 66 percent with the addition of more than 500 seats.

A new arrival area will be opened that will have five baggage conveyors instead of the present three conveyors. The flight check-in lobby and security check areas will also be expanded. More boarding gates, holding areas and restrooms will be constructed to double the capacity.

“We have definitely outgrown the MDT [Manila Domestic Terminal] and we are looking forward to its expansion. We recognize how important the airport experience is to our guests so we are happy about this joint effort with the MIAA,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific spokesman.

Cebu Pacific will relocate its cargo receiving area to pave way for the new arrival area.

The private airline said MIAA will spend for the amenities upgrade in the arrival area and the construction and upgrading of the pre-departure lounge and departure areas. Cebu Pacific expects to carry more than 7 million passengers in 2008 this year.
--Jonathan M. Hicap

lightsaber46

February 19th, 2008, 04:31 AM

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/feb/19/yehey/prov/20080219pro1.html

PAL, Macroasia to
infuse $50M in Clark Airport

The memorandum of understanding represents a framework for development in Philippine aviation services

By Joey Aguilar, correspondent

CLARK FREEPORT: Airline magnate Lucio Tan signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) officials and Macroasia for the development of a 30-hectare area in the Clark civil aviation complex.

Declared as the premier international airport in the country by President Arroyo, Philippine Airlines (PAL) top officials led by Tan are banking on the viability of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) preparing “to face the challenges of the aviation industry in the 21st century.”

CIAC President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano said “CIAC is fortunate to have Macroasia Corporation in the Clark civil aviation complex because we know how its people passionately pursue ‘efficiency, strategic focus and character’ in its aviation-related businesses.”

These include aircraft maintenance, repairs and overhaul, charter flight services, airport ground handling services and in-flight catering services, he said.

“We know well that Macroasia Corporation will play an important role in the development of the DMIA into a world-class international airport and logistics hub as it extends sterling services in compliance with world standards,” Luciano said.

“This could be the start of our long-standing partnership that may eventually see the entry of the country’s flag carrier—the Philippine Airlines and its affiliates to serve other long-haul airliners,” he added.

Macroasia Corp. President and CEO Joseph Chua said that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) “is really saturated” and saw the need to locate in the 2,500-hectare DMIA, which is four times the size of NAIA.

At least $50 million will be initially infused on the development of a ground handling and inflight catering facilities, according to Chua.

“We envision Clark to be a globally-competitive aviation hub, fully equipped and complemented by the ingenuity and skill of the Filipino workers, that considers as paramount the interest of the Philippines and its own aviation players [the local airlines and its service providers] in the world aviation market,” Chua said.

Chua said the MOU represents a framework for development in Philippine aviation services, backed by four companies which are among the aviation pillars in our country: CIAC as the airport operator and administrative provider, PAL as the commercial pillar, Macroasia and its subsidiaries, and Lufthansa Technik Philippines as base service providers.

He said they would come out with a development plan and sign a lease agreement, “as soon as possible.”

Asked when PAL will start operating in DMIA, President and COO Jaime Bautista said, “If all the support systems are there we will start flying.”

Bautista however noted that their entry in Clark “will be done in phases to complement the Master Plan of Clark [airport].”

Luciano said that the main concern of PAL, which is the in-flight catering, would be finished by the second quarter of this year.

“By the time the DMIA is operational, the facilities of Macroasia and its affiliates will also be also operational,” said Bautista adding that DMIA is expected to become a major hub in two years.

Luciano and Chua had inked an MOU in the presence of Bautista, Lufthansa Technik Philippines President and CEO Bernhard Krueger-Sprenger, CIAC Chairman Nestor Mangio and other top PAL and CIAC officials.

red_jasper

February 19th, 2008, 08:07 AM

Arroyo urged to sign open skies deal (1:07 p.m.)
(http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2008/02/19/arroyo.urged.to.sign.open.skies.deal.(1.07.p.m.).html)
MANILA -- Recruitment companies asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to sign the open skies deal that would facilitate for a cheaper airfare to nearly 1 million Overseas Filipinos Workers (OFWs) that leave the country annually.

Jackson Gan, vice-president of the Federated Association of Manpower Exporters (Fame) said the "open skies policy" will greatly help the Filipino workers.

"The opening up of Clark and Subic international airports will allow more air carries to fly in to the country and will give our OFWs the opportunity to use the budget flights of these Asian airlines," Gan said.

According to Gan, the enormous OFW market with half-a-million passengers flying out from the Philippines to different destinations all over the world is a viable market for all carriers who want to avail of the open skies policy.

Aside from the 500,000 OFWs deployed yearly, another half-a-million rehires or balikbayans is another captured market and "the availability of cheap flights and frequent flights of many airlines coming to the country will give our workers more savings and more time to spend with their families."

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) as well as other local airline companies namely, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Asian Spirit are opposing the open skies policy due to the absence of reciprocity.

Last December 2007, the Philippines together with Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) partners Japan, Korea and China agreed to sign the open skies deal for the Asia-wide implementation.

swahi

February 19th, 2008, 09:17 AM

going to legaspi this weekend, from cebu via manila, taking ceb pac. After booking our tickets during their promo, found out ceb pac will not allow check through! We have to check in again upon arrival at manila airport for our flight to legaspi! Unlike PAL, they will allow check through, wherever you are originating from.

mwg12a

February 19th, 2008, 09:22 AM

If the delay/cancellation of the flight is the fault of the airline (like say, aircraft engine trouble), the airline will feed/house you.

If it's due to circumstances beyond their control (like say, foul weather), the airline is not duty-bound to feed/house you.

Ang malungkot kasi most of our provincial airports do not have instrument landing systems that will enable airplanes to land at night or during heavy showers. kaya kahit heavy showers lang which obscure visibility, hindi na maka landing ang eroplano.

Most airlines provide you with a hotel and a voucher for a meal or two if it is caused by engine trouble, computer glitch, sometimes even due to weather Sometimes( but it also varies on hte sitution or condition)..Now with no frills air carrier, they usually do not provide these and normally, it is indicated in their website or contracts when you purchase a ticket which is usually written in a very small case that you almost would overlook it until you got yourself in a situation such as cancelled flight and such....

When I got stranded with Delta airlines awhile back they had these computer glitch and then there was a blizzard condition in Cincy , Ohio ( one of their main hubs) every single passengers were given free overnight stay at all different hotels , there must be atleast 20 flights that was cancelled that night.. it was really a pain but what can you do? The following day, we missed our flight and it was their fault so they booked us in the very next flight to my final destination on an American Airlines flight . The moral lesson of the story is that had I went to an LCC like allegiant airlines or perhaps Southeast airlines? I would of been sh*t out of luck..LOL

vogriphach

February 19th, 2008, 11:22 AM

ar-Jay

February 19th, 2008, 11:46 AM

CEB offers direct Cebu-Macau service for as low as P999.

Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier to the ASEAN region, will operate a direct service from Cebu to Macau starting April 5, 2008 with a special introductory fare offer of P999 one-way. The Cebu-Macau seat sale will run from February 20 to 25, 2008 and is good for travel from April 5 to June 30, 2008.

The direct Cebu-Macau flight is initially introduced with a twice a week (Tuesday and Saturday) evening service and will become a four-times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday) day-time service beginning May 8, 2008.

Lance Gokongwei, CEB President and CEO announced, “We are proud to be the only airline to operate this route and we are confident that this will further encourage travel and tourism for both Cebu and Macau. Our Cebu–Macau service will also give travelers from both markets an opportunity to compare and visit the colonial heritage and cosmopolitan sites each destination has to offer.”

After the seat sale, fare to Macau start from P1,499 one way, exclusive of taxes and surcharges.

“Macau is the seventh international destination we will operate directly from Cebu. This will allow us to provide more options for our guests who may also opt to visit Macau and return to Cebu via Hong Kong. This new offering shows our commitment to further strengthen our Cebu hub operation,” he added.

The airline explained that its will also offer a four-times weekly Davao-Macau service as a domestic to international connection via Cebu.

Narzalina Lim, General Manager of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said, "The Macau Government Tourist Office in the Philippines welcomes Cebu Pacific's announcement of its direct flights from Cebu to Macau starting April 2008. These flights will open up Macau as a destination for people in the Visayas and parts of Mindanao who will no longer need to fly to Manila to be able to visit Macau.”

“We’re also happy to provide our Filipino overseas workers in Macau a direct service to Cebu that will easily link them to the islands in the Visayas and Mindanao. Our very low fares will allow them to come home more often.” Gokongwei added.

CEB also announced today its new offering of a direct Manila-Kaohsiung service starting June 7, 2008. The new route is also being introduced with a promotional fare of P999 one-way, exclusive of government taxes and surcharges. The best way to buy tickets is through www.cebupacificair.com.

Now in its 12th year, CEB flies to 12, soon to be 15 international destinations, with the addition of Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Kaohsiung. CEB also operates flights to 21 domestic destinations with the addition of Boracay (Caticlan) beginning February 29, 2008.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cebu Pacific flies Manila–Kaohsiung for as low as P999 only.

Budget airline Cebu Pacific (CEB) will start flying a direct service from Manila to Kaohsiung, Taiwan on June 7, 2008 with a special introductory fare offer of P999 only. The Kaohsiung seat sale will run from February 20 to 25, 2008.

The Manila– Kaohsiung service will use CEB’s brand new 179-seater A320 aircraft and is scheduled to operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The flight departs from Manila at 2:50pm, and arrives in Kaohsiung International Airport at 4:35pm. The return flight leaves Kaohsiung at 5:20pm and arrives in Manila at 7:05pm.

The direct Manila to Kaohsiung service is introduced with a promotional fare offering of P999 one-way, a price reduction of almost 73% from the current fares for this route. This may be availed for travel from June 7 to August 31, 2008. Fare is exclusive of surcharges and government tax.

CEB is the only Philippine carrier operating this route. Kaohsiung is the second city CEB will operate to in Taiwan. CEB currently operates a daily service to Taipei from Manila and a thrice weekly service from Cebu to Taipei.

“We are very excited with the opening of this new international destination for CEB because we are confident that this will stimulate business activities for both the Philippines and Taiwan. Our Manila–Kaohsiung service will also provide better access to the industrial and manufacturing development zones of both countries,” Lance Gokongwei, CEB President and CEO said.

Hon. Joseph Durano, Secretary of the Department of Tourism, said, “We are glad that Cebu Pacific is opening direct flights from Manila to Kaohsiung in Southern Taiwan. This new development also supports our marketing strategy for 2008 as we expand our campaign in other key cities in Taiwan tapping new and first time travelers to the Philippines. Having the direct flights to Manila from Kaohsiung will provide easy access and convenience for our Taiwanese tourists.”

After the seat sale, the lowest ‘Go’ fare to Kaohsiung starts from P1,499 one-way, which is still 61% lower than the current fares for this route. The best way to purchase tickets is through CEB airline’s website, www.cebupacificair.com.

CEB also announced today its new offering of a direct Cebu-Macau service starting April 5, 2008. The new route is likewise being announced with a promotional fare of P999 one-way, exclusive of government taxes and surcharges.

Now in its 12th year, CEB flies to 12, soon to be 15 international destinations, with the addition of Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Kaohsiung. CEB also operates flights to 21 domestic destinations with the addition of Boracay (Caticlan) beginning February 29, 2008.

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Cebu Pacific takes delivery of first ATR 72-500 aircraft

Gokongwei-owned airline, Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ single largest domestic carrier, took delivery of its first brand new ATR 72-500 aircraft yesterday from Toulouse, France.

Candice Iyog, CEB spokesperson, said that the arrival of the ATR is another significant milestone for the company, as it starts taking delivery of up to eighteen ATR aircraft valued at over US$ 330 million.

“We continue to have the newest and youngest fleet in the Philippines with the delivery of our first ATR aircraft. We expect to take delivery another five ATRs from March to December of this year,” Iyog said.

Iyog added, “Our fleet expansion with the ATR aircraft is a critical step to achieving our goal of bringing air travel closer to more Filipinos.”

She further explained that with the ATR fleet, CEB will now be able to fly into more airports in the country and extend its trademark low fares to more Filipinos.

Stéphane Mayer, ATR CEO, declared: “We are honoured with this first introduction in such an important and strategic market. ATR is consolidating its strong leader position in Asia, which represents more than 60% of our new orders since the recovery of the turboprop market in 2005. With their ability to land on short runways, their reliability, and their ease of maintenance, the ATR aircraft will bring an optimal service to Cebu Pacific. We will be glad to take part in the expansion of Cebu Pacific and the growth of their network”.

The airline will also take delivery of four brand new Airbus A320 aircraft this year. CEB expects to have a fleet of 25 by yearend 2008, with 6 ATRs and 19 A320/319 aircraft. This will be used to support its rapid domestic and international network expansion geared to carry more than seven million passengers this year.

Now in its 12th year, CEB flies to 12, soon to be 15 international destinations, with the addition of Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Kaohsiung. CEB also operates flights to 21 domestic destinations with the addition of Boracay (Caticlan) beginning February 29, 2008.

kiretoce

February 19th, 2008, 01:23 PM

^^ LH will have to codeshare flights to FRA from MNL on its Asian Star Alliance partners; SQ to SIN, OZ to ICN, and TG to BKK.

JustHorace

February 19th, 2008, 03:46 PM

Anyone here who went to the travel expo last week? Lufthansa still had a booth in there despite their pulling out Manila flights soon.

Now they're marketing flights to Europe via CX or PAL. I think they have some partnerships on these routes. So basically you can fly to Frankfurt with connections via Seoul, HK or Singapore. I guess this is okay for passengers who have real intentions of stopping in one of these cities. They allow passengers to spend a couple of days in these transit cities if they wish. For those who don't wish to stop I think transit time isn't long - about an hour and a half to two hours.

Yep, I went there. Well, other airlines which don't serve MNL had their own booths too. If I'm not mistaken, I saw Kenya Airways, South African Airways (sharing a booth with South Africa's Ministry of Tourism), American Airlines, and India's Jet Airways. I was surprised that AA had a big booth.

kiretoce

February 19th, 2008, 04:52 PM

^^ Airlines that don't fly to a certain city have ticket offices to serve the public with inquiries, travel bookings and itineraries, etc.

kiretoce

February 19th, 2008, 05:02 PM

More influential Asian airlines get set to act on global stage (http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/more-influential-asian-airlines-get-set-to-act-on-global-stage/?no_cache=1&cHash=dceb743e9e)

Airlines in the Asia Pacific region have become key global players and should have a greater say in industry issues, according to Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). “The growing influence of Asia Pacific needs to be matched by stronger engagement in key international policy issues.”

In Herdman’s view, because the area has been able to show growing economic leadership, it also must be ready for increased political activity on broader policy issues. “AAPA will continue to engage with industry associates and other stakeholders to ensure that Asia Pacific views are given proper weight,” he said. “Overall, notwithstanding future challenges, the industry can look forward with confidence.”

Fast growing markets in China and India have boosted the region’s air transport stature. Airports Council International figures that indicate international passenger traffic to, from, and within Asia Pacific increased by 9.7 percent in 2006, compared with a worldwide rate of 6.8 percent.

The region had a 27-percent share of 2006’s worldwide 2.1 billion scheduled airline passengers and a much larger 41 percent of the 16 million metric tons of global air cargo. “If these trends are sustained, within the next decade, Asia Pacific will have the largest share of passenger traffic,” said Herdman.

AAPA’s 17 member carriers reported $3.4 billion operating profit on revenues valued at $83 billion in 2006-07. The airlines’ almost 1,500-strong fleet transported 285 million passengers–just over half of them on domestic routes–and 10 million metric tons of freight. The group accounts for 18 percent of worldwide passenger totals and 32 percent of cargo traffic.

Herdman sees growth prospects in Asia Pacific as remaining “bright,” although he wants to see sustained progress “truly liberalize” the marketplace. AAPA’s share of world passenger traffic will continue growing despite highly diverse regulation across the region. “We need to work toward greater harmonization, and speak with a common voice on wider international issues,” he said.

An important step toward permitting operators to compete globally would be “relaxation of national ownership and control rules,” said Herdman, who is critical of U.S.-style “Open Skies” agreements. He believes these arrangements–typically deleting restrictions on capacity, destination, frequency, and pricing–are well short of genuine liberalization. “Almost without exception, domestic markets remain basically closed to foreign competition,” he said.

AAPA sees the recent European Union-U.S. agreement as no more than a “modest step in the right direction,” since it excluded any movement on limits covering airline ownership and control. “The U.S. domestic market, the world’s largest, remains effectively closed,” said Herdman.

He has applauded a regional initiative to deregulate airline services between four Asia Pacific Rim countries and the U.S., but laments the fact that it has not led to other such deals elsewhere in the region. The 2001 APEC Multilateral Agreement on Liberalisation of International Air Transport, involving Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore and the U.S. has been “probably the most ambitious step” toward a multi-
region liberalization template, he said.

More recent moves have included the so-called ASEAN roadmap for deregulation between member countries’ capitals by this year and on all services among those states by 2015. Different arrangements are being prepared between ASEAN subregions, while talks continue with China, Japan and Korea.

AAPA officials have praised a recent Open Skies agreement between Singapore and the UK for its “fresh thinking” on ownership and control. The “landmark deal,” they said, is particularly noteworthy since it provides full cabotage rights to designated airlines on both sides, explained Herdman.

Nevertheless, despite such reservations about restrictions, the region’s airlines retain long-term optimism–amply demonstrated by their orders for substantial fleets of aircraft, with the Asia Pacific forecast to require more than 10,000 new aircraft by 2026. Herdman reflected that this optimism prevails following a recent period of poor profitability. “Operators rebounded in recent years, particularly after the impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome threat, but profits have been disappointing.”

