Airlines, Airplanes and Airports - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 46

absinthe_888

October 30th, 2008, 07:43 PM

RP, Malaysia sign new air agreement (http://manilatimes.net/national/2008/oct/31/yehey/business/20081031bus5.html)

THE Philippines and Malaysia on Thursday signed a new air service agreement (ASA) that will boost tourism and trade in both countries.

In a telephone interview, Jose Luciano, president and chief executive of Clark International Airport Corp. said the negotiation was “successful,” with both countries agreeing to increase flight entitlements.

“We expect our overseas Filipino workers [OFW] and the tourism industry [to] benefit from this new agreement,” Luciano said.

He said 9,000 seats a week were given to Philippine carriers flying from Clark or equivalent to seven flights a day.

For carriers flying from Manila, they were given 2,500 seats a week.

Luciano said the two governments also approved 700 tons of cargo a week for the Clark route.

Malaysia received a reciprocal right to fly to points in the Philippines.

Luciano said the Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Southeast Asian Airlines and Zest Airways plan to fly to Malaysia, while Malaysian Air and Air Asia will increase flights to the Philippines.

In August, the Philippine and Iran air panels agreed to 16 flight entitlements a week for each state.

Of the total, four flights a week were given to carriers flying from Manila, seven flights a week from Clark and the remaining entitlements for other points in the country.

The Iranian government received a reciprocal right to fly to points in the Philippines.

The Philippines and Hong Kong also increased seat entitlements to 23,800 a week for each state. Of the total, 15,000 have been allocated for Manila, 6,300 for Clark and the remaining 2,500 for Cebu.

Canada also gave the Philippines two additional frequencies from Manila to the North American country or from point to point only. Also approved were five frequencies weekly for cargo flights from Manila to Canada with no capacity restrictions.

An air agreement between Macau and the Philippines was concluded last month, bringing a total seat entitlement of 13,100 a week from 850.

Of the total, 3,600 seats will be allocated each for Manila and Macau; 6,000 seats for Clark and Subic; and another 3,500 seats weekly for carriers outside Manila.

The liberalization of the Philippine air policy is part of the Arroyo administration’s Medium Term Development Plan for 2004 to 2010.

The government is banking on the liberalization of air transport to pave the way for the entry of more foreign budget airlines to achieve the five million tourist arrivals by 2010

lovely_aiko

October 31st, 2008, 12:08 AM

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1698/10588304/18969014/340482928.jpg

yeah, i felt that PAL's route to CTU direct from MNL is more of an 'experiment' that obviously did not materialise...just like i said, this route lasted only for a month...it's also the same with PAL's direct flight to Chongqing, another Chinese city close to Chengdu. and, i can still remember the funfare forumers here at SSC have had when PAL anounces more international flights to continental asia. but it's shortlive.

i already enjoyed sufficient space of Fiesta class, and attention...and it would be too much if i would ask for an upgrade..ehehehhe...

better ad campaign, and support from DOT could have save this route...but, too late.

The routes (Chengdu and Chongqing) were cancelled because of poor passenger loads brought about by the untimely disastrous earthquakes that hit both areas.

I dont believe the suggestion that both routes were an experiment for PAL. A feasibility study is always done before any new route is open. Chongqing and Chengdu are fast growing high density Chinese cities . Initially , revenue losses were to be expected but with proper marketing, DOT support I would think the routes were financially feasible for PAL like their other China routes.

mwg12a

October 31st, 2008, 03:29 AM

I do not like NWA services. Of the 5 luggages I checked-in and paid the 3 exist luggages at JFK, upon arrival in Manila, I got only 1 at the baggage claim. I was not even compensated for the delays in picking up my luggages. On my return to JFK the following week, I checked-in 1 luggage at MIA and recieved none at JFK. I recieved my luggage 2 days later and home delivered damage.

I took Delta from DFW to La Guardia good service.

It can happen in any other airlines. It was just your luck with them that time. I never had any problems with NWA, service is not the best but it wasn't that bad either, I always get a cheap airfare with them so I'm contented. I had one bad experience with Delta but I've tried it again and it was okay.

I believe at one time, i didn't get my check in luggage with TWA when I flew to Orlando long time ago, but partly it was my fault because I was late when I checked in, I flew out of SGF to Houston via STL and stayed in Houston overnight, I partied hard that night before , I almost missed my flight the following morning to MCO, it was HOuston - STL-MCO, my luggage didn't make it on my flight because I was at the gate almost just intime when they were about to close the door and I really barely made it. I was single back then so I always blew my money on trips like these, imagine? SGF-STL-Houston, houston- STL-MCO then MCO STL SGF.

mwg12a

October 31st, 2008, 03:34 AM

^^ You probably just had a series of bad luck. I've flown with DL on most of my trips and have found their services and amenities to be just fine. No major complaints here.

Yeah, I've complained about DL before, but I realized it was due to the computer glitch and the blizzard condition in Cincy. I had another opportunity with DL almost a year after when I had to go on a seminar provided by our company. It was alot better that time so I changed my mind in favor of DL.

kiretoce

October 31st, 2008, 04:14 AM

In all my flying experience, I've had my luggage lost/delayed only twice. One occurence was on a CO flight from LAX to MCO with a layover in IAH, that was due to me arriving late for check-in. The other time was a flight from SIN to MNL on PR, and the mistake on this one was that they sent my bags to NRT!

IAMME

October 31st, 2008, 04:42 AM

Philippine Airlines Inflight Dinner (Manila-Honolulu)
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4374/imgp2574fl5.jpg

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/673/imgp2580le8.jpg
(The fish is excellent!)

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/2460/imgp2586al6.jpg

kiretoce

October 31st, 2008, 04:58 AM

^^ In First, Business, or Coach?

mwg12a

October 31st, 2008, 04:58 AM

Looks real yummy. Business class?

abnkat

October 31st, 2008, 09:55 AM

Philippine Airlines, has rolled out two additional flights that will serve the Davao-Manila route in time for the peak season.