This lack of profitability is at least partly a consequence of carriers’ absorption of higher fuel prices in 2005 and 2006. Nevertheless, Herdman warned that AAPA carriers face the perennial problem of more than covering their costs. “The challenge is to convert robust growth in travel demand into revenues and, most importantly, profitability to pay for further investments in aircraft and infrastructure.”

Unveiling AAPA members’ 2006-07 financial results last November, Herdman said the year had seen a significant profit improvement. “Net income tripled, while operating profit increased 69 percent to $3.7 billion,” he said. Strong revenues–up 15.4 percent–outstripped a lower growth of 14.1 percent in overall costs.

Asia Pacific operators reported positive earnings, generating $2.8 billion in net profit, although there was wide variation in profitability. “AAPA airlines earned $3.4 billion–a profit margin of 4.0 percent and a 73-percent improvement over the previous year,” the report noted. Two low-cost carriers–Air Asia and Virgin Blue–reported “sharply improved” profitability. But Herdman pointed out that good general performance was offset by marginally loss-making mainland China airlines that “faced difficulties in translating robust traffic and revenue growth into profitability.”

Consolidated AAPA operating revenues climbed 13.1 percent to $83.4 billion (against an 8.3-percent revenue growth 12 months earlier), driven by a 5.7-percent increase in revenue metric-ton kilometers and 7.0 percent yield growth. Operating expenses went up 11.1 percent, to $80.1 billion.

Fuel accounted for the highest cost ($23.2 billion), representing 29 percent of total airline expenses and a 17-percent increase in fuel unit cost, to $0.14 per available metric-ton-kilometer after allowing for increased traffic volume; nonfuel costs went up 1.8 percent. Offsetting the higher operating cost, staff unit costs fell 3.4 percent.

The growth in 2006-07 AAPA traffic exceeded that in capacity, generating an overall load factor 0.5 percentage points higher at 68.5 percent, largely a result of passenger load factors up 1.9 percent to a record 75.1 percent. The yield increase from passenger traffic (up 9.4 percent) was three times that achieved from cargo operations (up 3.1 percent) because of significant capacity growth.

How the Fleets Stack Up

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines currently lists 17 members operating a varied fleet (see box). Those operating the greatest numbers are Japan Airlines, 215; All Nippon Airways, 155; Qantas Airways, 124; Korean Air, 123 and Cathay Pacific Airways, 107. In the 12 months to November 2007, the AAPA mainline fleet increased by 14 (1 percent) to 1,383 aircraft.

Boeings are by far the most populous aircraft (73 percent of the AAPA fleet), although there will be much more balance once recent new orders have been fulfilled. The AAPA members’ backlog in November was more than 440 aircraft for delivery before 2013, including more than 270 Airbus A350s and A380s and Boeing 787s.

The most common large aircraft in the fleet–252 total–is the Boeing 777. The -300ER variant is flying with ANA, Cathay Pacific, EVA Airways, JAL and Singapore Airlines. Additional 737s are to be delivered to Air New Zealand, Korean Air and Philippine Airlines, replacing older 747-400 passenger models, many of which are being converted for cargo use. The average age of aircraft in the AAPA fleet is 9.65 years.

Ph Man

February 19th, 2008, 05:50 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRwTilJb76E
tour runs for a max of 3 hours...depending on Aircraft movement starts 10am
dont know of any airport in the world that runs tours like this if any...Bus is equipped with radio & you can her Pilot communicating to tower..we even git a greeting from the tower...the bus parks right next to eat coz we it has to wait for clearance to cross on runway 16R 34L

i hope Changi or CLK would have the same that would be awesome

i was really intrigued by videos of take offs that includes pilot-ATC communications. i thought this was a tapped communication. turns out this is not, according to your experience. it was a Qantas take off, but i've seen other videos, probably taken from other airports. this would really be awesome if other airports also have this. i would pay a thousand bucks (pesos) for a 3-hour tour.

i had a PR B747-400 experience last week and I'd say it was indeed a great experience. the weather was not very friendly but the flight went well overall. and of course, the smooth touch down to cap it off. but the take off is still my fave part of the flight whatever the plane is. NAIA 2's airbridge were all occupied so we have to be shuttled to the airport from the tarmac. so i got dozens of photos of the jumbo jet + an international PR A340 flight. Hehe...And I joined the last shuttle which carried the FAs, pilots, and one actress - think it was Elizabeth Oropesa :D to the arrival area.

kiretoce

February 19th, 2008, 05:52 PM

^^ Where'd you go Francis? :dunno:

gen1

February 19th, 2008, 06:02 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cebu Pacific takes delivery of first ATR 72-500 aircraft

Gokongwei-owned airline, Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ single largest domestic carrier, took delivery of its first brand new ATR 72-500 aircraft yesterday from Toulouse, France.
.

Aliw to ride those brand new aircraft. I was able to ride on an inaugural cebu pacific flight when they were switching to airbuses. they gave out small party-favor like bags with el cheapo goodies to each passenger :lol:

pansin ko lang, last two flights out ko sa cebu pac wala na ang fun games nila. anybody else notice this ? cost cutting na naman yata si lance :lol:

lightning099

February 19th, 2008, 06:12 PM

Inquirer.net

SINGAPORE -- Singapore Airlines (SIA) said Tuesday it had cancelled an Airbus A380 flight to Sydney because of a fuel pump defect.

The double-decker aircraft, the world's biggest airliner, was scheduled to leave for Australia on Monday evening.

"It was a difficult delay. A problem presented with a fuel pump, and this is the sort of problem that doesn't show till engine start-up," SIA said in a statement.

"This problem does occur from time to time with aircraft generally, but requires some time to fix," it said, adding that a replacement pump did not solve the problem.

SIA said "Airbus and our own engineers have dedicated teams to try to address these issues quickly, but last night's fuel pump defect took much longer to fix."

Passengers were transferred to a Boeing 747-400 but not all of them could be accommodated.

"We're very sorry for the inconvenience caused to customers by the long delay, and especially the nature of it, with a lack of certain departure time," the airline said.

Last month, SIA grounded another A380 flight to Sydney after it became unhinged from a tow truck and accidentally touched grass on the side of the tarmac.

Singapore Airlines received its first A380 in October last year to become the first carrier in the world to operate the aircraft. It got its second A380 last month and both planes are being used for the Singapore-Sydney route.

After taking delivery of its third A380, the carrier said it would start commercial flights of the aircraft to London on March 18.

kiretoce

February 19th, 2008, 06:16 PM

^^ Looks like a dent in Airbus's rep.

ashton

February 19th, 2008, 06:44 PM

^ and to SQ as well... :)

diz

February 19th, 2008, 08:36 PM

Wow. Cebu Pacific is expanding really fast.

Sou-jiro

February 20th, 2008, 12:34 AM

ericlucky290

February 20th, 2008, 04:50 AM

Today, I experinced how bad Cebu Pacific Customer Service is.

Here is my letter if complaint to 5J and I am very mad while writing this email.

To the Management of Cebu Pacific,

I would like to report the rudeness of the staff of the ticketing office of Clark. I purchased a ticket to my mom last week at your Clark Ticketing office - Supersonic. But My mom's flight was cancelled due to bad weather today and then she opt to cancel the whole flight and instead travel by land since all flights until tomorrow are fully booked. By 10:15 am, I called SuperSonic at 892 - 5397. I lady answer the phone and she has no manners! Here is how the conversation goes:

Phone Rep: Welcome to Cebu Pacific ( Note she even did not introduce her self)
Me: Magtatanong lang po, kasi nacancelled ng flight ng nanay ko
Phone Rep: Ano po yung booking reference
Me: (looking at the the receipt.) 2455.
Phone Rep: (Interrupt me) Tinatanong ko po kung ano yung booking reference! ( It is right to tell this to a customer in this manner?)
Me: Yun lang kasi nakikita ko dito
Phone Rep: Posibli namang walang booking reference! ( Again, would you say this words to a customer?)
Ano po yung surname?
Then after few conversation.
Phone Rep: So, nacancel na yung flight, ano yung gusto mong magyari?
Me: Magtatanong lang po kung pano magrefund.
Phone Rep: So yun pala yung gusto mo, kanini kupa tinatanong iyan!
She provided me the instructions
Me: Thank you
She hang the phone

I do have respect to your company and I am reporting this so that you will know how your customer service affects your airline. I hope that you will trained your ticketing office how to properly handle your customer and teach them the basic of phone conversation. This is the worst conversation I had in my entire life!

diz

February 20th, 2008, 04:59 AM

^^ Aye, I woulda cussed her out.

Ph Man

February 20th, 2008, 06:00 AM

^^ Where'd you go Francis? :dunno:

hi kimbro. i wanted to ride the B747s of PAL, so I chose between HK and CEB. Cebu was cheaper so there I went to Cebu, plus Bohol. B747 to and from Cebu. Addict ba? Hehe...Had a weeklong vacation. I am uploading some photos and I'll share them with you guys shortly. :)

ericlucky290

February 20th, 2008, 06:07 AM

Pupunta rin ako sa Bohol bukas for 4 days vacation. Sakay ako ng PAL :)

kiretoce

February 20th, 2008, 06:10 AM

hi kimbro. i wanted to ride the B747s of PAL, so I chose between HK and CEB. Cebu was cheaper so there I went to Cebu, plus Bohol. B747 to and from Cebu. Addict ba? Hehe...Had a weeklong vacation. I am uploading some photos and I'll share them with you guys shortly. :)

Looks like you had some extra cash to burn there my friend. ;) You've never experience riding on a B747 before?

Ph Man

February 20th, 2008, 06:17 AM

to Tagbilaran. Enjoy your trip Eric. Be wary, there are a lot of NPAs in Bohol - nice people around! hehehehe...people are very nice and friendly, even the dogs. i'd sure want to come back! is that a package tour? try the buffet lunch and cruise along Loboc River. on your way to the Chocolate Hills, you will pass along the stretch of the manmade forest of mahogany trees. and of course, the beaches of Panglao Island and the tarsiers to add up to your must-visit places and stuff.

Looks like you had some extra cash to burn there my friend. ;) You've never experience riding on a B747 before?

it's a shame but yeah, that's true, i mean the B747, not the extra cash ;) always the smaller aircrafts. sana A380 naman next time. :D

Ph Man

February 20th, 2008, 06:37 AM

As promised...
you call this plane spotting, right?

you do the naming of these aircrafts. :)

must be an A320 (please correct me if i am wrong)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb5013adea1bb00000026100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

Air Philippines' B737
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb5013aa0a1c500000026100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

An international PR A340 flight...
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb50138d0208400000026100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

NAIA T3
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb50138a420f000000026100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb5013bd2e12f00000026100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

That truck van ruined my supposedly picture perfect frame...LOLs
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb5013bc0e13d00000026100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb5013ac8a1ad00000026100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

A340
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb5013961e19d00000026100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

B747-400 in Mactan airport. I heard that PAL is only left with 5 of these. Is that true?
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb50138f820ac00000026100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

In NAIA 2
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb50125d8601a00000026100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

We can't use that airbridge since this is the International Wing of the airport
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb50138fc20a800000026100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

There you go, hope you enjoyed planewatching. Next time i should go to NAIA1 to spot other carriers.

Oh, let me add...my Bohol photo. flanking me are mahogany trees of Bohol's manmade forest with canopy that almost prevents all sunlight from passing through.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb5013b72e18f00000025100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

Sinjin P.

February 20th, 2008, 06:47 AM

^ Nice photos Kuya France. I hope you also have Cebu photos :D

diz

February 20th, 2008, 06:47 AM

Nice collection!

kiretoce

February 20th, 2008, 06:52 AM

Thanks for sharing Francis! Awesome PAL and NAIA photos! :okay:

Ph Man

February 20th, 2008, 06:59 AM

hehe...thank you guys. for appreciating.

Sinj, I don't have much Cebu photos. I didn't know where to go for nice views. ;) hehe...i'd return there next time. talk of roaming around alone...not knowing where to go to. hehehe...good thing you got nice cab drivers there who tried to lead me to where i wanted to go. :)

Sinjin P.

February 20th, 2008, 07:02 AM

Ph Man

February 20th, 2008, 07:32 AM

no worries sinj. i always enjoy surprises, and going to places without definite plan, like what i did last year. :D

bongskie09

February 20th, 2008, 08:51 AM

^^ same here :bash:

bustero

February 20th, 2008, 09:20 AM

no new announcements for either in the singapore airshow :(

a s i a n a

February 20th, 2008, 10:33 AM

Boeing, Garuda Indonesia Announce 777 Order (http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q1/080219c_pr.html)

SINGAPORE, Feb. 19, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Jakarta-based Garuda Indonesia today announced at the Singapore Air Show that the airline has ordered four 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes. The order is valued at more than $1 billion at current list prices.

Additionally, Garuda confirmed a previous unidentified order for seven Next-Generation 737-800s placed in 2007, and announced that it has converted 18 of its existing 737-700s on order to 737-800s and six 777-200ERs on order to 777-300ERs. Garuda originally placed an order for six 777-200ERs in 1996 and 18 737-700s in 1999, which were recorded on Boeing's order books.

With today's announcement, the airline's total order now stands at 25 737-800s and 10 777-300ERs jetliners. Additionally, Garuda acquired purchase rights for an additional 25 737-800s and 10 777-300ERs.

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/photorelease/q1/k64269_lg.jpg

gen1

February 20th, 2008, 11:01 AM

Today, I experinced how bad Cebu Pacific Customer Service is.

Here is my letter if complaint to 5J and I am very mad while writing this email.

That why I book all my flights through the internet :)

But whenever I needed to make changes in my booked flights, the cebu pac call center people were always very nice. baka may buwanang dalaw ang nakausap mo :lol:

on cancelled flights, they always say that the next flight out is fully booked. in truth, they are not.

Sou-jiro

February 20th, 2008, 11:21 AM

i was really intrigued by videos of take offs that includes pilot-ATC communications. i thought this was a tapped communication. turns out this is not, according to your experience. it was a Qantas take off, but i've seen other videos, probably taken from other airports. this would really be awesome if other airports also have this. i would pay a thousand bucks (pesos) for a 3-hour tour.

i had a PR B747-400 experience last week and I'd say it was indeed a great experience. the weather was not very friendly but the flight went well overall. and of course, the smooth touch down to cap it off. but the take off is still my fave part of the flight whatever the plane is. NAIA 2's airbridge were all occupied so we have to be shuttled to the airport from the tarmac. so i got dozens of photos of the jumbo jet + an international PR A340 flight. Hehe...And I joined the last shuttle which carried the FAs, pilots, and one actress - think it was Elizabeth Oropesa :D to the arrival area.

Glad u enjoyed the video...i did go on a same tour & since i've gone on it (twice) i just got onto spotting or photography..there is an observation deck here in Sydney & I have a collection of PAL videos landing,s take offs taxing...lining up which is my fave part when i saw all these jumbo's lining waiting for towers instruction...its so cool when all 3 runways are active...
im kinda regular there now so im pretty updated on what happen there

viva macau has just started flying in Sydney so i went to see it on the weekend..763er...simple but nice colours...but we lost Gulf Air its just cant complete (i guess) with Emirates 4 times daily & now Etihad.

The good thing about going on the tour now is that Singapore Airlines uses the A380 here daily in the mornings so you'll be able to see it.

On My second tour..the bus actually parked right next to a PAL A330s engine.
Its not the biggest engine but once your next to it you just realise just how big it is...its made the Bus look like a shrimp lol :D

i've got a collection of videos including one i got on footage of a blunder by the Royal Brunei ground crew two weeks ago...or the 767-300er
Ow and yes you're right at present PAL has 5 x 747-400s..thanks for posting you're pics..great shots...surprisingly when we were pretty much next to the runway most take offs are by 777s as well but for huge engines they seem to be more quiet than small jet aircraft..dunno maybe its me....but they're not as loud as the other for such huge engines...but when stills get me excited though:lol:

i also love whenthere is strong rain shower & strong winds....i know Pilots might hate it but for a spotter it offers excellent viewing

Sou-jiro

February 20th, 2008, 11:39 AM

rustyboi

February 20th, 2008, 01:30 PM

Cebu Pacific corners biggest slice of market in 2007
By Enrico dela Cruz
Thomson Financial
First Posted 17:30:00 02/20/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Budget carrier Cebu Pacific carried more domestic passengers in 2007, overtaking rival Philippine Airlines (PAL), according to government figures released on Wednesday.

Operated by Cebu Air Inc., a unit of conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc., Cebu Pacific carried 4.46 million passengers, or 43 percent of the total of 10.39 million passengers in 2007, data from the Civil Aeronautics Board shows.

PAL, owned 84.7 percent by PAL Holdings Inc., had 4.03 million domestic passengers last year.

Air Philippines, the low-cost affiliate of PAL, carried 1.17 million passengers. Asian Spirit reported 484,482 passengers while Seair had 245,020 passengers.

Domestic passenger traffic in the past year grew 22.7 percent from 8.47 million in 2006.

In 2006, PAL led the industry with 3.81 million passengers against Cebu Pacific's 3.03 million passengers.

Cebu Pacific's load factor improved to 83 percent from 76 percent in 2006. PAL had load factor of 79 percent, up from 75 percent in 2006.

The overall domestic load factor improved to 78 percent last year from 73 percent in 2006.

The Philippines' two major carriers are controlled by the two of the wealthiest men in the country -- John Gokongwei of JG Summit and Lucio Tan of PAL Holdings.

Last month, Cebu Air chief executive Lance Gokongwei said Cebu Pacific's expanded fleet and a growing travel market will boost its passenger traffic numbers to seven million this year, nearly 28 percent more than the 5.5 million passengers recorded last year.

Cebu Air has postponed indefinitely its P15-billion initial public offering, which was supposed to be held last month, amid the recent turmoil in stock markets. Proceeds were to be used to fund its re-fleeting program, replenish working capital and for other general corporate purposes.

Ph Man

February 20th, 2008, 02:20 PM

hey yes, i've seen your >5 min video! very nice! hope you can give us a full 1-hour video next time. how's that possible though? i've seen melbourne airport videos at youtube but mostly from the outside of the fence. i'd love it if you have the ATC-pilot conversation on the background. esp during take-offs until the babye's. only that i dunno who says babye - is it the pilot or the air traffic controller. thanks for liking my photo. anyone who can suggest a good hotel to stay with in nearby country airports - MY, SG, HK where we can do some plane spotting? Japan would be all right, plus Northwest tickets are affordable, but i'd need a VISA to go there and plane-spotting as my primary intent will sound odd to the consulate. :)

Ph Man

February 20th, 2008, 04:13 PM

sana man lang magkaroon na ng B747s at 777s or A340, 330 ang 5J.

kiretoce

February 20th, 2008, 04:33 PM

Lufthansa Technik expanding its footprint as an Asian MRO (http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/lufthansa-technik-expanding-its-footprint-as-an-asian-mro/?no_cache=1&cHash=629e240af0)

Lufthansa Technik’s Asia Pacific joint ventures are expanding in line with the region’s air transport growth. Ameco Beijing (Stand No. D78) is due to inaugurate the biggest maintenance hangar in Asia next month, Lufthansa Technik Philippines (Stand No. H65) has opened a second widebody hangar in Manila and Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen has added new capabilities.

Ameco, the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) joint venture between Air China and Lufthansa, opened in 1989 and is now the largest MRO provider in China. The partnership was renewed for 25 years in 2004 and the resulting investment program includes additional hangars, material repositories, component workshops and extended maintenance and engine repair services.

The hangar scheduled for opening next month will accommodate four Airbus A380s, and another new hangar should be ready for Boeing 747 and 767 work by the end of this year. The Ameco Aviation College is also expanding: a new 75,000-sq-ft building under construction will allow the college to provide training for 500 skilled aviation workers and type training courses for 1,200 technicians.

The Philippine operation’s second hangar will help the firm meet growing international demand for heavy checks on the Airbus A330 and A340. As well as providing full technical support for the growing fleet of Philippine Airlines, the MRO has done heavy checks for another 10 international airlines.

Founded in 2000 and 49 percent owned by Philippine MacroAsia, the Philippine facility opened its first production line for the long-range Airbuses in 2002 and added a second two years later. The new 91,000-sq-ft hangar will add a third.

The Shenzen facility has added the repair of hydraulic and pneumatic components to its existing services for CFM56-3 and -5C, CF6-80C2, PW4000 and V2500 thrust reversers and V2500 and CFM56-3 engine intakes. It also repairs radomes, flight controls and other structural components, and last year became part of the Airbus spares repair station network. Another new service is a component pool that is used by Shenzhen Airlines, Jade Cargo, East Star Airlines and Donghai Airlines.

Opened six years ago and now employing more than 150 people at Shenzhen Baoan, China’s fourth largest airport, the company is owned in partnership with Shenzhen Investment Holding (five percent) and Beijing Kailan Aviation Technology (10 percent). Its customer list includes airlines from Japan, Thailand, India and the Philippines, as well as China.

kiretoce

February 20th, 2008, 04:39 PM

Cebu Pacific gets new short-haul plane (http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20080220-120019/Cebu-Pacific-gets-new-short-haul-plane)

MANILA, Philippines -- Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air on Tuesday received the first of a $330-million order of 18 ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft, which the airline intends to use for short-haul flights to the country’s prime vacation spots.

Already painted in Cebu Pacific’s green-and-yellow colors, the ATR arrived at 2 p.m. on Tuesday from Toulouse, France, the initial delivery in the airline’s ongoing fleet expansion.

The ATR deliveries to Cebu Pacific will continue by batches until 2009.

“We continue to have the newest and youngest fleet in the Philippines with the delivery of our first ATR aircraft. We expect to take delivery of another five ATRs from March to December this year,” Cebu Pacific spokesperson Candice Iyog said in a statement.

“Our fleet expansion with the ATR aircraft is a critical step to achieving our goal of bringing air travel closer to more Filipinos,” she said.

The 72-seater aircraft will be used for flights to Caticlan, the gateway to the Boracay resort island. The flight to Boracay via ATR is estimated to take 50 minutes.

The acquisition of the ATR fleet is also expected to enable Cebu Pacific to operate daily hour-long flights to Laoag in the north, where Cebu Pacific currently flies three times a week.

Both services will be launched on February 29.

“We are honored with this first introduction in such an important and strategic market,” said ATR CEO Stéphane Mayer in a statement.

“ATR is consolidating its strong leadership position in Asia, which represents more than 60 percent of our new orders since the recovery of the turboprop market in 2005. With their ability to land on short runways, their reliability and their ease of maintenance, the ATR aircraft will bring an optimal service to Cebu Pacific,” he said.

Cebu Pacific is also expecting delivery of four brand-new Airbus A320 planes this year, bring to 19 the fleet of jets that it uses for domestic and Asian regional services. The airline flies to 21 domestic destinations and 12 Asian cities.

rustyboi

February 20th, 2008, 04:40 PM

wala pako experience sa cebupacific but i can say in terms of customer service PAL is not much better....if not worse though i would still always prefer them over cebupacific

its nice to see PAL doing better...but apart from improvements they're implementing now..
if i was in charge of PAL i would definite;y look at improving the customer service but this is from my own personal experince & also some rude immigration officials at terminal 2....sa T1 wala pa naman ako na encounter..i remember this rude middle age immigration office just plain rude to passenger on the evening Sydney flight as well as the Los Angeles (or maybe San Francisco flight) which were boarding at the same time...some manner..

in was so angry gusto ko sabunutan kaso tumahimik na lang ako kung wala ako manners siguro binato ko ng sapatos yun

may kanya-kanyang experience naman tayo whether it's good or bad regardless kung anong airline. PAL or Cebu Pacific, pare-pareho lang naman yan. like i mentioned earlier, CebuPac lost my luggage and since then, I'm avoiding the old (sh*tty!) Manila airport na (which doesn't even have a freakin' surveillance cam!), so PAL na ko always. in 2007, i had more than 10 MNL-CEB flights mostly Cebu Pacific. discounting the latest Cebu Pacific incident (which i was told by the airport officials and the airline director, mine was their first and only incident on that year), i have nothing but good words about Cebu Pac's service and yeah all their planes are brand new, i agree, they even smell new. when it comes to flight schedule, it's either on-time or several minutes ahead of scheduled arrival. sa PAL naman, mas madalas delayed kaysa on-time. so my overall flight experience, i'd still go for Cebu Pacific.

http://www.cebupacificair.com/aboutus/images/lowfares_greatvaluePoster.jpg

^^newspapers, lounges, paper tickets, mabuhay miles, free meals (biskwit lang naman to tsaka orange nutrilicious haha) are the things you enjoy (and you actually pay for it) in Philippine Airlines. but in my case, I really don't need those in a one-hour flight. ;) so again, kanya-kanyang preference lang naman. sabi nga ng PAL, it's about experience... i just want to avoid that old sh*tty Manila domestic airport. :cool: besides, I can get a PAL airfare almost the same rate as Cebu Pac's. :D

Sou-jiro

February 21st, 2008, 03:13 AM

Ph Man

February 21st, 2008, 04:24 AM

really? pretty much like St Maartin (sp?) airport? we will forward to that Jiro. if we got the chance to visit Sydney or Melbourne, we'd love to be toured around the airport. and we'll take tons of photos and videos! that will be one ideal vacation for me! :okay: anyone who wanna join in? hehe....

Ph Man

February 21st, 2008, 04:59 AM

"Sir back and relax on wider, more comfortable seats."

Has the legroom improved though? They have point there. What's the point of having free newspapers, kung mabilis lang naman ang flight? Pero kung minsan, magiisip ka, kung pareho na yung fare, why go for 5J kung sa Domestic terminal ka naman dadaan. Eh di PAL na lang para sa relatively new airport ka. Plus larger aircraft siyempre.

Any news kung me business class na ang mga bagong A319 at A320 ng 5J?

kiretoce

February 21st, 2008, 05:55 AM

^^ I think that defeats the purpose of being an LCC. If 5J is planning to offer bi-class cabins on their aircrafts, it's positioning itself to be a full-service airline.

mwg12a

February 21st, 2008, 07:07 AM

^^^ Maybe they are trying to copy the Virgin Atlantic Airlines style of service with alittle bit a twist and still maintain their LCC status...

mambo

February 21st, 2008, 08:15 AM

;18510411']from pagadian thread

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2329/2154355506_743fac4219.jpg?v=0

is that a ys-11?

GearX

February 21st, 2008, 09:18 AM

Cebu Pacific overtakes PAL in local air passenger market (http://www.tribune.net.ph/business/20080221bus5.html)
02/21/2008

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific overtook national flag carrier Philippine Airlines in the local passenger market last year as domestic tourism boomed, according to government data released yesterday

Cebu Pacific carried 4.46 million passengers, or 43 percent of the 10.39 million passengers who flew on domestic routes in 2007, said the Civil Aeronautics Board.

The national carrier, known by its initials PAL, had 4.03 million domestic passengers.

Air Philippines, PAL’s low-cost affiliate, carried 1.17 million passengers while Asian Spirit reported 484,482 passengers and Seair had 245,020 passengers.

Domestic passenger traffic in the past year grew 22.7 percent from 8.47 million in 2006, the board added.

In 2006 PAL led the industry with 3.81 million domestic passengers against Cebu Pacific’s 3.03 million passengers.

Cebu Pacific’s load factor improved to 83 percent from 76 percent in 2006. PAL had a load factor of 79 percent, up from 75 percent in 2006.

The overall domestic load factor improved to 78 percent last year from 73 percent in 2006.

Last month, Cebu Air chief executive Lance Gokongwei said Cebu Pacific’s expanded fleet and a growing travel market will boost its passenger traffic numbers to seven million this year, nearly 28 percent more than the 5.5 million passengers recorded last year.

Meanwhile Cebu Pacific will start a direct service flights from Manila to Kaohsiung, Taiwan on June 7, 2008 with a special introductory fare offer of P999 only. The Kaohsiung seat sale will run from Feb. 20 to 25, 2008.

The Manila- Kaohsiung service will use CEB’s brand new 179-seater A320 aircraft and is scheduled to operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The flight departs from Manila at 2:50 p.m., and arrives in Kaohsiung International Airport at 4:35 p.m. The return flight leaves Kaohsiung at 5:20 p.m. and arrives in Manila at 7:05 p.m.

The direct Manila to Kaohsiung is currently being introduced with a promotional fare offering of P999 one-way, a price reduction of almost 73 percent from the current fares for this route. This may be availed for travel from June 7 to Aug. 31, 2008. Fare is exclusive of surcharges and government tax.

CEB is the only Philippine carrier operating this route. Kaohsiung is the second city CEB will operate to in Taiwan. CEB currently operates a daily service to Taipei from Manila and a thrice weekly service from Cebu to Taipei.

This new destination will stimulate business activities for both the Philippines and Taiwan. Our Manila-Kaohsiung service will also provide better access to the industrial and manufacturing development zones of both countries,” Lance Gokongwei, CEB President and CEO said.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said, on the hand, “we are glad that Cebu Pacific is opening direct flights from Manila to Kaohsiung in Southern Taiwan. This new development also supports our marketing strategy for 2008 as we expand our campaign in other key cities in Taiwan tapping new and first time travelers to the Philippines. Having the direct flights to Manila from Kaohsiung will provide easy access and convenience for our Taiwanese tourists.”

icarusrising

February 21st, 2008, 09:41 AM

Hong Kong Express to
launch HK-Clark-HK flights

By Jacob Cunanan
Correspondent
The BUsiness Mirror

CLARK FREE PORT—In a bid to tap thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and get a slice of the some 40 million Chinese tourists, Hong Kong Express will start its thrice-a-week flight on March 5 to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here.

Hong Kong Express will conduct its open chartered flights to the DMIA for the next three months in a bid to attract Chinese tourists, as well as investments to Clark.

The flights, which will arrive every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, will use Boeing 737-800 that has a capacity of 164 passengers, for their Clark-Hong Kong route.

The Hong Kong Express flights leave the former British colony at 11:15 a.m., arrive at Clark at 1:15 p.m. and leave for Hong Kong at 1:45 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and arrive in Clark from Hong Kong at 6:40 p.m. and leave Clark at 7:25 p.m. every Friday.

At the formal launching held at the Shanghai Palace Restaurant in Angeles City Tuesday, Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) executive vice president Alexander Cauguiran said “this [development] demonstrates the viability of the DMIA as our country’s premier international gateway and a hub of operations of regional carriers.”

“The entry of Hong Kong Express at Clark validates the wisdom and vision behind such long-term plan for the future of our country’s aviation,” Cauguiran said.

Cauguiran, who was guest of honor and speaker, also informed travel agents in Central Luzon that “President Arroyo has approved in principle the issuance of an executive order that will put in effect more liberalized air policies for the DMIA which, we are optimistic, will further hasten the smooth and stable entry of more commercial carriers.”

He also lauded Hong Kong Express and Maxon Asia Telecom Corp. officials and local travel agents for initiating the flights between Hong Kong and Clark.

“We admire Maxon Asia for its cou rage in taking significant business risks to provide our people, especially our OFWs who hail from Northern and Central Luzon, an alternative, more comfortable and more economical way to travel to and from Hong Kong,” he said.

“CIAC shall remain steadfast in its support and cooperation, in every means possible, to Maxon Asia to ensure the success of its venture at Clark,” he added.

Hong Kong Express is the fourth air carrier of Hong Kong. Established in 2005, it flies to at least 56 destinations that include China, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and the rest of Asia.

DMIA was recently declared the premier airport of the country by President Arroyo, paving the way for it becoming an international gateway in the Asia-Pacific region to show travelers tourist destinations as well as investment opportunities in Clark.

The President made it clear that she wants the DMIA as the premier airport by 2010 and gave a timeframe of six months to one year to speed up the ongoing developments at the Clark aviation complex managed by the state-owned CIAC.

At present, the DMIA passenger terminal is being expanded in a bid to modernize facilities due to the growing demand in the airline industry. The new passenger terminal will increase its capacity to 1 million to 2 million passengers annually and it is expected to be finished by March. The existing terminal can accommodate 500,000 passengers per year.

Construction of the Terminal 2 Project, meanwhile, will start middle of this year to further increase capacity to 7 million to 8 million passengers annually. The project is expected to be completed by 2009.

At the same time, an in-flight catering service facility to be operated by Gate-Gourmet is currently being constructed at the DMIA complex which will initially produce 4,000 meals a day once fully operational.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/02212008/economy07.html

icarusrising

February 21st, 2008, 09:45 AM

2 Davao, Palawan air routes up
for approval in BIMP-Eaga meeting

By Manuel T. Cayon
Reporter
The Business Mirror

DAVAO CITY—The tourism and air transport sectors of the East Asean Growth Area (Eaga) will meet here to smoothen out tourism promotion and tour packages and increase air travel within the four member-countries.

In the meeting, two Mindanao and one Palawan destinations were expected to be approved for additional air routes within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines (BIMP-Eaga) to increase movement of people and travelers within the subregional grouping.

The meeting will take place at the Marco Polo Hotel here over the weekend, according to the Minda-nao Economic Development Council (Medco), the Philippine secretariat in the BIMP-Eaga.

Art Boncato, former president of the Davao Tourism Association, said the meeting would be crucial in forging a unified vision at how they would help the subregion expand and promote it as a single tourism destination.

The Medco said it would expect 30 major officials and prime moves in tourism and air transport in the four countries, and would be composed of airline executives, general sales and travel agents, tour operators and marketing teams, as well as donor organizations.

Mary Ann Montemayor, chairman of the BIMP-Eaga Tourism Council, said the meeting will attempt to find unique tour packages and destinations from what was actually almost common to all the member-countries of the BIMP-Eaga.

“Every nation has beaches and nature parks, but we would look at complementing destinations to avoid competition. We would market the subregion as a single destination but with varied offerings for varied interests of tourists and travelers,” Montemayor told an earlier news briefing here.

She said that Davao City, for instance, may offer its night life that is more vibrant than the other cities in the BIMP. The city has been the favorite venue of many BIMP-Eaga meetings in the past due to its night life. But Montemayor said, “We would package the city as family destination of healthy night life,” citing multi- entertainment destinations like the Matina Town Square and the Venue, hangouts even of families.

The Medco said that the two-day “convergence meeting” aims to come up with a list “of joint programs and projects that will make Eagaroutes more viable and come up with an appropriate tourism brand for BIMP-Eaga as basis for marketing and promotions.”

The airline sector would meet on Friday ahead of the convergence meeting “to discuss updates and action status on the results of the 1st BIMP-Eaga Airlines Forum in June last year,” which approved fifth freedom rights to airline companies. The traffic rights grant airlines to deliver passengers to another country and pick up passengers there for another flight to another country.

A memorandum of understanding on the expansion of air linkages was signed in January last year among the four countries.

BIMP officials said they believed that the landmark agreement made by the transport cluster was “expected to pave the way for the accelerated implementation of the Asean ‘open- skies’ policy.

The meeting would also hope to get the commitment of the airline companies “to serve Eaga routes, including other business opportunities in BIMP-Eaga’s aviation market.”

The BIMP-Eaga has five existing air routes: the Kota Kinabalu-Bandar Seri Begawan, served by Royal Brunei Airlines and Malaysian Airlines; Bandar Seri Begawan-Kuching, served by Royal Brunei Airlines; Zamboanga-Sandakan served by Asian Spirit; Pontianak-Kuching, served by Batavia Air; and Manado-Davao City, served by Merparti Airlines.