...there is an increased demand for seats due to the number of passengers that are heading home during this weekend. This will continue until the end of the year, during the Christmas season, this is just the start

PR 819 6:30am MNL 8:30am DVO
9:20am DVO 11:15am MNL

PR 815 6:15pm MNL 8:15pm DVO
8:55pm DVO 10:45pm MNL

This is in addition to the five daily flights of Philippine Airlines to and from Davao City. Of the seven flights, four are wide-bodied aircraft, while three are A320 and A319 aircraft.

"ZukiChirO"

October 31st, 2008, 11:56 AM

Guys anong balita sa Spirit of Manila?...nagstart nba ung flight nila sa Macau to Clark, what about other destinations?

Igsuonnimo

October 31st, 2008, 12:00 PM

Montecito_kid

October 31st, 2008, 02:57 PM

Mabuhay Class. The food is served in a plate. Economy meals come in an aluminum tray.

icarusrising

October 31st, 2008, 03:00 PM

SC affirms airlines' right to fire overweight flight attendant (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/130688/SC-affirms-airlines-right-to-fire-overweight-flight-attendant)
10/31/2008 | 07:31 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Yes, Philippines Airlines (PAL) has the right to fire an overweight flight attendant so that it can maintain flight safety, according to a Supreme Court ruling.

In a 28-page decision, Associate Justice Reyes of the court's Third Division affirmed the termination of Armando Yrasuegi as PAL international flight for failing to keep his weight within the limit set by the airlines' Cabin and Crew Administration Manual.

The court, however, decided that Yrasuegui would be entitled to separation pay equivalent to one-half month’s salary for every year of service, which should include his regular allowances.

According to the court, Yrasuegui’s obesity is a ground for his dismissal under Article 282 of the Labor Code, which allows a company to set qualifying standards for certain positions before hiring an employee.

"Tersely put, an employee may be dismissed the moment he is unable to comply with his ideal weight as prescribed by the weight standards," the court said.

The court dismissed the Yrasuegui's argument that obesity is a "physical abnormality and/or illness," and that his dismissal from PAL was illegal on the mere ground of his failure to maintain his weight at 166 pounds for his height of 5'-8".

The court pointed out that Yrasuegui was able to reduce his weight from 1984 to 1992, thus, showing that he could lose weight with determination and self-discipline.

The court noted that PAL had been lenient with Yrasuegui, giving him more than four years to comply with its weight standards. Yrasuegui only has himself to blame when he said that reducing weight was costing him "a lot of expenses" since he could have easily asked the company physician for help, as PAL suggested.

"He chose to ignore the suggestion," the court said. "In fact, he repeatedly failed to report when required to undergo weight checks, without offering a valid explanation. Thus, his fluctuating weight indicates absence of willpower rather than an illness."

The SC explained that the main reason that airlines impose weight standards for cabin crew is to maintain flight safety.

Cabin attendants, such as Yrasuegui, must maintain agility at all times to inspire passenger confidence.

"Passenger safety goes to the core of the job of a cabin attendant," the court said. "On board an aircraft, the body weight and size of a cabin attendant are important factors to consider in case of emergency. Aircraft have constricted cabin space, and narrow aisles and exit doors."

According to court records, Yrasuegui’s battle with the bulge dates back to 1984 when PAL advised him to go on an extended vacation leave from Dec. 29, 1984, to March 4, 1985, so that he could do something about his weight.

In line with company policy, he was removed from flight duty effective May 6, 1989 to July 3, 1989. He was formally requested to trim down to his ideal weight and report for weight checks on several dates.

Yrasuegui was also told that he could also see the company physician in time for his weight evaluation on July 3, 1989.

On Oct. 17, 1989, PAL line administrator Gloria Dizon visited Yrasuegui at his house to check on his progress. At that time, he weighed 217 pounds, gaining 2 pounds from his previous weight.

After the visit, petitioner made a commitment to reduce weight, but despite the lapse of the 90 days given him to reach his ideal weight, he remained overweight.

On Jan. 3, 1990, PAL told him that he would remain grounded until he loses weight. Again, he was directed to report every two weeks for weight checks.

When Yrasuegui tipped the scale on July 30, 1990, he weighed at 212 pounds. PAL heard nothing from him until he followed up his case requesting for leniency in 1992.

He weighed 219 pounds on Aug. 20, 1992, and 205 pounds on Nov. 5, 1992.

On Nov. 13, 1992, PAL finally served petitioner a Notice of Administrative Charge for violating its weight standards.

Yrasuegui did not deny being overweight, but he claimed, instead, that his violation, if any, had already been condoned by PAL since "no action has been taken by the company" regarding his case since 1988.

He also claimed that PAL discriminated against him because "the company has not been fair in treating the cabin crew members who are similarly situated."

The differing opinions of PAL and petitioner caused him to file a case with the National Labor Relations Commission, which upheld his position that "obesity, or the tendency to gain weight uncontrollably regardless of the amount of food intake, is a disease in itself."

The unfavorable findings of the NLRC prompted PAL to appeal the case at the appellate court, which overturned the ruling and affirmed Yrasuegui’s dismissal from the company. - GMANews.TV

IAMME

October 31st, 2008, 07:12 PM

^^ In First, Business, or Coach?

Looks real yummy. Business class?

Mabuhay Class. The food is served in a plate. Economy meals come in an aluminum tray.

Yup, this is Mabuhay (Business) class. For breakfast they served us economy food because they, I suppose, ran out of business class meals.

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/9115/imgp2620qx5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

kiretoce

October 31st, 2008, 07:48 PM

Didn't PR have that "On Demand" meal service? Wherein you can have your meal served to you at any time during the flight, what ever happened to that?

arianespace

November 2nd, 2008, 12:07 AM

PAL ‘jumbo’ jet’s new look unveiled (http://www.philippineairlines.com/news/31oct_pals_jumbo_jets_new_look_unveiled.jsp)

http://www.philippineairlines.com/Images/dfsdf_tcm61-6622.jpg
Looks of the new interior

MANILA – The classic has undergone a makeover. For 15 years, Philippine Airlines’ enormous Boeing 747-400 was the “queen of the skies” on the busy trans-Pacific routes between Manila and the West Coast of the United States.