In convergence meeting here over the weekend, the following proposed air routes will be discussed: Kuching- Bandar Seri Begawan-Kota Kinabalu-BSB, to be served by Air Asia; Pontianak-Kuching-Bandar Seri Begawan, to be served by Batavia Air; Davao City-Bandar Seri Begawan, to be served by Pearl Pacific Airways; Puerto Princessa-Kota Kinabalu, to be served by SeaAir; and the Davao-Kota Kinabalu, to be served by Cebu Pacific Air.

Eaga is the largest subregional cooperation in Asia whose natural environment is ideal for tourism development. The subregional grouping has about 1.5 million square kilometers of land and is home to the world’s largest and oldest rain forests (Borneo and Papua), two of the world’s richest marine biodiversity sites which are Sulu and Sulawesi seas, and a string of world heritage sites such as Mount Kinabalu and Tubataha Reefs.

With its rich natural endowments, Eaga offers diverse land and water-based tourist attractions. The tourism sector wishes BIMP-Eaga to be an exotic, premier, single culture, adventure and nature tourism destination in Southeast Asia, according to Medco.

It said, however, Eaga’s tourism potentials remained untapped due to lack of air connectivity, promotion and marketing of destinations.

The meeting here was also the response of the clusters “to the directive during the 4th BIMP-Eaga Leaders’ Summit in Singapore last year to undertake collaborative actions that would ensure sustainability of the existing air routes and establish more new subregional air connections this year.”

The Medco said that the meeting is jointly organized by the German Technical Cooperation, Asian Development Bank, BIMP-Eaga Transport, Infrastructure and ICT Development Cluster, BIMP-Eaga Joint Tourism Development Cluster, Department of Transportation and Communications BIMP-Eaga Business Council, BIMP-EagaTourism Council and the MEDCo Secretariat.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/02212008/economy06.html

xzibit31

February 21st, 2008, 10:21 AM

for me it will always be PAL....

reason?

its the terminal....

i woudn't want to be cooped up in a small, poorly lit, untidy terminal when the flight is delayed. 5j nowadays is always delayed....

but if the flight gets delayed and the terminal is terminal 2, i would not mind at all....

well this is just me...

jyvo_rez

February 21st, 2008, 11:32 AM

Tanong ko lang, ba't exclusive lang sa PAL ang T2?

P A L

February 21st, 2008, 11:56 AM

^Ganyan talaga kapag Flag Carrier at Hindi pipitsugin gaya nang iba dyan :)

rustyboi

February 21st, 2008, 12:07 PM

^^does Cebu Pacific have a choice? :dunno:

jogavilz

February 21st, 2008, 12:28 PM

The Beauty of the Philippines...........Shining Through........On the Wings of Change!!!!
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa122/wabbygabby/IMG_1009.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa122/wabbygabby/IMG_1010.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa122/wabbygabby/IMG_1011.jpg

jogavilz

February 21st, 2008, 12:29 PM

jogavilz

February 21st, 2008, 12:29 PM

Cebu Pacific
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa122/wabbygabby/IMG_0989.jpg

jogavilz

February 21st, 2008, 12:30 PM

Cebu Pacific
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa122/wabbygabby/IMG_0989.jpg

jbkayaker12

February 21st, 2008, 01:02 PM

^^Bravo Cebu Pacific!! Once again I will be flying Cebu Pacific, this time to Caticlan for my beach vacation in Boracay!!:)

JB Photography (http://www.webshots.com/user/jbkayaker)

a s i a n a

February 21st, 2008, 01:48 PM

V64IMaou8lU
I hope PAL can make something like this. This commercial is simply powerful! It can make you cry, swear!:D

benchjade

February 21st, 2008, 02:05 PM

Cebu Pacific
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa122/wabbygabby/IMG_0989.jpg

alisin na lang ang .com, mas maganda.

habagatcentral1

February 21st, 2008, 03:21 PM

^^ that .com thingy is a trend to LCCs.

terrapinoy

February 22nd, 2008, 06:38 PM

Oh, let me add...my Bohol photo. flanking me are mahogany trees of Bohol's manmade forest with canopy that almost prevents all sunlight from passing through.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc38b3127cceb5013b72e18f00000025100AZN2bJkzZOGPg

Uy.. Nice aviation photos @Francis. Glad you enjoyed Bohol. So where are the rest of the Bohol scenery shots?

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2008, 06:42 PM

^^ I just noticed that that shot of Francis can be posted in the "Parang hindi sa Pinas" thread. I looks like it was taken somewhere on the Appalachian Trail that stretches along the eastern seaboard of the US. :lol:

terrapinoy

February 22nd, 2008, 06:54 PM

Yeah, but you won't hear banjo music playing and someone yelling soooweee! :lol:

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2008, 06:56 PM

^^ :lol: You're right about that!

Ph Man

February 23rd, 2008, 09:03 PM

hehe...Terrapin, I remember you also went to Bohol, right? the manmade forest is...(i agree with Kimbro) something I haven't seen anywhere in Pinas. In fact, the whole thing looks like a painting. Very picturesque. I think you will spend at least 30 minutes if you want to traverse the forest from end to end by foot. This is something that I would love to see again and again. My photos are not uploaded yet. There's quite a ton of them - over 400 frames. Lols...

malvinjordan

February 24th, 2008, 05:34 AM

Air travel within the Philippines is the third fastest growing market in the world, after India and Mexico, with Cebu Pacific setting the pace in the domestic market with a growth rate of 47% in terms of passengers carried in 2007.

India’s domestic market grew by 33%, followed by Mexico at 27%, Philippines at 23%, and China at 16%.

The Philippines domestic air travel market grew with almost 10.4 million travelers in 2007 versus almost 8.5million passengers in 2006.

Candice Iyog, CEB spokesperson, said domestic travel started booming when CEB introduced year-round low fares in 2005, forcing other local airlines to follow suit to be able to compete.

“Our rapid domestic network expansion, aggressive pricing, year-round low fares, and new and growing fleet stimulated the market and introduced air travel to many first-time flyers,” she said.

Iyog said CEB expects the growth trend to continue this year and beyond as the airline takes delivery of more new aircraft, which will be used to serve new domestic and international destinations.

“The arrival of brand new Airbus and ATR aircraft will open up the Philippines and hopefully generate economic growth largely through tourism and trade in the process,” she said.

Now in its 12th year, CEB has the youngest fleet in the Philippines. It flies to 12 and soon to be 15 international destinations with the addition of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Kaohsiung in the coming months. CEB also flies to 21 domestic destinations with Boracay (Caticlan) starting February 29, 2008.

Monsi

February 24th, 2008, 09:07 AM

yHGzN_t7n_s
...when Mayon hides from Airbus A319s.

red_jasper

February 24th, 2008, 06:05 PM

German firm keen on prospects
of airport in Clark (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/feb/25/yehey/top_stories/20080225top4.html)

By Iskho F. Lopez, Sub-Editor

Now a special economic zone, the former Clark Air Base, reputed to be the most urbanized military facility during its time and the largest American base overseas, has since moved on from the nightmare of Mount Pinatubo’s eruption in June 1991.

It has been a year since the Clark International Airport Corp. started serious talks with Hochtief AirPort (HTA), a leading player in airport privatization and development based in Essen, Germany, through its representative, the German Philippine Consultancy Group.

Hochtief AirPort is one of the leading private airport investors in the world, providers of construction-related services and is represented in all the world’s major markets. In the United States, Hochtief leads as a general builder through its subsidiary, Turner. Its service offerings in development, construction, services, concessions and operations cover the entire airport value chain of real estate, facilities, and infrastructure projects.

Upon Hochtief AirPort’s assessment, the Clark airport development will cost about $14 billion.

A meeting between Johan Merten of Hochtief AirPort and officials of Clark airport in February 2007 led to an arrangement with the German airport facilities developer to proceed with a pre-feasibility study.

In May 2007, Merten completed his report to Hochtief AirPort, which included an assessment of Clark International Airport Corp. and recommendations for the development of Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, a priority project of President Gloria Arroyo. This airport was named after her late father and former President Diosdado Macapagal.

Merten defined the current status of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as having “limited capacity, congested, and cannot be expanded” considering the growing air traffic worldwide, with an annual passenger growth average of at least 4 percent projected until 2025.

Development plans for Macapagal airport is aimed at turning the airport facility into the premier gateway to the Philippines, eventually closing NAIA soon as it has been fully expanded.

Citing an earlier study done by Pacific Consultants International, Merten underscored the information that NAIA cannot accommodate a second runway and that its runway is expected to reach its maximum capacity by 2012, and will not be able to accommodate MTOW B747 and the Airbus A380. Also the airport currently handles more than 15 million passengers and 530,000 tons of cargo.

The first phase of development in the current master plan includes a new passenger terminal building and a logistics center targeted for completion between 2010 and 2012.

Dr. Rudolf Burkhalter, master planning director of Hochtief AirPort, noted that “most airport growth will occur in Asia,” which may explain the company’s keen interest in the prospects of Macapagal in Clark.

Also, he cited the Airbus A380 super-jumbo jet that has now become a major factor in the development of airport facilities. “All the big hubs are reviewing their facilities to accommodate the A380,” said Burkhalter. He added that the task is daunting and cited London’s Heathrow Airport as estimated to need more than $650 million of remodeling for the Airbus A380 in the next decade.

The Clark airport, to its advantage, meets with the requirements of an Airbus, like having a six-meter thick concrete runway, which NAIA does not have. Following the test flights conducted by Airbus in October 2007, the limitations of NAIA were confirmed, which Hochtief AirPort had earlier noted.

kiretoce

February 25th, 2008, 12:29 AM

^^ Another German deal? Didn't they learn anything from NAIA?

diz

February 25th, 2008, 01:02 AM

^^ Be glad that they didn't. Hopefully, the same thing doesn't happen to clark.

swahi

February 25th, 2008, 04:34 AM

just wondering what happen to theyre DC9-30s....are they grounded now or do they still fly for anyone...did they actually own them or were they lease

i think they'de be handy for domestic cargo purposes...727-200adv do it & they're common in Phils

I saw at least two of ceb pac's old planes parked at the side of the Manila domestic terminal.

I noticed that Ceb Pac's planes have much shorter turnaround time. Just arrived from Legaspi, and PAL's plane stayed on the ground for an hour, arriving first, but leaving last, while Ceb Pac arrived later than PAL, but within 30 minutes, took off. Both planes took off on time or earlier than scheduled.

Why does it take PAL 1 hour to turnaround a plane, while Ceb Pac takes 30 minutes in the province? I know ceb pac takes up to an hour in Manila and I think in Cebu airport- refuelling time maybe, same with PAL, but there is no refueling to be done in the provincial airports.

Sou-jiro

February 25th, 2008, 06:28 AM

^^^ Cebupac is an LCC unlike PAL...LCCs always have a faster turn around time 30 is just about normal...

time = money for LCCs

Sou-jiro

February 25th, 2008, 06:31 AM

^^ as long as different parties /people are involved....i doubt that though..lol

Wind Shear

February 25th, 2008, 06:49 AM

Just a question, what's (Saturday, February 23, 2007) Cebu Pacific's prop aircraft doing in RPVM (Mactan Cebu International Airport)?

ryanr

February 25th, 2008, 07:12 AM

^^ Another German deal? Didn't they learn anything from NAIA?

I know right...I would have thought the Germans had enough of our airports. Nice to see that they are still keen on investing in Philippine airports, despite Fraport's experience.

tigidig14

February 25th, 2008, 08:53 AM

thats what happen when you have a business, you go for a risk

icarusrising

February 25th, 2008, 09:52 AM

The Economy
RP pressed on June e-ticketing deadline

The Business World

INDUSTRY GROUP International Air Transport Association (IATA) last Friday gave the aviation sector 100 days to completely migrate to electronic ticketing (e-ticketing).

E-ticketing integrates airlines’ passenger service systems to provide real-time processing of transactions, besides helping to prevent problems like lost baggages.

"In 100 days, the paper ticket gets put in a museum. On June 1, 2008 we will achieve 100% electronic ticketing," IATA Director General and Chief Executive Officer Giovanni Bisignani said in a statement.

Mr. Bisignani said e-ticketing is the flagship project of IATA’s program, Simplifying the Business. The head of the 240-member group said it will save the industry $3 billion annually because the processing of e-tickets costs just $1, compared with $10 for paper tickets.

In the country, Philippine Airlines (PAL), which is the only local airline that is a member of IATA, is already fully compliant. "Apart from the convenience of using it, e-tickets are expected to reduce air fares; by how, much we cannot say," said PAL Senior Assistant Vice-President for e-Business Roberto Diaz de Rivera said in an interview.

Cebu Pacific Vice-President for Marketing and Product Candice Iyog said in a mobile "text" message that the budget carrier will be able to meet the deadline. "Cebu Pacific is currently preparing to change its host reservations system. And we are confident that we will meet IATA’s deadline," she said.

However, the Philippines’ entire aviation sector will be hard-pressed to fully comply with this requirement this year, since "our airports’ decrepit technology gets in the way," Air Transportation Office Executive Director Daniel A. Dimagiba said in a phone interview. "We cannot do that [comply] this year. We have connectivity issues in network communication in our secondary airports, and we do not have the budget for that [upgrades] this year," he stressed.

Avelino L. Zapanta, Southeast Asian Airlines president and chief executive officer, shared Mr. Dimagiba’s caution saying: "There are a lot of destinations we are flying to that are underdeveloped. Some areas do not even have electricity. It is impossible to achieve 100% compliance."

PAL’s Mr. Diaz said carriers that opt to use paper tickets beyond the deadline could have a hard time transacting with other airlines because e-ticketing will be an industry-wide practice. — Marian Grace S. Ramos

--------------------

Story Location: http://www.bworld.com.ph/BW022508/content.php?id=051

icarusrising

February 25th, 2008, 09:53 AM

EAGA execs tackle five new air routes

The Business World

DAVAO CITY — At least 30 air transport executives and representatives of tour operators and donor organizations gathered here over the weekend to discuss the opening of five additional air routes within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The five proposed routes are:

Kuching (in Sarawak, Malaysia)-Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei)-Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia)-Bandar Seri Begawan to be served by Air Asia;
Pontianak (Indonesia)-Kuching-Bandar Seri Begawan by Batavia Air;
Davao City-Bandar Seri Begawan by Pearl Pacific Airways;
Puerto Princesa-Kota Ki-nabalu by Southeast Asian Airlines (SeaAir); and
Davao-Kota Kinabalu by Cebu Pacific Air.
BIMP-EAGA now has five existing routes, namely:
Kota Kinabalu-Bandar Seri Begawan, served by Royal Brunei Airlines and Malaysian Airlines;
Bandar Seri Begawan-Kuching served by the Royal Brunei Airlines;
Zamboanga-Sandakan served by Asian Spirit;
Pontianak-Kuching served by Batavia Air; and
Manado-Davao City by Merpati Airlines.
Ang Kian Guan, BIMP-EAGA chairman for transport, infrastructure and information technology, said the flights could be at least two times a week, about the same frequency that Merpati Airlines serves Davao and Manado.

"It is also possible that new routes in Zamboanga and Sandakan will be opened," Mr. Ang said in a press conference during a break prior to the group’s workshop proper.

He said that airline executives expect an average of 60 to 70 passengers for each trip.

During the 4th BIMP-EAGA Transport, Infrastructure and ICT Development Cluster Meeting in Puerto Princesa last year, Mr. Ang announced the inclusion of six more airports in the subregion to the list of designated points to be granted fifth freedom traffic rights.

Such right allows an airline to bring cargo and passengers from one country to a third country. The memorandum of understanding on the expansion of air linkages signed in January 2007 also provides no limitation on frequency, capacity and aircraft type.

In the Philippines, the airports in Puerto Princesa, General Santos, Davao and Zamboanga were granted fifth freedom traffic rights.

Commenting on the meeting of representatives of both sectors, Mary Ann Montemayor, chairman of the BIMP-EAGA Tourism Council, said: "We regard it as a turning point where both sectors from hereon can continue to work towards achieving[the] goals of BIMP-EAGA."

With about 1.5 million square kilometers of land, BIMP-EAGA is the largest subregional cooperation in Asia whose natural environment is ideal for tourism development, a briefing paper of the Mindanao Economic Development Council read. — J. B. Escovilla

--------------------

Story Location: http://www.bworldonline.com/BW022508/content.php?id=052

kiretoce

February 25th, 2008, 06:30 PM

Virgin Atlantic Airways exhibits coconut-powered flying jumbo (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/25/virgin_747_coconut_yes_algae_no/)

Bearded biz kingpin Richard Branson oversaw a successful trial of a Virgin 747 partially powered by biofuel blends yesterday, but was forced to admit that the fuel used on this occasion probably couldn't offer a clean green future for airlines.

As had been anticipated, the joint trial by Boeing and Virgin on Sunday saw a jumbo jet take to the sky partially running on so-called "first generation" biofuel, in this case derived from coconuts grown in the Philippines and babassu palm oil. Babassu palms grow wild in Brazil, so this type of palm oil is seen as eco-friendlier than most.

"Today marks a biofuel breakthrough for the whole airline industry," Branson told reporters at Heathrow yesterday.

"Virgin Atlantic, and its partners, are proving that you can find an alternative to traditional jet fuel and fly a plane on new technology, such as sustainable biofuel."

Nonetheless, the ultimate source of the synthetic jet fuel used on Sunday was fertile land. Running any significant proportion of the world transport fleet on such fuel would require a massive expansion in cultivation, threatening the world's remaining rainforests and in all likelihood driving up food prices so as to starve the world's poor. The fuel crops could potentially act as a carbon sink while being grown, counterbalancing the emissions from their use, but even this benefit has lately had doubts cast on it - the more so as large amounts of energy are normally required to turn crops into useable juice.

Branson admitted that the fuel used in yesterday's trial would not go commercial, but said that he is fully committed to the idea of "second generation" biofuel for airlines.

"This pioneering flight will enable... fuels which will power our aircraft in the years ahead through sustainable next-generation oils, such as algae," he said.

Algae is probably the great white hope for the badly-tarnished biofuel idea. The plan would be to make biofuels from algae grown in water - ideally, saltwater. This would mean no requirement for fertile land, and thus no need to compete for existing farm capacity or create more by destroying forests. However, algae-based fuel is a technology which remains to be proven - and again, there are those who doubt its ability to draw carbon from the atmosphere. Many algae biochemistries would actually require fresh water, too, rather than salt - and fresh water is already increasingly seen as a precious resource. (Fresh water can actually be made easily out of abundant seawater, but this - again - requires large amounts of power.)

Yesterday's trial demonstrates that Virgin, Boeing, GE (makers of the Virgin jet's engines) and their tech partners are all quite serious about finding an alternative to fossil fuel. This seriousness is probably motivated by current oil prices at least as much as it is by climate concerns, but it does seem to be real. Another test with an Air New Zealand jumbo using Rolls Royce engines will take place later this year.

However, the same old dynamics of every green-technology issue are present. A shift away from the stored power of fossil fuel tends to mean a need for power somewhere else - in the biofuel plant, in the desalinators to produce fresh water for the algae ponds.

It would, theoretically, be really great if new saltwater algae tech could effectively turn vast tracts of sea into mighty solar collectors, storing power in handy jetfuel form even as they sucked carbon out of the atmosphere. But nobody's really even offering this sort of thing yet. And hundred-mile burgeoning slicks of genetically-modified green scum do seem, in some lights at least, a bit more like ecological disaster than ecological salvation.

le Reine

February 25th, 2008, 06:36 PM

^^naku, magkakaroon tayo ng bagong market! sana please Lord.

kiretoce

February 25th, 2008, 06:41 PM

^^ :yes: Yup, good news indeed!

Ph Man

February 25th, 2008, 10:16 PM

Was the test flight a commercial flight? Imagine your long-haul trip powered by algae or coconut oil. I will be extremely skeptic if I'm the one on-board this flight. they should have tested this on smaller aircrafts - like the B737s or A319s. pero all's well that ends well. kaya ok na din.

increased market of biofuel will again have global impacts - imagine this - clearing of Amazon forests in Brazil, with some Chinese millionnaires financing the business, shortage of fertilizer therein, importation of fertilizer from the Philippines, local fertilizer price surges up, forcing us to import from somewhere else....hmmm...this is something that happened after US's demand for gasohol (gasoline+corn-derived alcohol) increased tremendously that they were forced to import from Brazil.

xzibit31

February 26th, 2008, 05:14 AM

Just a question, what's (Saturday, February 23, 2007) Cebu Pacific's prop aircraft doing in RPVM (Mactan Cebu International Airport)?

i guess its a prooving flight for the cebu-caticlan run...

angelapleasant2008

February 26th, 2008, 10:31 AM

When A380 Goes to Philippine Airlines They will launch Flights From Manila to Washington-Dulles

habagatcentral1

February 26th, 2008, 02:36 PM

^^ She reminds me of someone from the past. :D

WawaY[625]

February 26th, 2008, 02:38 PM

caryloplyr is that you?!?! :lol:

kiretoce

February 26th, 2008, 04:53 PM

PAL adds flights to China (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2008/02/26/pal.adds.flights.to.china.(4.58.p.m.).html)

Philippine Airlines (PAL), the country's flag carrier said it has increased its flights to China to accommodate the rising number of passengers during the summer season.

A PAL official said it will have a twice a week flights to Chongqing beginning March 14 and similar frequency to Chengdu starting March 18.

Starting May 1, PAL will also have a five times weekly flights to Macau.

"This will boost the flag carrier's China service to 23 flights weekly to five destinations on the mainland -- Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Chongqing and Chengdu -- plus the autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macau," PAL said in a statement.

Aside from China and Macau, the company said it is adding three times a week flights to Jakarta on March 30.

PAL is also increasing its frequency to Singapore beginning March 16, from the 17 flights to 21 times weekly.

Also Taipei will get two additional flights starting April 1, one for the morning and one for the afternoon services. The additional frequency brings to a total of nine flights weekly to Taipei.

bustero

February 27th, 2008, 05:05 AM

more flights the better, hopefully 5J and SeaAir respective expansion can start servicing this market in a big way.

ON another note, some other sectors of Philippine Aviation is bright!

Vol. XXI, No. 148
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Corporate News
Aircraft maintenance firm hikes profit

PROFITS of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul company Lufthansa Technik Philippines, Inc. went up by 29% or $2.8 million last year on higher revenues from new clients.

The joint venture of Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp. and Germany’s Lufthansa Technik AG posted a net income $12.4 million in 2007 from $9.6 million in 2006.

Lufthansa Technik Philippines reported a 19% increase in revenues to $244 million from $205 million in 2006.

Senior Vice-President for Finance Edison Que attributed the improved financial results to new clients and the expansion of Philippine Airlines (PAL). "Our improved performance for the fiscal year that ended can be attributed to our new clients like Virgin Atlantic [Airways], Thomas Cook [Airlines] and Air Tahiti. Our revenues from aircraft overhaul and maintenance were also increased because of PAL’s refleeting," Mr. Que told BusinessWorld.

This year, the company is expecting to at least match its 2007 performance, he said. Lufthansa Technik Philippines does not expect any significant improvement in this year’s results as it reached maximum capacity last year.

Asked if there are plans for a new facility, Mr. Que said: "It is a possibility, but not in the near-term. Maybe in three to five years."

Jan Michael B. Acebo, research analyst at First Metro Securities and Brokerage Corp., expects Lufthansa Technik Philippines to expand earlier than the timeline provided by Mr. Que. "It’s an anti-growth move if they do not increase capacity," he said.

In a related development, publicly listed MacroAsia said that in a regular board meeting last Friday, Lufthansa Technik Philippines announced a $14.6-million cash dividend to shareholders. — Marian Grace S. Ramos

icarusrising

February 27th, 2008, 09:54 AM

New China destinations for PAL

The Business World

SEEKING to capitalize on the peak travel period this summer, Lucio Tan-led Philippine Airlines (PAL) will expand service to six major Asian destinations.

In a statements yesterday, PAL said it will begin regular flights to three points in China — Chongqing, Chengdi and Macau — boosting PAL’s China service to 23 flights weekly to five destinations to the mainland and to two offshore territories.

PAL will be flying twice a week to Chongqing starting March 14, with the same frequency to Chengdu starting March 18. On May 1, PAL will begin its five-times-weekly service to Macau.

PAL has been flying to Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, and Hong Kong.

PAL will also add a direct thrice-weekly flight to Jakarta on March 30 to complement the four-times-weekly service via Singapore, for an overall daily frequency to the Indonesian capital.

Its Singapore operations will also be increased to 21 times a week from 17 times a week, when the late-evening service goes daily starting March 16.

Meanwhile, PAL’s service to Taipei, Taiwan will be increased by two more frequencies, one each in the morning and afternoon, bringing total flights to Taipei to nine times weekly by April 1.

In a phone interview, PAL Corporate Communications Manager Rene C. Soliman said the additional flights should cover increased demand during the peak travel period.

"The demand for our service in these destinations increases during this period... Historically, we increase flight [frequencies] by 10% to 12%," Mr. Soliman told BusinessWorld.

Mr. Soliman said PAL, which saw profits decline to $11.5 million in April to December 2007 from $90.4 million in the same period in 2006, should start to recover this summer.

"It is a seasonal industry. One should not look at it in one quarter alone, but on a full-year basis. We experience our lowest revenues during the lean season or rainy days, and we are poised to get back on track this summer," he said.

Last year, PAL increased frequencies to Asian capitals Bangkok, Thailand and Seoul, South Korea as well as Vancouver in Canada.

PAL hiked Bangkok flights to 11 times weekly from four, while Seoul was upgraded to a daily flight. — Marian Grace S. Ramos

--------------------

Story Location: http://www.bworldonline.com/BW022708/content.php?id=044

papable

February 27th, 2008, 11:09 AM

Tanong ko lang, ba't exclusive lang sa PAL ang T2?

Kasunduan yata nina erap at lucio tan noon yan. so wala ng magagawa ang cebpac

Gargarensis

February 27th, 2008, 01:36 PM

^^ does that mean that even when lufthansa pulls out of naia and the philippines altogether, that lufthansa technik will still continue to operate here?

kiretoce

February 27th, 2008, 03:30 PM

^^ :yes: It's one of the main service stations in Asia.

jogavilz

February 27th, 2008, 05:09 PM

so ang air traffic control tower ng naia 2 is exclusive for PAL only??? galing ah!!!

kiretoce

February 27th, 2008, 07:00 PM

PAL boosts summer flights, adds 3 new China points (http://business.inquirer.net/money/announcements/view/20080226-121327/PAL-boosts-summer-flights-adds-3-new-China-points)

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine Airlines will augment services to major Asian destinations in time for the peak summer travel period next month, highlighted by the introduction of regular flights to three new destinations in China -- Chongqing, Chengdu and Macau.

PAL will launch a twice-weekly service to the western city of Chongqing on March 14, followed by a similar frequency to neighboring Chengdu on March 18 and, finally, a five-times-weekly service to the special administrative region of Macau on May 1.

This will boost the flag carrier’s China service to 23 flights weekly to five destinations on the mainland -- Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Chongqing and Chengdu -- plus the autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macau.

PAL will also add a direct, thrice-weekly service to Jakarta on March 30 to complement the four-times-weekly service via Singapore, for an overall daily frequency to the Indonesian capital.

Singapore will see a modest increase in PAL flights, from 17 times weekly previously to 21 times, with the late-evening daily service (PR 505 / PR 506) starting March 16.

Meanwhile, Taipei will get two more frequencies -- one apiece in the morning and afternoon -- for a total of nine flights weekly to the Taiwanese capital from April 1.

The new and augmented services complement schedule upgrades for other PAL Asia-Pacific destinations in recent months.

An evening service, now four times weekly, was added to the Bangkok timetable last November 2007, raising PAL’s total frequency to the Thai capital to date to 11 times weekly.

The Manila-Seoul service went double-daily last November, while the Australian service was reworked the same month to allow a twice-weekly direct link between Manila and Sydney, with onward service to Melbourne. Overall, PAL flies fives times weekly to both Aussie points.

Finally, PAL’s Manila-Vancouver non-stop service received a much-needed capacity boost last summer when a fifth frequency was added to the popular route. The onward Vancouver-Las Vegas service also benefited from the extra weekly flight.

ryanr

February 27th, 2008, 08:00 PM

^ no. The tower handles the whole NAIA airport.

Ph Man

February 27th, 2008, 10:34 PM

you sure Ryan? so the control tower of NAIA1 handles which flights? hindi ba dapat centralized?

ryanr

February 28th, 2008, 12:04 AM

^I'm confused. Isnt there only one control tower? and its located in the middle of NAIA2's parking lot.

diz

February 28th, 2008, 01:40 AM

^I'm confused. Isnt there only one control tower? and its located in the middle of NAIA2's parking lot.

wrong. NAIA1 has its own. i believe it's on the terminal building itself.. i'm not sure.

flying_olympic

February 28th, 2008, 02:54 AM

Only one control tower handles all the flights....though i dont know which one is in use..probably the one in naia 2 is the mainlaine one...while the older control tower is for backup usage in case of a disaster.just my 2 cents

Sou-jiro

February 28th, 2008, 06:19 AM

ow damn....:D i just checke Sydney Airport website....PAL flights are now 8pm arrival instead of 10:30am....

i might be affected by these since i always fly on a sat or sun morning... if it leaves 10 pm sydney what time does it arrive in Manila? but night flights are direct where are AM one's are via Melbourne

Sou-jiro

February 28th, 2008, 06:24 AM

currently the one in T2 handle all traffic currently..

such a big task for those guys

tigidig14

February 28th, 2008, 08:52 AM

gen1

February 28th, 2008, 12:53 PM

they are expanding the manila domestic terminal which cebu pacific uses.

NAIA 2 is so much better, but the domestic terminal kinda grows on you. Has much less automobile traffic than the road going to NAIA 2

oboi

February 28th, 2008, 09:47 PM

The control tower in T-2 handles the whole airport traffic. I think the one in T-1 serves as a back-up somehow and was temporarily used during the seige of T-2 control tower by Villaruel in 2003.

Ex!lE

February 29th, 2008, 02:57 AM

NAIA to be upgraded to handle Airbus 380 (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2008022863)

Friday, February 29, 2008
The wide body Airbus 380 will be servicing the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as soon as the NAIA upgrades its facilities and equipment.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Alfonso Cusi said yesterday that the NAIA will upgrade its facilities and equipment in preparation for the Airbus 380, the wide body aircraft that can carry 600 to 1,000 passengers to service Manila.

Cusi said they have discussed with Airbus 380 officials the requirements to enable the Airbus 380 to service Manila.

Cusi said they have to upgrade the runway, terminal, ground facilities, including the service equipment that will be needed including the fire and rescue equipment which are needed considering the height of the Airbus.

“We are also preparing the Terminal 3, so we have to make some provision for Airbus 380 to be able to come to Manila,” Cusi said.

“All those equipment must be ready,” Cusi said.

“Its not just the terminal, its not just the ground equipment, it’s not just the runway but its encompassing all the requirements for the servicing of Airbus 380 that also includes the catering.

“We found it wise to meet with them immediately now so we can have the time to prepare for the Airbus 380 servicing Manila, Cusi said.

The airlines that will be using the Airbus 380 are Singapore Airlines, Emirates and China Airlines. – Rudy Santos

Sou-jiro

February 29th, 2008, 08:30 AM

^^ that was freaky he died "on the air" white he was being interview (i think either dzrh or dzbb) he was talking then the swat team shot him twice live on air until his last breath the radio announcer couldnt do much but kept calling him he just kept gasping for air until he was gone...i was listening to it live when it happened...he did the wrong thing...his guard was killed to...but swat had no choice they did give them a chance..he was actually about to surrender as he indicated on the radio but a little to late from the swat teams point of view
they had the chance they didnt take it

but in a way i do feel sorry for him...im sure he had his reasons

FrancisXavier

February 29th, 2008, 08:38 AM

where is the control tower in NAIA1? the one on top of the terminal building? i used to think that the current ATO tower existed even before NAIA2..

ryanr

February 29th, 2008, 08:48 AM

i used to think that the current ATO tower existed even before NAIA2..

It did...Dunno when it was built but it was already there before T2's completion.

FrancisXavier

February 29th, 2008, 08:59 AM

i see.. i know it was already there before that boommerang. visible from before the entry of the naia1.

Monsi

March 1st, 2008, 12:43 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/100_9788.jpg
PAL is early today[/QUOTE]

PjPG51kBC2M
^Same plane here... RP-C8601.

yHGzN_t7n_s
^Earlier version with Cebu Pacific.
I hope you'll like both versions...

Monsi

March 1st, 2008, 12:45 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/100_9788.jpg
^Posted by Dex (Legazpi City and Albay thread)

PjPG51kBC2M
^Same plane here... (RP-C8601)

yHGzN_t7n_s
^Earlier version with Cebu Pacific.
I hope you'll like both versions...

allan_dude

March 1st, 2008, 04:50 PM

Construction of Cagayan International Airport to start this year

Saturday, March 1, 2008 04:07 PM

TUGUEGARAO CITY -- The construction of another international airport is set to start this year as part of the national government's continued effort to transform this country's northernmost part into a world-class tourism and business investment destination.

Jose Mari Ponce, administrator of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), said that the construction of the airport, with an initial funding of P5 billion, would be a joint venture between CEZA and a multinational private firm with technical and supervisory assistance from the Department of Transportation and Communications.

The airport, which would be similar to that of the Diosdado Macapagal Airport in Clark Field, Pampanga, in terms of technology and capability, would be co-financed by a Spanish bank through an open credit scheme, Ponce said.

"It is a priority for CEZA to build the airport this year to complement the rapid development of the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport," said Ponce, also the CEZA's chief executive officer. -- Charlie Lagasca

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Local%20News&p=54&type=2&sec=2&aid=2008030136

habagatcentral1

March 1st, 2008, 06:08 PM

^^ Teka lang, parang dumadami na ata ang international gateways natin ngayon? Is this what Ace Durano said regarding his presscon (on DOT) regarding increased direct flights to the regions?

WawaY[625]

March 1st, 2008, 06:19 PM

and yet sa mindanao konting grasya lang ang natatanggap :(

after DIA wala nang malaking airport save for the u/c and much delayed (buti na lang at nagstart na) Laguindingan airport and the US funded (ata) Gensan airport (though parang runway lang ata ang ok dun, the terminal and the other facilities need much improvement)

jameslab8470

March 1st, 2008, 07:04 PM

Yup... There are now so many international airports... Do you think that there will come a time that those airports will be closed kasi ala na gumagamit?

ericlucky290

March 1st, 2008, 09:38 PM

Just to clarify, are Cagayan International Airport and Laguindingan Airport the same? Or they are two diffirent airports?

WawaY[625]

March 1st, 2008, 10:20 PM

cagayan international is in luzon (tuguegarao) yung Laguindingan is in Mindanao (laguindingan town, misamis oriental)

allan_dude

March 1st, 2008, 11:50 PM

^^ Cagayan International Airport will be built inside Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport in the municipality of Gonzaga, Cagayan 150kms north of Tuguegarao City.

Kaohsiung Taiwan is only 45 min flight from Gonzaga, and only 1 hr flight to Hong Kong, Taipei, Shenzhen, Macau, Zhuhai, Xiamen and Manila. There are also international flights going to Macau from Tuguegarao airport.

ericlucky290

March 2nd, 2008, 05:49 AM

Thanks for clarifying. When I read/hear the word "cagayan", yung unang pumapasok sa isipan ko is Cagayan de Oro so when you said Cagayan International Airport, kala ko you are referring to an airport in Cagayan de Oro.

bariQ

March 2nd, 2008, 07:36 AM

both cagayans have cagayan rivers too :D

manchowyin

March 3rd, 2008, 04:29 AM

By Pilotokoto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsjBAk-aVFM

Turn up your volume a bit and enjoy the landing!