The popular “jumbo” jet – the largest and most advanced model of the B747 family – has flown millions of balikbayans, tourists, business people and other passengers in comfort across the Pacific since it joined the PAL fleet in November 1993.

Recently, the old reliable got an upgrade. In the first major retrofitting of its B747-400 fleet in years, PAL has launched a comprehensive, P1.8-billion renovation of the aircraft’s cabin, bannered by its reconfiguration from a tri-class to bi-class layout.

Other highlights include the installation of state-of-the-art inflight entertainment systems, new business-class and economy-class seats, and the infusion of a modern look that emulates the beautiful coastal areas of the Philippines.

Late last month, the first of PAL’s four B747-400s to undergo the cabin-upgrade program was delivered to the flag carrier and immediately put back into service on the trans-Pacific sector.

The upgrade is being progressively introduced into the B747-400 fleet and by the second half of 2009, all four units will be sporting the new interiors.

Roomier Mabuhay Class

Entering the newly refurbished cabin, longtime PAL passengers would be forgiven for thinking they stepped into a fresh-out-of-the-factory aircraft and not their trusty long-range workhorse.

For starters, they’ll notice a difference in the cabin layout: Mabuhay (Business) Class has been expanded to cover a larger area, occupying the main forward section and the entire upper deck of the B747-400.

There are now 42 seats in Mabuhay Class, 10 more seats than in the old layout. Fiesta (Economy) Class remains at 383 seats. But far more important is what’s in the seats – bigger, wider and loaded with the latest features, they are a world apart from the previous variant.

New seats

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

With a generous pitch of 60 inches (nearly a foot longer than in the previous design), the seats are adjustable to a variety of positions at the passenger’s option, including a full-flat recline.

Each seat is equipped with its own programmable position controls with memory, individual directional LED reading light, oversized tray table and bottle holder.

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

Full-cabin Audio Video On-Demand

The entire passenger cabin is equipped with the i5000 inflight entertainment system supplied by Thales of France. The i5000 is a fully digital system that enables both Mabuhay and Fiesta Class passengers to choose from a full library of video and audio content.

Each seat is outfitted with personal television with Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) feature that enables passengers to start, pause, rewind, and fast-forward any of the video programs at any time using the touch-screen controls or the passenger control units.

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

The selection includes 18 of the latest Hollywood movies, a Filipino film, eight popular television programs, 12 radio channels and 50 CD albums.

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

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

The Mabuhay Class cabin is equipped with 15.4-inch, seatback-mounted monitors and 10.6-inch, in-arm monitors, while Fiesta Class seats come with 9-inch monitors.

New, modern look

Finally, tying everything together are enhanced cabin aesthetics and an interior design that evokes the tranquil seas and sandy beaches of the Philippines – one of the signature elements of the flag carrier’s service.

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

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

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

Overall, the stylish, modern look encapsulates the comprehensive makeover of PAL’s flagship aircraft, the B747-400 – still majestically cruising the skies across the Pacific well into the 21st century.

a s i a n a

November 2nd, 2008, 03:10 AM

swahi

November 2nd, 2008, 04:02 AM

Arianespace, is the change with the 747 exclusively with the interior? These planes are old, any upgrades to more fuel efficient engines?

mwg12a

November 2nd, 2008, 05:31 AM

^^^^ Interior is what was refurbished, that's totally separate from the engines of an aircraft. These engines are very well maintained so it is as good as new so I doubt if they are any more energy efficient than before.

That small picture of the 747-400 interior looks real nice. I hope more pictures will be shown in PAL's website.

Solblanc

November 2nd, 2008, 09:19 AM

I hope someone would answer my questions regarding fifth freedom rights.:D

When PR was given the "go signal" to start the YVR-LAS run in 2004, who actually applied for the rights to fly the route? Did PR apply for the rights alone? Or, did PR push the Philippine government to lobby Canada for the rights? Or, was this part of a pre-2004 bilateral agreement between Canada and Philippines? Can an airline alone apply for itself fifth freedom rights? I assume SQ is lobbying on itself HKG-JFK rights.

The fifths to LAS were already part of a previous agreement signed back in 1997. Canadian carriers technically have fifth freedom rights out of Manila, so AC could theoretically fly YYZ-MNL-SIN/BKK if there were a business case for it. The agreement can be seen here http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/air-aerien/agreements/html/philippines_e.html

The agreement was updated recently to accommodate PAL's requests for more flights. As for the specifics, it's mostly cargo, but two extra frequencies were gained, I think. The text of the new agreement isn't online yet.

OtAkAw

November 2nd, 2008, 09:59 AM

Yup, this is Mabuhay (Business) class. For breakfast they served us economy food because they, I suppose, ran out of business class meals.

Ay naku naku, is this not illegal? I mean you paid for obviously business class treatment!

Sky Harbor

November 2nd, 2008, 11:21 AM

RP, Malaysia ink air rights deal (http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20081102-169835/RP-Malaysia-ink-air-rights-deal)

Talks completed ahead of schedule

By Daxim Lucas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:02:00 11/02/2008

MANILA, Philippines--Expect air travel between the Philippines and Malaysia to become easier and cheaper after officials of the two Southeast Asian countries sealed "the largest deal" in a series of air rights negotiations this year.

According to Clark International Airport Corp. president & CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano, the new agreement will allow the operation of flights that will carry as many as 9,000 passengers weekly from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport to any destination in Malaysia.

This translates roughly to seven new flights weekly between DMIA and Malaysia, based on aircraft the size of Airbus A320s or Boeing 737s.

"This is good news for our countrymen, especially the overseas Filipino workers," he said.

The bulk of the new flights are expected to be operated by budget carriers--several of which are already flying out of DMIA to regional destinations--catering to cost-conscious flyers.

At present, Malaysian carrier Air Asia operates two flights to DMIA from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, catering to Filipino expatriate workers.

According to Luciano, the air talks also resulted in additional entitlements of 2,300 seats a week for flights between the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and any Malaysian destination, excluding the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, as well as 2,000 seats a week for any Malaysian destination from any Philippine airport, excluding Naia and DMIA.