JsjBAk-aVFM

diz

March 3rd, 2008, 07:35 AM

RUMOR from Airlines.net (guy's been right about a lot of stuff)

Northwest Airlines announced today to reinitiate old flights across the pacific that they once had. With Seattle becoming its new 'focus city', Seattle will recieve many new Northwest Airline International Destinations that it once had. SEA-LHR service will start in June. NW plans to also add service to Anchorage, Idianapolis, New York City, Orlando; just some of the domestic locations.

Some international routes that will be re-started will be Seattle-Manila, Seattle-Osaka, Seattle-Hong Kong, and Seattle-Shanghai. Also Northwest will be increasing the SEA-CDG service by adding a new flight, code-shared with Air France. There are also rumors that NW will be starting service to Sydney from one of their Pacific hubs, which could be Seattle.

RonnieR

March 3rd, 2008, 07:45 AM

The old Manila domestic airport really sucks. It is so small, passengers are standing while waiting for their flight. It has only one main door as an entrance. The provincial airport terminals in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are better! It is a shame that this domestic terminal is the terminal of the capital of the Philippines. We, Filipinos, do not deserve this humiliation.

diz

March 3rd, 2008, 07:51 AM

Filipinos deserve what they've done. Their actions make up the results of everything in the country.

RonnieR

March 3rd, 2008, 08:01 AM

But we don't deserve this rotten domestic airport! I have my own share to this country. I lived abroad for 6 years in a first world country and I know that the ills of this country can be corrected. This airport should be demolished.

habagatcentral1

March 3rd, 2008, 10:57 AM

Di ba DMIA would soon replace NAIA? What if NAIA would be used solely for Domestic flights or chartered flights and NAIA be the international gateway? More like Tokyo's Haneda (old airport) and Narita (new international airport).

But in order to get to DMIA from Manila central, it should be complemented by a high-speed train and efficient public transport (and now Northrail is mired with controversy).

mwg12a

March 3rd, 2008, 12:21 PM

^^^ That's been covered in NAIA thread before. All are still in the limbo and the current government is trying to get DMIA working but I don't think they have the means yet to do that. It would be nice if it happens right away though.

habagatcentral1

March 3rd, 2008, 01:21 PM

^^ I thought there are interested investors for DMIA and the president said that she will be prioritizing such effort?

kiretoce

March 3rd, 2008, 03:22 PM

reg villa

March 3rd, 2008, 05:18 PM

enjoy...:applause:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh102/reginaldvillanueva/IMG_1136.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh102/reginaldvillanueva/IMG_1144.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh102/reginaldvillanueva/IMG_1145.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh102/reginaldvillanueva/IMG_1149.jpg

bustero

March 3rd, 2008, 05:46 PM

Was just checking up on air fares, it always amazes me how much more expensive it is to fly with a Philippine carrier versus other country's LCC's and how much more expensive it is to fly within the PHilippines than to fly out! Was just checking and Cebu Pacific would charge around 5k for a turboprop to caticlan roundtrip, while airasia offers KK for less than 4k for a flight more than twice as long on a jet!

mambo

March 3rd, 2008, 06:30 PM

PAL controls gateways through CAB, say experts

Here’s what Romulo Neri means when he says that the aviation industry is captured by vested interests

By LALA RIMANDO, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak

The Philippine Airlines (PAL) rules among the six commercial airlines in the country not just in market share for the more profitable international flights but even in how the government crafts its policies and strategies for the entire aviation industry.

When former economic planning secretary Romulo Neri included the aviation industry in his diagram of how oligarchs and their influence on policy have set back the country's growth in a December 2007 meeting with opposition senators, he was referring to this lethal mix of business and politics.

The Civil Aeronautics Board CAB, a regulatory body for the aviation industry, is not supposed to interfere or make judgments on the business model of the airline. But during bilateral air rights negotiations, Benjamin Solis, a four-decade industry expert who has sat on negotiating panels, say some CAB officials would sometimes negotiate based on how many seats or flights PAL could accommodate.

"This is where the government seriously failed in its regulatory aspect. It should just be looking into the economic aspect [of the airline]: Are you willing, able and capable of running the business?" Solis explains.

Lucio Tan, Oligarch

Lucio Tan, whose liquor and cigarette business has made him the richest Filipino, controls PAL. The first airline in Southeast Asia was privatized in the mid-1990's. Neri said Tan is one of the oligarchs whom President Arroyo depends on for political survival.

In many instances in the past – mostly when there are controversial air treaties, and recently during the downgrade of the aviation's oversight agency (link to 3-part series on ATO downgrade) – discussions about the aviation industry have been mostly confined among the industry players. But in the past five or so years, other sectors in the country—from tourism to manufacturing to local governments—are pushing to unlock the economic potentials that a liberalized aviation policy brings.

Neri explained that the aviation industry is one of the six major industries in the country under a "regulatory capture." This occurs when the regulatory body—in this case the CAB—established to protect consumer interests equates the "public good" with the interests of the industry it regulates.

CAB is an agency under the transportation department and is vested with the power to regulate the economic aspect of air transportation, and the general supervision and regulation of the air carriers.

Controlling the Gateways

Through CAB, PAL controls the "gateways" to the country, industry experts say. The gateways refer to access to and from Manila, Clark, and other entry points of international flights to the country.

The gateways are regulated by international air services, which are negotiated on behalf of the country by CAB. The CAB exercises a political power in assigning the country's assets, in this case, the air traffic rights.

In the air services negotiations, CAB becomes a collegial body that includes other stakeholders in the industry, such as the tourism industry, foreign affairs, and the local airlines.

Air Service Negotiations

Through the negotiations for bilateral air rights, Solis said PAL is allowed to influence the aviation policy of the country because they get the numbers in the CAB board. And most often, Solis says negotiations are still the old-style zero sum approach: "I give you 10, you give me 10. It's equal exchange."

In controversial air services negotiations with Taiwan and United Arab Emirates years ago, the total seats or weekly flights with both countries have been limited based on how much PAL would be able to mount.

UAE even wanted to expand its flights to Manila from the Middle East because of the high traffic of overseas Filipinos working there. PAL then was cash-strapped and could not allocate enough aircraft to fill the demand. CAB, during the earlier part of negotiations, was not receptive to increasing the weekly seat allocations for both countries.

Some members of the CAB board eventually resigned. One of them was Bertie Lim, who was then an independent member of the CAB negotiating team. Lim, now executive director of the Makati Business Club, experienced how PAL exerted its muscle during the negotiations: "It did not make sense that we were limiting the flights just because PAL could not match the competition's. The clear victims were the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) who had to wait forever to get a flight."

Exchange of values

Solis said that under the liberalization concept for the aviation industry, "exchanges between or among countries do not necessarily have to be on a 'zero sum basis.' It could be an exchange of values."

He gives an example: "If a Philippine airline sees that there is economic value in flying to Bangkok and then Jakarta, then the air rights should be flexible. It does not have to be a point-to-point kind of connection. It could be Manila to Bangkok to Jakarta."

In the industry parlance, this is called "networking."

Since CAB has not been open to the 'networking' concept, one casualty is already feeling the consequence: the European market for tourists.

European tourism boom in 2008

In 2007 and early 2008, the tourism department has been feverishly marketing the Philippines as a diving destination to the British, German, Netherlands, French, Italian, Swedish and other European markets. Their main pitch are the diving packages.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said Europe accounted for about nine percent of the total foreign arrivals last year, and would want to continue tapping them because they stay longer and tend to spend more, compared to other backpacking and short-stay tourists.

In fact, tour operators and local hotels are gearing up for a European boom this 2008.

But by April 2008, German Airline, Lufthansa, which has been operating in the Philippines for about three decades and corners about 30 percent of the European market that comes to the Philippines, will become the latest European carrier to pull out of the country. Earlier, British Airways, Swiss International, Alitalia, and Air France have also stopped their long haul flights to the Philippines.

Not viable

It is not for the lack of a point-to-point air services agreement with these countries, but because it is just not economically viable for these airlines to do a long-haul flight from Western Europe all the way to the Philippines.

Solis explains that European flights cannot fly over restricted airways of China and Russia, which would have been a shorter route, so they usually go through and stop over somewhere in Middle East, into South Asia, then Southeast Asia, before they turn around or proceed to North Asian destinations.

"Long routes usually involve a large aircraft like a Boeing 777 or a 747. And with each intermediate point like Dubai and Bangkok, there are lesser passengers along the way."

Solis adds that most European flights go to hubs in Bangkok or Singapore, which are still a good three hours from Manila. "With thinning load of just about 100 out of the original 300, and since they could not replenish passengers from, say Bangkok, because we don't allow them in our strict zero-sum air agreements with them, then they'll just turn around and not proceed to the Philippines."

Allowing the European airlines to pick up in Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and other destinations close to the Philippines, will mean competition to the business of PAL and even to Cebu Pacific, which has been expanding its regional flights with its spanking new Airbus 320s.

The local airlines usually just pick up the European passengers from where their own airlines drop them off in the Middle East or in Southeast Asian points.

This means, however, that there are limited direct flights to the Philippines, making it sometimes more expensive and involves more hassle for the European tourists to come to the Philippines since they still have to take connecting flights. Only KLM now flies direct from Europe to Manila via Amsterdam.

Sellout?

Getting out of the zero-sum mindset seems difficult for CAB because it is convenient for PAL, and now, also for Cebu Pacific. Regional flights are more profitable than domestic ones.

The zero-sum convenient approach was evident when the controversial Executive Order 500, which liberalized aviation activity at Clark. The two major Philippine airline companies contested it. Even the minor airlines, Air Philippines, Asian Spirit, and Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines joined them. All five local airlines branded the EO-500, and its other version, the EO 500-B, as a "sell out of national patrimony" because there was supposedly no "reciprocal obligation" from the country of the airlines going to Clark to provide the same liberalized aviation policy that our local airlines could enjoy.

Earlier, airline lobbyists were able to overturn the original EO-500 through the EO-500-A, but business groups, tourism-related organizations, and the local governments of the regions benefiting from the influx of cheap regional flights to Clark united to pressure President Arroyo to sign EO 500-B. President Arroyo is yet to sign the latter, but has made pronouncements to beef up expansion of the Clark airport, eventually making it the country's main gateway.

Pocket open skies

Cheryl Lyn Rodolfo, an aviation expert with the University of Asia and the Pacific, notes however that pocket open skies liberalization is not something new. She cites how Bali in Indonesia, Phuket in Thailand, Penang and Sarawak in Malaysia, and lately Siem Riep which is the gateway to Cambodia's Angkor Wat, all have pocket open skies that did not interfere with the bilateral air agreements of these neighbor countries.

"By liberalizing aviation policies in these specific tourism destinations, our neighbors were able to unlock their tourism potentials," Rodolfo told a forum on aviation policies.

Pocket open skies in Clark did not hurt traffic in Naia, currently the main gateway in Manila, which is already bursting at the seams with more than nine million passengers a year.

Instead, liberalized aviation in Clark converted the formerly sleepy post-American airbase from processing just about 50,000 passengers in early 2000's to about 500,000 in 2007.

And the economic benefits are not just trickling; it's pouring. More jobs are available since foreign companies are finding Clark a more attractive location since it is now cheaper to move not just people but also goods through air.

"Why just focus on reciprocal flights? It is naïve to do that. It's bad for our tourism, for potential investments and the jobs they generate," Solis stressed.

bustero

March 4th, 2008, 04:53 AM

^^Tell me something we don't know! Bwisit sila.

bustero

March 4th, 2008, 04:55 AM

While these two airlines are compared, lets see the damage they do to our tourism industry and the economy.

PAL controls gateways through CAB, say experts

Here’s what Romulo Neri means when he says that the aviation industry is captured by vested interests

By LALA RIMANDO, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak

The Philippine Airlines (PAL) rules among the six commercial airlines in the country not just in market share for the more profitable international flights but even in how the government crafts its policies and strategies for the entire aviation industry.

When former economic planning secretary Romulo Neri included the aviation industry in his diagram of how oligarchs and their influence on policy have set back the country's growth in a December 2007 meeting with opposition senators, he was referring to this lethal mix of business and politics.

The Civil Aeronautics Board CAB, a regulatory body for the aviation industry, is not supposed to interfere or make judgments on the business model of the airline. But during bilateral air rights negotiations, Benjamin Solis, a four-decade industry expert who has sat on negotiating panels, say some CAB officials would sometimes negotiate based on how many seats or flights PAL could accommodate.

"This is where the government seriously failed in its regulatory aspect. It should just be looking into the economic aspect [of the airline]: Are you willing, able and capable of running the business?" Solis explains.

Lucio Tan, Oligarch

Lucio Tan, whose liquor and cigarette business has made him the richest Filipino, controls PAL. The first airline in Southeast Asia was privatized in the mid-1990's. Neri said Tan is one of the oligarchs whom President Arroyo depends on for political survival.

In many instances in the past – mostly when there are controversial air treaties, and recently during the downgrade of the aviation's oversight agency (link to 3-part series on ATO downgrade) – discussions about the aviation industry have been mostly confined among the industry players. But in the past five or so years, other sectors in the country—from tourism to manufacturing to local governments—are pushing to unlock the economic potentials that a liberalized aviation policy brings.

Neri explained that the aviation industry is one of the six major industries in the country under a "regulatory capture." This occurs when the regulatory body—in this case the CAB—established to protect consumer interests equates the "public good" with the interests of the industry it regulates.

CAB is an agency under the transportation department and is vested with the power to regulate the economic aspect of air transportation, and the general supervision and regulation of the air carriers.

Controlling the Gateways

Through CAB, PAL controls the "gateways" to the country, industry experts say. The gateways refer to access to and from Manila, Clark, and other entry points of international flights to the country.

The gateways are regulated by international air services, which are negotiated on behalf of the country by CAB. The CAB exercises a political power in assigning the country's assets, in this case, the air traffic rights.

In the air services negotiations, CAB becomes a collegial body that includes other stakeholders in the industry, such as the tourism industry, foreign affairs, and the local airlines.

Air Service Negotiations

Through the negotiations for bilateral air rights, Solis said PAL is allowed to influence the aviation policy of the country because they get the numbers in the CAB board. And most often, Solis says negotiations are still the old-style zero sum approach: "I give you 10, you give me 10. It's equal exchange."

In controversial air services negotiations with Taiwan and United Arab Emirates years ago, the total seats or weekly flights with both countries have been limited based on how much PAL would be able to mount.

UAE even wanted to expand its flights to Manila from the Middle East because of the high traffic of overseas Filipinos working there. PAL then was cash-strapped and could not allocate enough aircraft to fill the demand. CAB, during the earlier part of negotiations, was not receptive to increasing the weekly seat allocations for both countries.

Some members of the CAB board eventually resigned. One of them was Bertie Lim, who was then an independent member of the CAB negotiating team. Lim, now executive director of the Makati Business Club, experienced how PAL exerted its muscle during the negotiations: "It did not make sense that we were limiting the flights just because PAL could not match the competition's. The clear victims were the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) who had to wait forever to get a flight."

Exchange of values

Solis said that under the liberalization concept for the aviation industry, "exchanges between or among countries do not necessarily have to be on a 'zero sum basis.' It could be an exchange of values."

He gives an example: "If a Philippine airline sees that there is economic value in flying to Bangkok and then Jakarta, then the air rights should be flexible. It does not have to be a point-to-point kind of connection. It could be Manila to Bangkok to Jakarta."

In the industry parlance, this is called "networking."

Since CAB has not been open to the 'networking' concept, one casualty is already feeling the consequence: the European market for tourists.

European tourism boom in 2008

In 2007 and early 2008, the tourism department has been feverishly marketing the Philippines as a diving destination to the British, German, Netherlands, French, Italian, Swedish and other European markets. Their main pitch are the diving packages.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said Europe accounted for about nine percent of the total foreign arrivals last year, and would want to continue tapping them because they stay longer and tend to spend more, compared to other backpacking and short-stay tourists.

In fact, tour operators and local hotels are gearing up for a European boom this 2008.

But by April 2008, German Airline, Lufthansa, which has been operating in the Philippines for about three decades and corners about 30 percent of the European market that comes to the Philippines, will become the latest European carrier to pull out of the country. Earlier, British Airways, Swiss International, Alitalia, and Air France have also stopped their long haul flights to the Philippines.

Not viable

It is not for the lack of a point-to-point air services agreement with these countries, but because it is just not economically viable for these airlines to do a long-haul flight from Western Europe all the way to the Philippines.

Solis explains that European flights cannot fly over restricted airways of China and Russia, which would have been a shorter route, so they usually go through and stop over somewhere in Middle East, into South Asia, then Southeast Asia, before they turn around or proceed to North Asian destinations.

"Long routes usually involve a large aircraft like a Boeing 777 or a 747. And with each intermediate point like Dubai and Bangkok, there are lesser passengers along the way."

Solis adds that most European flights go to hubs in Bangkok or Singapore, which are still a good three hours from Manila. "With thinning load of just about 100 out of the original 300, and since they could not replenish passengers from, say Bangkok, because we don't allow them in our strict zero-sum air agreements with them, then they'll just turn around and not proceed to the Philippines."

Allowing the European airlines to pick up in Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and other destinations close to the Philippines, will mean competition to the business of PAL and even to Cebu Pacific, which has been expanding its regional flights with its spanking new Airbus 320s.

The local airlines usually just pick up the European passengers from where their own airlines drop them off in the Middle East or in Southeast Asian points.

This means, however, that there are limited direct flights to the Philippines, making it sometimes more expensive and involves more hassle for the European tourists to come to the Philippines since they still have to take connecting flights. Only KLM now flies direct from Europe to Manila via Amsterdam.

Sellout?

Getting out of the zero-sum mindset seems difficult for CAB because it is convenient for PAL, and now, also for Cebu Pacific. Regional flights are more profitable than domestic ones.

The zero-sum convenient approach was evident when the controversial Executive Order 500, which liberalized aviation activity at Clark. The two major Philippine airline companies contested it. Even the minor airlines, Air Philippines, Asian Spirit, and Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines joined them. All five local airlines branded the EO-500, and its other version, the EO 500-B, as a "sell out of national patrimony" because there was supposedly no "reciprocal obligation" from the country of the airlines going to Clark to provide the same liberalized aviation policy that our local airlines could enjoy.

Earlier, airline lobbyists were able to overturn the original EO-500 through the EO-500-A, but business groups, tourism-related organizations, and the local governments of the regions benefiting from the influx of cheap regional flights to Clark united to pressure President Arroyo to sign EO 500-B. President Arroyo is yet to sign the latter, but has made pronouncements to beef up expansion of the Clark airport, eventually making it the country's main gateway.

Pocket open skies

Cheryl Lyn Rodolfo, an aviation expert with the University of Asia and the Pacific, notes however that pocket open skies liberalization is not something new. She cites how Bali in Indonesia, Phuket in Thailand, Penang and Sarawak in Malaysia, and lately Siem Riep which is the gateway to Cambodia's Angkor Wat, all have pocket open skies that did not interfere with the bilateral air agreements of these neighbor countries.

"By liberalizing aviation policies in these specific tourism destinations, our neighbors were able to unlock their tourism potentials," Rodolfo told a forum on aviation policies.

Pocket open skies in Clark did not hurt traffic in Naia, currently the main gateway in Manila, which is already bursting at the seams with more than nine million passengers a year.

Instead, liberalized aviation in Clark converted the formerly sleepy post-American airbase from processing just about 50,000 passengers in early 2000's to about 500,000 in 2007.

And the economic benefits are not just trickling; it's pouring. More jobs are available since foreign companies are finding Clark a more attractive location since it is now cheaper to move not just people but also goods through air.

"Why just focus on reciprocal flights? It is naïve to do that. It's bad for our tourism, for potential investments and the jobs they generate," Solis stressed.

pi_malejana

March 4th, 2008, 05:47 AM

Arroyo signs law creating RP's Civil Aviation Authority (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/83248/Arroyo-signs-law-creating-RPs-Civil-Aviation-Authority)
03/04/2008 | 10:27 AM

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday signed into law Republic Act 9497, paving the way for the creation of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

President Arroyo said the creation of the CAAP will ensure safer and more secure flights, and that it has been part of the bills she has been asking Congress to pass.

The move came months after the United States-based Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) downgraded the Philippines' aviation rating.

To recall, the US FAA on December 26 revised the Philippines' aviation safety oversight category from Category 1 to Category 2 due to "serious concerns" about the ATO's oversight of air carrier operations.

Category 2 means the FAA has assessed the Philippine Civil Aviation Authority as not being in compliance with ICAO.

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association had expressed alarm over the downgrade saying it will negatively affect the country's tourism industry. Also, the country's flag carrier Philippine Airlines stands to lose 10% of the revenues of its US operations as a result of the downgrade.

Under the proposed bill that was approved by the Lower House, CAAP - which will be attached to the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) - is envisioned to have the power to generate, dispense and retain its revenue and income independent from the budgetary restriction of the Congress and the power to hear and decide civil aviation cases.

The CAAP Board of Directors will have the DOTC secretary as chairman ex-officio and the director general as vice chairman. Members include the secretaries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Justice, DILG and one from the private sector to be appointed by the president of the
Philippines.

The director general will be the chief executive officer of the authority. - GMANews.TV

WawaY[625]

March 4th, 2008, 12:41 PM

Wanna see a plane nearly crash ?

Posted by Hilbert Hagedoorn on March 4, 2008 - 8:08 PM

Saw this video yesterday on the news, I mean ..ouch .. check it out. So close .. so close.
This is a A320 that nearly crashed during crosswind approach at Hamburgs RWY23, the footage is from yesterday during stormy weather.

http://www.guru3d.com/newsitem.php?id=6591

kiretoce

March 4th, 2008, 05:15 PM

Philippines reforms aviation sector after FAA downgrade (http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5grtvTKfyUxQFR5r9xCU3LiVNxHyA)

MANILA (AFP) — Philippine President Gloria Arroyo on Tuesday announced the setting up of a new regulatory authority to reform the country's substandard aviation sector.

The new Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will replace the Air Transportation Office (ATO), which has been blamed for the nation's air safety rating being downgraded by US authorities.

"Thanks to this new law... the air travel in this country will be liberalised and the obstacles to the entry of tourists and investment will be removed," Arroyo said after she signed a bill setting up the authority.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in December reduced the Philippines' rating to Category 2 from Category 1, saying the ATO had failed to meet international safety standards.

"With the passage of this law, we are confident that the US FAA can have a review of our system and come up with a better rating for civil aviation in the Philippines," Arroyo's chief aide Eduardo Ermita said.

The new aviation authority will be allowed to retain earnings from its fees and set its own salaries for employees. It can then address the FAA's concerns by spending more on safety upgrades and offering competitive salaries to retain skilled personnel. Under the ATO, the money from fees went to the government, meaning it had to go cap-in-hand to Manila every time it needed to pay for any projects.

Industry leaders now hope the country's safety status could be raised within four months.

National carrier Philippine Airlines earlier said it may lower its 2008 growth targets due to the FAA's rating, effectively putting its expansion plans on hold.

The FAA decision prohibits PAL from increasing its flights to the US from 33 a week and from changing the type or number of aircraft used on those services.

kiretoce

March 4th, 2008, 05:40 PM

ATO starts inspection of civilian flying schools (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080303-122551/ATO-starts-inspection-of-civilian-flying-schools)

MANILA, Philippines -- The Air Transportation Office (ATO) has begun a comprehensive audit of civilian flying schools around the country, concerned over the rise in training flight accidents in recent years.

The ATO has started inspections of 36 aviation schools nationwide to review their operations and compliance with management and safety regulations, agency officials said Monday.

ATO Executive Director Daniel Dimagiba said the audit was “normal,” but ATO accident investigation board chief and safety division deputy Jose Saplan said the audit was opened because of the increase in the number of accidents involving flying schools in the last three years.

“We just had a conference with flying school operators on January 21 and we're going to evaluate all the schools because we noted an increase in accidents, especially last year,” Saplan said.

Citing data, Saplan said the number of flight training accidents that involved loss of life, severe injuries or grave damage to property doubled to eight last year, from four in 2006.

A separate file of “incidents” -- minor aircraft mishaps that did not involve grave damage, injury or death -- listed 11 last year, a sharp increase from the three in 2006.

“We will look at the equipment of the flying schools, whether they are capable of operating a flying school, whether their instructors are qualified, if their planes are airworthy. The goal is to improve the quality of our flying schools. The audit will be in-depth,” Saplan said.

Dimagiba said the inspections would be “unscheduled.”

Earlier, the ATO suspended the operations of Fliteline Aviation School in Bulacan after its planes were involved in two crashes within eight months.

The latest accident occurred Saturday in Plaridel when a Fliteline instructor and his student were killed in the crash of their training plane.

The ATO has yet to ascertain what caused the accident, but witnesses told investigators the plane crashed as it was approaching the runway for a third touch-and-go pass, Saplan said.

Ph Man

March 4th, 2008, 09:40 PM

;18817402']Wanna see a plane nearly crash ?

http://www.guru3d.com/newsitem.php?id=6591

yay, freaky landing. the pilot needs more training on how to deal with crosswind during landing. :ohno: this will give me the shock of my life if I was on board this plane. he should learn from the BA guy here:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=766_1196775900

thanks man for sharing the link. now i got hooked up with the site. :lol:

ryanr

March 4th, 2008, 11:00 PM

I saw that in the news...I think the pilot did a good job actually, considering its a difficult and dangerous situation. Very freaky landing, glad it ended well.

johnmizer

March 5th, 2008, 03:06 AM

yay, freaky landing. the pilot needs more training on how to deal with crosswind during landing. :ohno: this will give me the shock of my life if I was on board this plane. he should learn from the BA guy here:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=766_1196775900

thanks man for sharing the link. now i got hooked up with the site. :lol:

wow, they could also drift planes?

icarusrising

March 5th, 2008, 04:40 AM

Hong Kong Express inaugural
flight arrives at Clark today

By Jacob Cunanan
Correspondent

The Business Mirror

CLARK FREE PORT—Hong Kong Express has restored flights between Hong Kong and the Philippines with the arrival of its inaugural flight today, Wednesday, at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here.

Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president Victor Jose Luciano cited the entry of Hong Kong Express as a “remarkable development” for DMIA as it gears toward being the premier international gateway of the country.

Hong Kong Express will make its debut at the DMIA for its thrice-weekly open-chartered flights that arrive Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for a period of three months to attract Chinese tourists to visit the Clark free port in Pampanga.

Luciano expressed high hopes that Hong Kong Express will increase its initial thrice-a-week flight frequency to daily flights. Central Luzon folk can take the flight to visit Hong Kong Disneyland.

“The resurgence of Hong Kong flights to the DMIA has been much awaited by the people of Central Luzon. We hope the three flights will eventually be stepped up to daily flights as we attract Hong Kong tourists to come and visit Clark and Subic,” Luciano said.

Hong Kong Express, established in 2005, is the latest addition to the foreign air carriers operating at the DMIA, which was recently declared by President Arroyo as the premier international airport of the country in a future logistics and services hub in the Asian region.

The air carrier from the former British colony flies in at least 56 destinations in Asia such as China, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines.

Hong Kong Express has at least four 164-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft and will add another aircraft which is slated to be released by this month to increase its passenger capacity plying the Hong Kong-Clark-Hong Kong route. Hong Kong Express is a subsidiary of Hong Kong Airlines, which used to operate in Clark until they stopped last year.

Hong Kong Express country manager William Po said during the launching dinner recently that overseas Filipino workers will benefit from the flights at Clark since most of them come from Northern and Central Luzon.

“Hong Kong flights are back in Clark and we hope to increase our flights in the coming months,” he added.

At the same time, Luciano lauded Maxon Asia Telecom Corp. for taking the risk in attracting Hong Kong Express to conduct flights to the DMIA to promote the Clark airport as one of their destinations. He said CIAC will extend full support to Maxon Asia’s and Hong Kong Express’s endeavor to conduct more flights and possibly daily flights at DMIA.

The flights would contribute to the continuously increasing passenger volume at the DMIA, which in 2007 increased by almost 45,000 to post a total passenger volume of 533,619 from both international and domestic flights that surpassed the 488,867 in 2006.

Source: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/03052008/economy04.html

icarusrising

March 5th, 2008, 04:58 AM

With CAAP, Category 1 status sought

By Recto Mercene and Mia Gonzalez
Reporters

The Business Mirror

THE United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to reassess Philippine air-transportation safety after reducing it to Category 2 status in its survey last year, now that the newly established Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) that replaces the Air Transportation Office (ATO) has been scheduled to start operations in May.

This development became almost a certainty after President Arroyo Tuesday signed Republic Act 9497, or the Civil Aviation Act of the Philippines, that set up the fiscally autonomous CAAP, replacing the ATO.

This was seen as a “first but crucial step” in regaining the country’s Category 1 rating from the US FAA, confirmed by Transportation Secretary and ATO officer in charge Leandro Mendoza at a press meeting following the CAAP enactment.

“Hopefully, our timeline here is that by June of this year, we will request for a reassessment for audit from the FAA, and hopefully we can go back to Category 1,” said Mendoza.

The President said the new law is a “good signal to the country and the world that the government continues to. . . pursue reforms for better governance. . . air travel will become safer, and there will be less obstacles to the growth of tourism and investments that create millions of jobs.”

Relatedly, Philippine Airlines welcomed the CAAP and hoped it would be activated as soon as possible so the Philippines can regain its Category 1 status before September 2009, the delivery date of PAL’s new fleet of Boeing 777-300ER jets intended for its US expansion.

“Right now, we’re not very much affected because we’re still allowed to operate 33 flights to the US. The effect will be more felt if we are not upgraded to Category 1 in September 2009, when we take delivery of our 777-300ERs because we intend to use this to the US. Under Category 2 we cannot fly these airplanes to the US. We cannot even mount additional flights and we cannot fly to additional destinations,” said PAL president Jaime Bautista.

The CAAP is an independent regulatory body with quasijudicial and quasi-legislative powers with attributes of a private corporation, has fiscal autonomy, and the power to administratively adjudicate civil aviation-related cases.

Mendoza also said, “The ATO has been fast-tracking the upgrading process and is now preparing the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) so that that ATO, which would morphed into the CAAP, would regain [its] category 1 status.”

RA 9497 has specific provisions to address the FAA findings that had caused the Philippines’ downgrade to Category 2 such as fiscal autonomy, which would allow the body to spend its annual collections of P3 billion to improve and maintain the air transport system—equipment, personnel training, and increasing technical personnel with better salaries because the law exempts technical personnel from the salary standardization law.

On the FAA finding there is no legal basis for ATO inspectors to have right of access to aircraft both in the Philippines and abroad, and to air operators’ facilities, the new office is now legally authorized to inspect all civil aircraft and other aviation facilities.

Once the aviation authority completes compliance with the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao), Mendoza added there was no reason for the FAA not to immediately restore Category 1 status to the Philippines.

He added the Icao would also have its own assessment of the CAAP in November this year.

At the same time, Executive Director Daniel Dimagiba said the ATO is now hiring technical personnel to double the current number to 7,000, from 3,500.

The FAA downgrade came about after it found the ATO lacks check pilots, air controllers, technicians, communication specialists, aircraft inspectors, and other personnel for highly technical positions due to fund lack, preventing it from offering the right salaries to attract applicants.

Dimagiba said they will double the present 700 air controllers with qualified people and denied allegations that political appointees would soon dominate the CAAP, pointing out that a selection board has been formed to assess applicants for proper technical skills required.

Although even the additional P3 billion would still not be enough, Mendoza said it would increase the number of expert or technically skilled employees given high salaries.

But, he added, the national government had promised to provide more funds besides the P3 billion. Owing to this prospect, he implied the new office would not lay off any employee it would absorb from the ATO, although discussions on the organizational structure of the new office are still ongoing.

The head of the new office, however, is already given by the law a term of four years and is not co-terminus with the President.

The CAAP has a board of directors with the Transportation Secretary as chairman ex-officio; the director general of civil aviation, who will be vice-chairman; and the Secretaries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Interior, and Labor as members.

Source: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/03052008/headlines05.html

WawaY[625]

March 5th, 2008, 06:03 AM

wow, they could also drift planes?

nanood ata ng tokyo drift at naglalaro ng needforspeed carbon ang piloto at sinubukan kung pwede yun sa eroplano :hahaha:

Sou-jiro

March 5th, 2008, 08:39 AM

i saw that on TV freakiy landing but i think that pilot did a good job i mean you need split scont decision....he must be saying

is it gonna be the sky or the ocean...he picked the sky...good choice

chillendawg

March 6th, 2008, 10:04 AM

The New BOT Tacloban Airport

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff177/wquimson/dzr-airport-w-01.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff177/wquimson/tacairport-aerial-w-2bb.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff177/wquimson/tacairport-aerial-w-1b.jpg

jogavilz

March 6th, 2008, 11:10 AM

is this design final??? it looks very impressive!!:)

tigidig14

March 6th, 2008, 11:27 AM

haay wala parin nangyayari sa manila local erport haay tsk tsk

WawaY[625]

March 6th, 2008, 01:53 PM

^^ maganda ang tacloban airport :)

gaano po ba ka busy ang tacloban airport ngayon?

Sinjin P.

March 6th, 2008, 02:22 PM

Nice and modern but they should change that "owned by Tacloban City Government" to "owned by the people of the Philippines" :D

a s i a n a

March 6th, 2008, 05:39 PM

Trans-Atlantic flight arrives in London with just FIVE passengers on board (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=526464&in_page_id=1770)

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/07_02/AAPlanesMiamiBLG_468x267.jpg
American Airlines came under criticism when the flew a Boeing 777 with just five passengers on board

Furious environmental campaigners have hit out at an airline that sent a plane on a 4,000-mile journey with just five passengers on board.

With enough room to fit 245 passengers, the American Airlines flight made the nine-hour trip on 22,000 gallons of fuel - a total of 4,400 gallons per passenger.

However, the lucky five passengers were treated to a luxury flight from Chicago to Heathrow when they were upgraded to business class and were waited on by two cabin staff each.

But each passenger on the plane had a massive carbon footprint of 43.2 tonnes of CO2 and it has been branded one of the worst "environmental crimes".

The flight had been fully-booked, but an 11-hour delay due to a mechanical failure meant most passengers made other travel arrangements.

Richard Dyer, of Friends of the Earth, said: "Flying a virtually empty plane is an obscene waste of fuel.

"Through no fault of their own, each passenger's carbon footprint for this flight is about 45 times what it would have been if the plane had been full."

The average car would have to drive 123,000 miles to clock up the same carbon footprint or a British household would five years to use up the same amount in gas and electricity.

Environmentalists have reacted angrily to the airline's decision.

Campaigners said it was an obscene environmental crime and was the worst case of its kind they had come across.

Rather than cancel the near-empty flight AA90, American Airlines decided to go ahead with the controversial trip went ahead as more passengers were waiting at Heathrow for the plane to arrive.

Norman Baker MP, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for transport, said: "I have heard of planes flying at two thirds full before but this is the worst example I have come across.

"It is a climate change crime. It shows the ludicrous nature of the aviation industry.

"For an airline to think it sensible to fly aeroplanes which are virtually empty and where the crew outnumber the passengers is madness.