Luciano described the negotiations as "smooth" and said they were concluded within the first day of the expected two-day affair, in contrast to the previous week's air talks between the Philippines and Kuwait, which ended in an impasse.

Ciac hosted the Philippines-Hong Kong air talks earlier this year, where both sides got 8,600 seat entitlements that would pave the way for air carriers to fly out of DMIA via Clark-Hong Kong flights in the near future. Other successful air talks included those with Macau, Thailand, Cambodia, Finland and Canada.

Cebu Pacific Air is set to mount daily international services at DMIA on Nov. 8 via Clark-Singapore and Clark-Hong Kong flights, and four times a week via Clark-Bangkok and Clark-Macau. The local carrier is the first major carrier to mount daily international and local flights to the airport.

Cebu Pacific Air started its daily Clark-Cebu flights on Oct. 1.

Luciano also announced last week that local carriers South East Asian Airlines (Seair), Zest Air (formerly Asian Spirit) and Air Philippines would soon start operations at DMIA.

He said passenger volume was expected to increase due to the entry of more air carriers at DMIA, which has become the favorite entry and exit point of OFWs based in Asian countries and US-based Filipinos, who hail from Central and Northern Luzon.

a s i a n a

November 2nd, 2008, 12:02 PM

The fifths to LAS were already part of a previous agreement signed back in 1997. Canadian carriers technically have fifth freedom rights out of Manila, so AC could theoretically fly YYZ-MNL-SIN/BKK if there were a business case for it. The agreement can be seen here http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/air-aerien/agreements/html/philippines_e.html

The agreement was updated recently to accommodate PAL's requests for more flights. As for the specifics, it's mostly cargo, but two extra frequencies were gained, I think. The text of the new agreement isn't online yet.

Thank you for your answer! :) It does feed my need for knowledge regarding aviation matters. :)

But, in general, who have the power to lobby for fifths? Airlines? Governments? Or a combination of airlines and governments?

arianespace

November 2nd, 2008, 05:13 PM

^^
I hope someone would answer my questions regarding fifth freedom rights.:D

When PR was given the "go signal" to start the YVR-LAS run in 2004, who actually applied for the rights to fly the route? Did PR apply for the rights alone? Or, did PR push the Philippine government to lobby Canada for the rights? Or, was this part of a pre-2004 bilateral agreement between Canada and Philippines? Can an airline alone apply for itself fifth freedom rights? I assume SQ is lobbying on itself HKG-JFK rights.

The fifths to LAS were already part of a previous agreement signed back in 1997. Canadian carriers technically have fifth freedom rights out of Manila, so AC could theoretically fly YYZ-MNL-SIN/BKK if there were a business case for it. The agreement can be seen here http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/air-aerien/agreements/html/philippines_e.html

The agreement was updated recently to accommodate PAL's requests for more flights. As for the specifics, it's mostly cargo, but two extra frequencies were gained, I think. The text of the new agreement isn't online yet.

Solblanc correctly pointed the source of the fifth freedom right. But it doesn't give you the story behind the story.

Originally, the 1994 ASA between Canada and the Philippines doesn't have that right. Canada bargain for the right and it now paid dearly. It was Air Canada's insistence to poach the lucrative Manila traffic out to Hongkong in 1994 which it had acquired 5th Freedom from Cathay, allowing the right to materialize because PAL intends to fly New York and Chicago while Air Canada had no intention to fly directly to Manila. At that time, the agreement was really in ACA's favor. When the ASA was finalised in 1997, ACA thought that PAL doesnt stand a chance on 5th freedom out of YVR. At first their argument was then successful because PAL withdrew New York and Chicago less than a year it opened in 1997. It reintroduced YVR service in 2001 and exercise 5th freedom in 2004 to LAS. Mighty Singapore Airlines failed less than a year and they were hoping PAL would close it the same way. History went and PAL is still in LAS and growing based on McCarran statistics.

Other operators including British Airways made money out of HKG-MNL lucrative route until after the implementation of Airline alliances in 1997. One Cathay flight out of Manila was actually a BA flight. CX made it impossible for them to enjoy profit until they eventually withdrew. ACA flight to Bangkok was shared with Thai until it was officially dropped in 2001 for non-usage. THA still enjoys the code share with ACA on YVR.

Tide indeed changed 10 years later when PAL asked for more, equivalent to 14 flights out of YVR except LAX and SFO but Canada declined on the same argument the Philippine panel said to its counterpart in Kuwait. There are still 4 unused flight in favor of Air Canada which it doesnt intend to use for the time being. PAL ended leasing one entitlement in exchange for leasing one of their 744 just to add more flight. Had ACA not offered the deal, Canada woul'nt have granted the TOP. When the lease expires next year it remains to be seen whether PAL would continue leasing their entitlement as they already have two more or a total of 6. And beside they will have 2 new 77W by next year. My take on this is I think they probably would assuming they intend to start SAN with 4-3 frequency. If not, they will still have 4-2.

Airlines lobby for rights and governments negotiate it for them because corporate entities are not STATE, and only States are sovereign. States also protect interest of its corporations as it generates jobs and revenues for the government. :)

------------------------------------------------
^^^^
Arianespace, is the change with the 747 exclusively with the interior? These planes are old, any upgrades to more fuel efficient engines?

^^^^ Interior is what was refurbished, that's totally separate from the engines of an aircraft. These engines are very well maintained so it is as good as new so I doubt if they are any more energy efficient than before

I agree with mwg12a. Airlines always maintain a new engine for operational efficiency. Whats not being replaced is the airframe or the hull of the plane. D-check maintenance merely looks for the structural integrity of the plane whether it can still fly 5 more years or equivalent flight hours, and make necessary repairs to strengthen integrity. D checks make aircraft close to being brand new. Remember, in aircraft parlance, there is no such thing as old planes. A 1 year old 744 is no better than a 25 year old 744 if you don't provide maintenance to it. Much more, you have more chances of crashing your plane than the 20 year old aircraft which is well maintained. The difference is that as they grow older, cost of maintenance increase exponentially making it least attractive to profit conscious airlines. Thats why Air Philippines dropped some of their 732 at the height of the oil crisis because its more expensive to fly it than generate revenue out of its flight.