"I hate to think of the size of each passenger's carbon footprint on that flight.

"I understand the airline has a timetable to stick to and you can't leave people stranded but I can't believe there wasn't an alternative rather than fly a near-empty plane across the Atlantic."

Anita Goldsmith, for Greenpeace, accused the US airline of putting profit before the environment.

She said: "Aviation is the fastest growing source of climate changing emissions, yet here we have another example of the reckless approach the industry takes when it comes to a choice between profit and convenience over the environment and all our futures."

Environmentalists have been campaigning for the government to force airlines to pay for carbon offsetting rather than passing it on to passengers.

Mr Baker said: "This case shows the need for the aviation industry to pay its own tax on fuel rather than the passenger which would give companies the incentive to fill their planes."

Mr Dyer, of Friends of the Earth, added: "Governments must stop granting the aviation industry the unfair privileges that allow this to happen by taxing aviation fuel and including emissions from aviation in international agreements to tackle climate change."

Flight AA90 had been due to take off from Chicago's O'Hare International airport at 3.10pm on Friday, February 8.

It did not leave until after 5am the next day and arrived in London at 5pm.

Anneliese Morris, spokeswoman for American Airlines, said they thought long and hard about cancelling the flight but did not due to the number of passengers waiting in London.

She said: "This situation is very rare. Exceptional operational circumstances meant that we had to operate this flight from Chicago to London with just five passengers on board.

"The flight operated with a full complement of crew as they had to position in London to operate one of the flights back to the US.

"The decision to do so is never taken lightly, but we had to consider the knock-on impact cancelling this flight would have had on our schedule out of London on a weekend when all of the flights were extremely busy.

"Our goal is to operate our fleet as efficiently as possible to provide our customers with excellent service while being a responsible environmental citizen."

David Learmount, of Flight International magazine, said that had American Airlines cancelled flight AA90 it would have taken days to transfer the Heathrow passengers onto other planes.

He said: "The average load factor across the Atlantic is 88 per cent, that is every plane flying between the US and the UK is 88 per cent full.

"To transfer 250 passengers onto other planes would take days to clear the flight, because there will be five passengers on one plane here and 10 on another there.

"The bulk of the passengers will spend two or three days stuck in a hotel being paid for by the airline."

kiretoce

March 6th, 2008, 05:50 PM

Rather than cancel the near-empty flight AA90, American Airlines decided to go ahead with the controversial trip went ahead as more passengers were waiting at Heathrow for the plane to arrive.

....

Flight AA90 had been due to take off from Chicago's O'Hare International airport at 3.10pm on Friday, February 8.

It did not leave until after 5am the next day and arrived in London at 5pm.

Anneliese Morris, spokeswoman for American Airlines, said they thought long and hard about cancelling the flight but did not due to the number of passengers waiting in London.

That is reason enough to go ahead with flying a virtually near-empty plane. What these fanatical tree-huggers don't know is that there are also other paying customers (passengers) at the other end that have been inconvenienced and are awaiting to board that return flight from LHR to ORD.

"To transfer 250 passengers onto other planes would take days to clear the flight, because there will be five passengers on one plane here and 10 on another there.

"The bulk of the passengers will spend two or three days stuck in a hotel being paid for by the airline."

And it seems that AA even loss (write-offs) money on this one since they took care and accomodated the stranded passengers that had to make other travel arrangements and housed them in area hotels.

kiretoce

March 6th, 2008, 07:00 PM

Tiger Airways expanding Australian capacity by 65% in 2008 (http://peanuts.aero/low_cost_airline_news/airline/7901/59/Tiger+Airways+expanding+Australian+capacity+by+65%25+in+2008.+Two+A319s+to+join+fleet+)

Tiger Airways announced plans to add two leased A319s to its Australian operation in 2008, as it prepares to launch services to more under-served regional destinations across the country.
The airline will also add its fifth A320 to its fleet in April, which, along with the A319s will grow total seating capacity by 65% this year.

The new A319s are in addition to 50 A320 family aircraft ordered by Tiger last year, which will give it the potential to grow its fleet to 72 aircraft by 2016. Up to 30 A320s have been earmarked for the Australian market, with some potentially to be switched to A319s, depending on the success of the first two.

The lighter A319s, configured with 144 seats, will enable Tiger to operate to more destinations where runway lengths do not permit A320 operations.

CEO, Tony Davis, stated “regional destinations like Tamworth have seen the cost of airfares increase dramatically in recent years and their citizens are desperate for the low cost revolution to arrive.

Tiger Airways plans to announce the location of its planned second Australian base within three months, as part of plans to have five bases across the country within seven years. Trans-Tasman services to New Zealand are also “on the radar” according to Mr Davis.

Separately, Tiger is still in negotiations with SEAir in the Philippines regarding the establishment of a base in that country.

Mr Davis stated the Philippine venture is “now with the regulators” and Tiger is hopeful of announcing its next offshore base in 2009.

kiretoce

March 6th, 2008, 08:46 PM

Tiger Airways eyes Tasman route (http://news.theage.com.au/tiger-airways-eyes-tasman-route/20080306-1xgl.html)

Singapore-based budget carrier Tiger Airways is contemplating a trans-Tasman service to take on existing players, as it moves to beef up its regional services within Australia.

Chief executive Tony Davis said that services from Australia to New Zealand were "on the radar".

Mr Davis told the Australian Aviation Press Club on Thursday that Tiger would take delivery of two A319 aircraft towards the end of the year as it prepared to launch more services to regional destinations in Australia.

Tiger will add its fifth A320 jet to its Australian fleet next month, which together with the A319s will expand its seating capacity by 65 per cent.

The carrier's A319 jet aircraft will be configured with 144 seats compared with 180 seats on its A320, which will make it lighter and allow it to fly into airports with shorter runways.

"There are scores of destinations across Australia that are crying out for more competition, but are not suitable for 180-seat A320 operations," Mr Davis said.

The A319s are in addition to a further 50 A320s, which Tiger has ordered and will be delivered over the next eight years, that will take its network fleet to more than 70 aircraft by 2016.

As many as 30 of these new aircraft could come to Australia, the airline said.

Mr Davis said Tiger, which flew to 13 destinations in Australia and had its base in Melbourne, was in the midst of negotiating with a number of airports about a second Australian base.

It plans to have five bases in Australia within seven years.

Outside of its Changi airport base in Singapore, Tiger is expanding further in the Asia Pacific region.

It is establishing a hub in Korea and is in negotiations regarding a base in the Philippines.

Mr Davis said Tiger planned to announce a new Tiger hub every 12 to 18 months.

Asked if Tiger plans to fly to Sydney, Mr David said "we're not saying we'll never fly to Sydney".

He said low-cost airline Ryan Air, which Tiger models itself on, "doesn't fly to Heathrow".

RyanAir flies to satellite airports throughout Europe not principal airports.

"Transiting through hub airports like Sydney and Brisbane is what the old airlines do, the legacy airlines, it's not our model."

Mr Davis said Tiger would set up a pilot training scheme and the first intake was expected later this year.

xzibit31

March 7th, 2008, 03:28 AM

habagatcentral1

March 7th, 2008, 09:43 AM

If its BOT, that means...ATO may not be the one managing the airport but the one who constructed it?

bacolodchamp

March 7th, 2008, 01:09 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but ATO I think is a regulatory body.

habagatcentral1

March 7th, 2008, 04:01 PM

^^ But Aiport Management (of unchartered airports) in the Philippines fall under ATO jurisdiction which is under DOTC or I think they have it updated by the passing of a bill that would uplift the civil aviation back to Cat1 for FAA.

habagatcentral1

March 7th, 2008, 04:02 PM

After several months of attempted uploading, its finally uploaded.

Nevermind the comments, wahehehe!!! :D Just enjoy the view, starting from Leon area (not Alimodian as what I mentioned there) all the way to the New Iloilo Airport at Santa Barbara/Cabatuan, Iloilo.

YD7r35EcFD0
Landing at the New Iloilo Airport

jyvo_rez

March 8th, 2008, 12:03 PM

Sana ayusin din nila ang mga airport sa mga provinces like sa Catarman, Northern Samar na ipanakita sa IMBESTIGADOR na napakalubak-lubak ng runway at maraming hazards.

jogavilz

March 8th, 2008, 01:29 PM

Iloilo International Airport na pala tawag ng CebuPac sa New Iloilo Airport

WawaY[625]

March 9th, 2008, 12:41 PM

a s i a n a

March 9th, 2008, 10:49 PM

‘The airline is now operating in a very stable environment’ (http://www.livemint.com/2008/03/06232441/8216The-airline-is-now-oper.html)
Jetlite (former Sahara Airlines) CEO to move to Cebu Pacific

Tarun Shukla
New Delhi

After two years with Jet Airways (India) Ltd, the second in turning around what was regarded as one of India’s most troubled airlines, Air Sahara (now JetLite), Garry Robert Kingshott will move on to the Philippines after May to head another low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific. In an interview at JetLite’s office overlooking the Delhi airport, the CEO of JetLite tells Mint why he decided to move on and the way forward for the airline.

Edited excerpts:
What made you quit even though you haven’t yet fully turned around JetLite?

By when do you think JetLite will be able to break even and also, when will it become profitable?

There is absolutely no doubt that the work here is not finished and it won’t be for two-three more years. I think what we have done now in the last 10 months is that we have taken an airline that would very easily have collapsed, to an airline that is now operating in a very stable environment. The business is now stable. The staff has settled down, we are in the middle of just finishing off (sorting out the issue of pilots’ remuneration). That was a key issue. There are two more aircraft that have to come up. I think I would still be here to see those two aircraft fly. So, the task in a way changes. It’s now about taking the airline on a growth path and continuing to make incremental changes. Now, I would have happily continued to do that. However, I got an offer I simply could not refuse. And it was a very attractive proposition. And I chose to accept it.

I have consistently said we will be able to break even once all planes are flying. We are in the process of preparing our 2008-09 budget and would hope to show a small profit.

You weren’t asked to stay back by Naresh Goyal who brought you here?

I think he knew (that there would not be a change of mind)… It wasn’t just about the money. It was a whole series of things. Working environment, stock options (in the new airline). In this sort of business you get almost one call a week, most of which you are not interested in and it takes only 30 seconds to say no, but this is the one where everything felt right about it.

The airline is called Cebu Pacific. In fact what we are doing here (JetLite) has actually already been done there. This is a 10-12 years old airline, but two years ago it completely re-fleeted, changed its model from full-service carrier flying DC-9s and Boeing 757s to brand new fleet of A320s and switched business model to a low-cost carrier and they have gone from carrying two million to five million passengers last year and are targeting seven million for this year. The oldest aircraft they have is 21 months old. So... they are profitable, have a 43% market share—and are at a point in time where they need a CEO.

tigidig14

March 9th, 2008, 11:19 PM

baka pabagsakin ang cebupacific dahil sa performannce nya sa jetlite

filcan

March 9th, 2008, 11:48 PM

^^im worried bout that too..

diz

March 10th, 2008, 04:09 AM

I'm so confused! Why will he head Cebu Pacific when our LCC is doing so well?

And why does it have to be him?

mwg12a

March 10th, 2008, 07:25 AM

Sounds like a stupid move doesn't it?

diz

March 10th, 2008, 08:14 AM

Yeah. Why doesn't the owner of the airline himself be the CEO?

Sou-jiro

March 10th, 2008, 09:27 AM

wow im worried for 5j...i dont like this at all

tigidig14

March 10th, 2008, 10:11 AM

kiretoce

March 11th, 2008, 07:51 PM

Baggage Becomes A Big-Ticket Item: Pack light or pay up (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120519352406325701.html?mod=yahoo_buzz)

Forcing customers to pay for service previously included with ticket purchases, UAL Corp.'s United Airlines and US Airways Group Inc. will begin charging $50 round-trip for checking a second piece of luggage on May 5, and Southwest Airlines Co. has already implemented a similar fee for checking a third bag. Other airlines may follow, eager to collect hundreds of millions of dollars without raising ticket prices.

Airlines are under severe financial pressure from high fuel prices, and their finances may worsen if recession curbs some travel. Carriers have been scrambling for ways to "up-sell" fliers, including selling first-class upgrades, fancy alcoholic drinks and day passes to airport clubs.

But they've also been stripping out previously free services and charging customers for anything more than basic transportation -- everything from use of skycaps and telephone reservationists to on-board meals and, at a few carriers, assigned seats and exit-row or bulkhead legroom.

Customers have adapted to most of that, and giving fliers the chance to pay reasonable fees to improve their travel experience has been popular.

Baggage fees may be different, however. The stiff penalties can add hundreds of dollars to a family vacation, especially if travelers show up at the airport with bags heavier than 50 pounds or larger than the size limit airlines use -- 62 linear inches, the combined measurements of height, length and width.

Fees for overweight and oversized bags have been raised by some airlines in the past year, even as baggage-service reliability has declined. And the fees are charged cumulatively -- an extra bag that is overweight and oversized gets hit with three fees. So a second checked bag that is overweight and oversized will cost $450 round-trip at United after May 5. At Delta Air Lines Inc., a third checked suitcase that weighs 71 pounds and is oversized costs $660 round-trip.

The Baggage Bill

Airline | No. of free checked bags | Cost to check 3 bags
United 1 $250
US Airways 1 $250
Continental 2 $200
Delta 2 $160
American 2 $160
Northwest 2 $160
Southwest 2 $50

Baggage policies vary greatly these days. At ultra-cheap discounters like Skybus Airlines Inc. and Spirit Airlines Inc., customers pay $10 to check even one bag, but fees are generally low. Skybus charges $50 round-trip for an oversized bag, for example, compared to $100 round-trip at Southwest and JetBlue Airways Corp. and $200 round-trip at AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, United, Delta and Continental Airlines Inc.

Air Canada, a unit of ACE Aviation Holdings Inc., a pioneer in a la carte airline pricing, offers customers a $3 discount if they don't check bags.

Beyond the potential expense, baggage fees test the boundaries of what constitutes basic airline service. What do you get when you buy a ticket, beyond transport from one city to another? Since most of us need clothes when we travel, baggage service has always been part of the deal, like a bed, shower and television in a hotel room. Is it fair for airlines to make it an add-on service the way hotels charge extra for movies, meals and telephone calls?

Some travelers say no, especially when security rules limiting liquids force many to check more bags, and weight limits and the airline proclivity to lose bags encourage people to opt for multiple suitcases.

"There's a reasonable expectation of being able to travel with the bags I need, and I think two bags is reasonable," said Joseph South of Phoenix. "It's bad enough having to weigh my bags before leaving the house, but now I have to try to miraculously put the same number of clothing changes into a trash compactor in order to condense them into one single bag."

Wayne Peterson of Dallas is a road warrior with elite status on several airlines who rarely travels with more than one bag. But he does take his son on photographic expeditions at national parks -- with multiple bags. "The [second bag] policy seems to be one more method to nickel and dime us to death, and seems targeted at families traveling for pleasure rather than business travelers," he said.

Golfers and skiers will be hit hard by the new policies. Most airlines count a set of golf clubs or a pair of skis as one checked bag. Add a suitcase, and passengers on United and USAirways will have to pay the second-bag charge. Some extra items are exempt, such as duffle bags for military personnel and mobility devices such as scooters for disabled passengers. Many carriers automatically charge extra for scuba tanks. The rules, found on each airline's Web site, can be arcane and confusing, even getting down to fees and requirements on checking antlers, kayaks and surf boards. American, for example, allows each passenger to check one javelin for a $160 round-trip fee; Delta does not allow javelins.

United says one of every four customers checks multiple bags, and they are more likely to be leisure travelers -- who likely paid cheaper fares than other travelers. United did exempt its elite-level frequent fliers and travelers with expensive, refundable tickets from the new baggage fees. The new second-bag fee by itself will generate $100 million in annual revenue, the airline said. That's two million customers hit with round-trip second-bag fees.

Dennis Cary, United's senior vice president of marketing, says the definition of basic airline service is evolving, and different airlines today have different answers of what comes standard with a ticket.

"Unbundling" services means travelers will pay only for what they use, he says. Currently, every customer pays for baggage service, whether used or not. "We believe it has been too much of a one-size-fits-all model," Mr. Cary said.

United and other airlines believe selling extras like upgrades and better seating, along with charging for previously free services, will make the airline business more sustainable by helping carriers cover their costs. But the baggage decision was difficult, Mr. Cary said, because "changing customer expectations is obviously difficult."

US Airways, a marketing partner with United, was studying a second-bag fee when United announced its policy last month and opted to follow along beginning May 5, executives said. US Airways decided to include international travel in the new fees; United's policy applies only to domestic travel. Like United, US Airways exempts top-tier frequent fliers and first-class passengers, but all other customers have to pay even if they bought expensive refundable fares.

The airline considered charging $5 for every checked bag, but decided that would result in long lines and slower service. Since only 8% of US Airways customers check a second bag, the carrier doesn't think the new fee will clog airports. But it will generate $75 million for the airline.

"At the end of the day, it's a price increase," says US Airways Chairman and Chief Executive Douglas Parker.

US Airways spends roughly $250 million a year on baggage service, Mr. Parker says, and passing some of that cost to customers who actually use the service helps the airline offer lower basic fares. Consumers will switch airlines over even a $5 fare difference, airlines say, but are less sensitive to fees paid at the airport.

"It may be a better pricing model to segment some of the services we provide," said Mr. Parker.

That doesn't mean fees will result in better baggage handling, however, though reducing the volume of checked bags could help airlines. Last year, United ranked fifth best in baggage handling among the 10 biggest airlines, and US Airways was worst among major carriers.

US Airways says if you pay fees for baggage handling and the airline doesn't deliver, it will consider refunding fees on a case-by-case basis, likely depending on how long you have to wait for your bag to be found and delivered. United, however, says it won't refund baggage fees even if it loses your bag.