The 744 will still have another 5-6 more years before its going to be replaced by 380's starting in 2014, that is if it takes them next year.

a s i a n a

November 2nd, 2008, 06:16 PM

Airlines lobby for rights and governments negotiate it for them because corporate entities are not STATE, and only States are sovereign. States also protect interest of its corporations as it generates jobs and revenues for the government. :)

This is what I'm looking for, thanks! :)

Speaking of BA, I actually thought the British carrier was losing on the HKG-MNL flights. Maybe because the HKG-MNL flights were tag-ons to LHR-HKG that esentially pulled down the profits of the entire routing.

Why in this world would AC keep 4 unused entitlements? Those entitlements can be given (I hope) to PR to provide for more flights. If PR initiates daily flights to YVR, would this affect AC's HKG-YVR in return?

absinthe_888

November 2nd, 2008, 06:49 PM

Air traffic controllers to get pay hike next year (http://philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20081102154)
By Rudy Santos
Monday, November 3, 2008

Starting January next year, all air traffic controllers (ATCs) and similar technical personnel of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will receive salary scales approaching those of pilots.

Ruben Ciron, CAAP director general, said the new salary adjustment will take effect on the first day of January 2009 since the fund has not been incorporated in this year’s appropriation.

The local aviation community’s ranks of air controllers have been decimated as many have been lured by higher salaries abroad.

To guarantee that these highly technical personnel will remain with the CAAP, Ciron’s board of directors has upgraded their salaries to match world standards.

On average, the lowest ATC and similar technical personnel will receive P17,000 to P27,000 per month; a senior, from P37,000 to P47,000; a supervisor, P47,000 to P57,000; a section chief, P77,000 to P87,000; and an assistant service chief, P100,000 to P108,000.

Ciron’s salary would range from P125,000 to P135,000 per month.

But the good news was met with skeptical disdain by air controllers, who have grown distrustful of government because of broken promises in the past.

“Let me see the color of their money. We will wait until the cash is actually in our hands,” said Ariel Carabeo, a supervisor of the Area Control Center, manning the main radar receiving stations relayed from the Tagaytay City radar site to its office in the CAAP building across Nayong Pilipino.

Nehemia Tady, a senior controller at the Manila tower, echoed the same reaction, saying, “We will wait until the law is implemented.”

Tady added that although some of them were elated to hear the news, many were skeptical that these high salaries would ever reach their pocket.

Despite these reactions, the upgraded salary was no small victory to the decimated ranks of 353 controllers in the country, who for 29 years, have been fighting for their rights to be exempted from the Salary Standardization Law passed in 1989, effectively lumping them with regular civil servants.

It was also 12 years since the first CAAP bill was proposed in 1996.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded the Philippines to Category 2 status from Category 1 after it found the former Air Transportation Office (ATO) deficient in eight principal aspects such as legislation, regulation, structure, oversight, technical guidance, licensing, certification, and surveillance.

“The air traffic controller is foremost in its mind. We have since addressed the problem of high attrition rate by getting the budget department to approve 122 new ATCs last August. Last September, 51 personnel passed a competitive examination and they will soon undergo training while 40 more are scheduled to train in January 2009,” Ciron said.

“Another 100 enlisted men from the Philippine Air Force will be trained and redeployed all over the country as contingency workforce,” he added.

Ciron said the CAAP has hired five consultants from the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) led by Peter Weiss. The consultants are experts in personnel licensing, flight operations, airworthiness, and aerodrome certification.

To assure a high standard of flight safety, the CAAP hired the following check pilots: three for B747, three for Airbus 340, two for A330 plus two more for re-qualification, six for A319 and A320, and three for B737.

“These pilots came from Philippine Airlines and the Philippine Air Force. Their wealth of experience would surely be an asset to the Authority,” Ciron said.

AmbutLang

November 3rd, 2008, 06:58 AM

It's about time the ATC will have a salary increase in or close to par with its foreign counter parts. I hope also wth the airways technicians which maitained there communication equipments in the airports and also in isolated places like in the middle of nowhere, on top on the mountains and islands where the sky hi-ways routes. More than half of my batch resigned and work in Saudi as electrical and electronic engrs. because of the pay.

Sou-jiro

November 3rd, 2008, 11:11 AM

just out of curiosity....is the Lone B737-300 in PALs fleet still flyng for PR?...I believe PAL owned this aircraft...it's no longer on PRs website?..is it with Air Phils now?..or atleast cargo services?

btw ...including PALExpress its nice to know they're fleet is building up again ..almost 50 aircraft..and it doesnt incluse any of the 6 X 777 awaiting delivery.

Are they refurbishing the 2nd 744 for PAL, I assume?..how long does it take to refir new cabin interior on a widebody on average> :)

Montecito_kid

November 3rd, 2008, 03:31 PM

Are they refurbishing the 2nd 744 for PAL, I assume?..how long does it take to refir new cabin interior on a widebody on average> :)

The seat reconfig for the remaining 744s, excluding RP-C8168, has been rescheduled for February 09 so as not to disrupt the holiday schedule.

Sky Harbor

November 4th, 2008, 02:29 AM

PAL junks 1st class, renovates fleet for US (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/130933/PAL-junks-1st-class-renovates-fleet-for-US)
11/03/2008 | 12:10 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines (PAL) is renovating its flagship fleet of aircraft to maximize cabin space and improve margins.

The airline’s Boeing 747-400 fleet will be reconfigured to do away with First-Class seats and have only two classes — Business or Mabuhay class and Fiesta or Economy class. "That’s part of our strategy to give more passengers the chance to experience higher seat classes," PAL Vice-President for Corporate Communications Rolando C. Estabillo said in an interview Sunday.

The renovation of the four B747 aircraft, which started in late September, is expected to be finished by the second half of next year. It is the first major renovation of the fleet since the Lucio Tan-owned carrier bought the aircraft in 1993. The company uses its B747s on transpacific flights between Manila and destinations in the United States West Coast. These include Los Angeles and San Francisco in California. The airline also has flights to Las Vegas.

The flag carrier said converting first class to business class would be more profitable since business class tickets are more affordable. The new cabin will have 42 business class seats, or 10 seats more than before. The economy class remains at 383 seats.

First-class roundtrip tickets cost about $3,000 each. Business class tickets are just under $2,000, while economy seats go for about $1,000.

"The first-class area is rarely ever filled. Who can afford first class?" Mr. Estabillo said in Filipino. With first class gone, the space for business class will be expanded to occupy the main forward section and the aircraft’s entire upper deck. The economy class will remain the same.

Mr. Estabillo said other international airlines like Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific have done the same, trying to attract more passengers with a bigger business class.

"PAL passengers would be forgiven for thinking they stepped into a fresh out-of-the-factory aircraft and not their trusty long-range workhorse," the company said in a statement.

Aside from the reconfiguration into a two-class cabin, individual seats will also be improved. PAL said Mabuhay class would have "cocoon seats," which can be turned into a bed. Economy class seats will also be made thinner, giving passengers more space. All seats for both classes will have liquid crystal display monitors for movies and games.

Airlines have been trying to cut costs and attract passengers in the face of rising oil prices for the most part of the year and shrinking margins. PAL posted a 74% decline in profits to $30 million in the fiscal year ending in March 2008. — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo, BusinessWorld

----

They're not serious on the seats, right? Then again, for seats that are fifteen years old, the 747 really needed an upgrade.

diz

November 4th, 2008, 02:58 AM

daaang i've been spending $1000 just to go to Philippines? :nuts:

abnkat

November 4th, 2008, 10:57 AM

Cebu Pacific is adding 5th weekly frequency on the Cebu - Hong Kong route from 04DEC08.
Cebu Pacific's Manila - Guangzhou service is currently operating 2 weekly (Day 15), reduced from 3 weekly. Service to be restored from 12DEC08

On the Manila - Shanghai route, operational day changes is planned for effective 13DEC08. Current service operates from Manila on Day x24, and is to be changed to Day x26

The airline has already dropped Xiamen flight earlier this year

Service to Macau has been increased to 5 weekly (Day x23 from MNL) and a 6th weekly flight (Day x3) is to be added from 27NOV08

abnkat

November 4th, 2008, 11:00 AM

Tiger Airways is introducing daily flights service between Singapore and Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) from 1 March 2009.

Due to the recent route opportunities that are presenting themselves in East Malaysia, Tiger Airways has decided to cancel its operations between Manila (Clark) and Macau from 16 November 2008. This move does not affect flights between Singapore and Manila (Clark) and Singapore and Macau which will continue to operate.

Tiger Airways currently operates 13 flights a week between Singapore and Macau, and 7 flights a week between Singapore – Manila (Clark) and will be applying to increase services on both routes

abnkat

November 4th, 2008, 11:04 AM

abs-cbnNEWS
In the next two weeks, budget carrier Cebu Pacific will already have three major North Asian destinations in its roster, topping all low-cost airlines in Southeast Asia.

Cebu Pacific will start flying to Osaka, Japan on November 20, in addition to its regular flights to and from Canton, Hong Kong, Macau and Shanghai in China, and to and from Incheon and Pusan in South, Korea.

"No other ASEAN budget airline to date services all three countries except Cebu Pacific," said Candice Iyog, company vice president for marketing and distribution.

Iyog said the Philippines’ strategic location in the region allows Cebu Pacific to offer low fares on flights to and from North Asia while keeping operational expenses manageable.

"We are aware of the importance of the region to our country’s tourism agenda. Now that we are about make the Philippines a virtual gateway between North and Southeast Asia, we hope to stimulate travel activities between these two big markets with our trademark low fares.”

Iyog said Cebu Pacific now eyes to add flights to Australasia and Oceania from North Asia.

Cebu Pacific has been supportive of the government in lobbying for increased air entitlements between the Philippines and Australian governments. It said it hopes to get a share of the volume of business and tourist passengers from Australasia and Oceania.

“The Philippines’ strategic regional location makes it possible for Cebu Pacific to interconnect North Asia with Australasia and Oceania. It takes approximately four hours to get to Osaka, Japan or Darwin, Australia from the Philippines,” Iyog explained.

Osaka, Japan, approximately 2,678 kilometers from Manila, is Cebu Pacific’s farthest northern destination. The airline maintains operational hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao.

Now in its 13th year, Cebu Pacific has the youngest aircraft fleet in the Philippines. It will fly to 27 domestic destinations with the addition of Ozamiz, and Surigao this month and 15 international destinations, counting Osaka in Japan.

arianespace

November 4th, 2008, 02:23 PM

PAL to spend US$ 1.4B for fleet modernization program

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/photorelease/q2/K64060_lg.jpg
Two brand new Boeing 777-300ER will start arriving in second quarter of 2009
with possible direct flights to Seattle and Chicago. Flights to San Diego
via Vancouver is ready to start once FAA downgrade is lifted.

November 4, 2008
By Lynda B. Valencia

MANILA, Nov. 4 – Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will spend some US$ 1.4 billion for the fleet modernization program, which will make it one of the youngest fleets in the region.

Jaime J. Bautista, PAL president and CEO, said the company is expected to complete its narrow-body fleet upgrade program later this year.

Bautista said the last two of 15 firm orders comprising Airbus A319 and A320 jets are scheduled for delivery before the end of this year, giving PAL one of the youngest narrow-body fleets in the region.

He said the wide-body modernization programs reach their peak in 2009 when two of the six Boeing 777-300ER aircraft enters into service. PAL 777 planes will arrive beginning the second quarter of 2009 to 2011.

The state-of-the-art, ultra long-range jets will be used mainly on the key trans-Pacific routes, he said.

”We want to fly to San Diego, Chicago, New York, Seattle, and Saipan,” he added.

Bautista said “How can we go to the different places when the United States Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) downgraded the country’s aviation safety rating from Category I to Category II last December 26, following an assessment conducted by the US agencies in November also of last year?”

He said the company is banking on the premise that the government, through Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza (who heads the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines), will get the nod of the US FAA to upgrade the local aviation’s status back to Category I from Category II by the first quarter of next year.

PAL is also in the midst of a comprehensive Php3.6-billion cabin refurbishment on its current wide-body fleet, which will see a new, bi-class product, alongside with the upgrade of the interiors and amenities, introduced soon.

The launch of PAL Express last May of a new, low-fares unit that will operate a fleet of turbo-propeller aircraft and the restoration of a network of mostly secondary routes exemplifies this thrust.

”We will leverage on the strength of the PAL brand to make PAL Express the leader in the markets it serves. In turn, PAL benefits from the expansion of its network to areas it does not presently fly to, from where PAL Express aims to draw traffic to feed the trunk routes,” Bautista said.

At full operation, the projected profits will increase by around Php300 million while revenue should be about Php1 billion, he said.

”But the biggest beneficiary will be the traveler, who is now able to tap into PAL’s extensive route network and enjoy seamless connections between erstwhile inaccessible provincial points and 43 destinations across the Philippines, Asia, Australia and North America,” Bautista added.

The division, however, is still supervised by the parent airline, which also provides logistical and administrative support. Examples of these structures are American Airlines’ American Eagle, United Airlines’ United Express, Air Canada’s Jazz, and Lufthansa’s Lufthansa Cityline.

But despite the higher cost of fuel, PAL is expected passenger traffic for the fiscal year 2008-2009 to end with over eight million on 47,403 flights, for an average load factor of 79.5 percent.

PAL reported a total comprehensive income of US$ 30.6 million for its financial year ending March 31, 2008. Its profit was US$ 99.9 million decline from the previous income of US$ 130.5 million, due mainly to the absence of extraordinary gains that boosted the airline’s revenues a year ago.

Still, it was PAL’s fourth consecutive annual profit and its first since successfully emerging from an eight-year stint in receivership in September 2007-indication of the flag carrier’s robust financial health.

The results revealed a stellar performance by PAL on the core operating front. Operating revenue was up 15 percent to US$ 1.46 billion in fiscal year 2008, leading to an operating profit of US$ 84.3 million, exceeding fiscal year 2007’s US$ 70.3 million by impressive 20 percent.

Cargo contributed US$ 119.5 million in revenue, with 122,672 tons lifted during fiscal year 2008.

”These results, while modest, confirm that PAL has strong fundamentals that enabled it to weather many challenges, including constant oil-price shocks,” Bautista said. (PNA (http://news.balita.ph/2008/11/04/pal-to-spend-us-14b-for-fleet-modernization-program/))

arianespace

November 4th, 2008, 02:34 PM

RP confident Category II rating will be lifted next year

http://www.op.gov.ph/newphotos/241006_04rp.jpg
DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza

By Lynda B. Valencia

MANILA, - The national government is optimistic that the United States Federal Aviation Authority (USFAA) will lift by the first quarter of 2009 the Category II aviation rating given to Philippine airports.

It will be noted that the USFAA downgraded the country’s aviation safety rating from Category I to Category 2 on December 26, 2007 following an assessment conducted by the US agencies in November also of last year.

Category I rating means that the country’s civil aviation authority complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

ICAO is a 190-member organization that lays down international civilian air travel regulations.

With the Category II rating, a country “either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with maximum international standards, or that its civil aviation authority – equivalent to FAA – is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping or inspection procedures.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, who is also the head of Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), said that the government needs to comply with only minor requirements from the USFAA.

Early this month, DOTC sent a team to FAA headquarters in Washington and presented documents, notably the creation of the CAAP.

Mendoza said the team was given a checklist on the recommended actions and programs such as computerized library that includes the procurement and installation of software and hardware and the construction of a new administration building.

He also assured the flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), that Category I status will be in place by the first quarter of next year, before the arrival of the new planes of PAL.

”We are confident that the upgrade would come before the arrival of the new Boeing 777 planes which they will use to upgrade and expand their operations in the US,” Mendoza added.

On the other hand, Jaime J. Bautista, PAL president and CEO, said “We are banking on the upgrade to Category I because Category II prohibits PAL from increasing its flights to the US and its territories and from changing the type or increasing the number of aircraft used on these routes.”

PAL planned to fly San Diego, Chicago, New York, Seattle and Saipan before the Category II decision.

The company expects the delivery of six new Boeing 777-300Er planes in September next year, which would be used for flights to the US.

”If the country fails to get an upgrade of its Category II rating by that time, we would not be able to use these new planes and would not be able to mount additional flights or go to additional destinations,” Bautista said. (PNA (http://news.balita.ph/2008/10/28/rp-confident-category-ii-rating-will-be-lifted-next-year-dotc/))

arianespace

November 4th, 2008, 02:50 PM

Bucking the odds - ups and downs for Philippine Airlines
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flight-international/jaime%20bautista.gif
Jaime Bautista talks of the company’s troubled past.

At the end of March 1999, the company posted losses of nearly $262 million, with that being the sixth year in a row of negative financials, totalling close to $6 billion of losses in six years.

However in 1999 they broke the downwards spiral.

How?

Their “Rehab plan” focused on profitable routes and concentrated on doing what they did best.

They reduced the scale of their operation (halved the number of aircraft), reduced the number of aircraft types they operate (from 20 to 5).

Cut the workforce from 13,000 to 7,000, but they kept a “people plan” to restore employee confidence in the company and never promised what they couldn’t deliver.

However, PAL’s business purpose remained the same - flying their customers to there destinations on time with there luggage.

It may sound like common sense but it clearly worked

And the proof?

In 2000, they posted a $1.2 million profit – the first profits in seven years. For the next eight consecutive years, PAL have posted operating profits for each year.

In 2007 it was $140 million profit. The biggest in their 66-year history and in 2008, it posted $ 30 million profit at the height of the aviation industry crisis.Flightglobal (http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flight-international/2007/09/bucking-the-odds-ups-and-downs.html)

weewit

November 4th, 2008, 04:48 PM

^^Ouch for Cebu Pac..

lovely_aiko

November 4th, 2008, 07:06 PM

lovely_aiko

November 4th, 2008, 07:17 PM

It looks good on paper. Hopefully FAA's downgrade will be lifted early in 2009.

I would love to see PAL flying back to Chicago and New York. If that happens, hopefully it will sustain unlike their last service to Chicago via San Francisco in the late 90s which just lasted for less than a year and their route to New York (actually Newark's Liberty Intl Airport) which was also short lived back in the late 90s partly because of the Asian financial crisis then.

I think the only realistically sustainable new US flights for PAL at this time would have to be San Diego. San Diego and environ's significant Filipino American community has been clamoring for a direct service to Manila so they can do away with either driving the 2 hour trip to LAX (even worst during commute hours) or taking a connecting commuter flight which is a lot of hassle.

PAL flying to Seattle? Umm very dubious consaidering the market potential there. But it PAL wants to do it for Seattle based aircraft manufacturer BOEING then why not? If they really want to test the waters, a twice weekly flight maybe a good start.

Saipan and increased flight to Guam are feasible considering the large Filipino and OFW population in both US territories imho.

sf_airwarrior

November 4th, 2008, 10:39 PM

PAL AS A LOW COST CARRIER

How about it guys? Philippine Airlines is ntroducing their no frills marketing product called ECONOLIGHT. Service is available on all PAL domestic routes and regional routes from Manila to Bangkok, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Macau, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei.

Here is the link from the Philippine Airlines website http://www.philippineairlines.com/news/04Nov_pal_offers_nofrills_product.jsp

Im surprised by this PAL move. Sign of the times? Hopefully this would work and people wont be confused as to what really is PAL's true marketing brand. Now with Econolight service there is no 'uniformity' of the service that PAL offers but if it will work in the final run, then why not? This econolight product kinda reminds me of Continental Airlines short lived CALite no frills service and also United's TED low cost unit.

Sky Harbor

November 5th, 2008, 12:51 AM

PAL AS A LOW COST CARRIER

How about it guys? Philippine Airlines is ntroducing their no frills marketing product called ECONOLIGHT. Service is available on all PAL domestic routes and regional routes from Manila to Bangkok, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Macau, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei.

Here is the link from the Philippine Airlines website http://www.philippineairlines.com/news/04Nov_pal_offers_nofrills_product.jsp

EconoLight may bide somewhat well for PAL's pockets, but I wish they would have implemented the fare pricing scheme of Aer Lingus. Basically, it's full-service but low-cost. At least we won't have jealous passengers when they find out that PAL will not be serving them food.

ericlucky290

November 5th, 2008, 06:46 AM

EconoLight may bide somewhat well for PAL's pockets, but I wish they would have implemented the fare pricing scheme of Aer Lingus. Basically, it's full-service but low-cost. At least we won't have jealous passengers when they find out that PAL will not be serving them food.

It is properly noted when you book that they will not serve you food. I wonder though kung bigla kang nagutom sa flight mo, will PAL sell you snacks just what CEB does?

ianers_ianized

November 5th, 2008, 07:21 AM

Delta finally bought Northwest. it sucks i hate Delta's service. :ohno:

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/10/27/daily53.html?jst=b_ln_hl

At the end of the merger Delta brand will remain so there will be no more NWA brand?

The routes (Chengdu and Chongqing) were cancelled because of poor passenger loads brought about by the untimely disastrous earthquakes that hit both areas.

I dont believe the suggestion that both routes were an experiment for PAL. A feasibility study is always done before any new route is open. Chongqing and Chengdu are fast growing high density Chinese cities . Initially , revenue losses were to be expected but with proper marketing, DOT support I would think the routes were financially feasible for PAL like their other China routes.

I agree if there would proper promotion the routes will sustain... do you think it will return in the future?

Syang kasi, Chongqing and Chengdu promises a lot as a travel destination.

PAL junks 1st class, renovates fleet for US (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/130933/PAL-junks-1st-class-renovates-fleet-for-US)
11/03/2008 | 12:10 AM

Aside from the reconfiguration into a two-class cabin, individual seats will also be improved. PAL said Mabuhay class would have "cocoon seats," which can be turned into a bed. Economy class seats will also be made thinner, giving passengers more space. All seats for both classes will have liquid crystal display monitors for movies and games.

Airlines have been trying to cut costs and attract passengers in the face of rising oil prices for the most part of the year and shrinking margins. PAL posted a 74% decline in profits to $30 million in the fiscal year ending in March 2008. — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo, BusinessWorld

----

They're not serious on the seats, right? Then again, for seats that are fifteen years old, the 747 really needed an upgrade.

Shall I say SKYBED returns via new Mabuhay Class after almost 20 years from the 80's?

PAL AS A LOW COST CARRIER

How about it guys? Philippine Airlines is ntroducing their no frills marketing product called ECONOLIGHT. Service is available on all PAL domestic routes and regional routes from Manila to Bangkok, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Macau, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei.

Here is the link from the Philippine Airlines website http://www.philippineairlines.com/news/04Nov_pal_offers_nofrills_product.jsp

So passengers on this flight flies with the standard PAL plane w/ fewer amenities of standard economy class... how they will distinguish pax with no frills

vogriphach

November 5th, 2008, 05:13 PM

According to PAL's website, they won't be selling any food to Econolight passengers but they are allowed to bring food to the plane.

Econolight passengers will also be seated at the last row/s of the plane so I guess that's how they will be distinguished from the rest.

Ph Man

November 5th, 2008, 06:15 PM

the article says free peanuts and drinks will be served for international flights. that seem to be identical with 5J's refreshment. i might want to try how is it like. PAL's objective is obvious here. it wants to prevent 5J from taking a lion's share of the market. the very reason why people choose 5J is because of the price difference. notice that promo is not applicable to routes where flight is monopolized by PAL.

mwg12a

November 6th, 2008, 02:54 AM

sf_airwarrior

November 6th, 2008, 03:44 AM

If it's just short haul flights, especially domestic, I think it should be okay not to serve any freebies. You can just buy it if you want. 1 hour is just too short anyway, 3 hours? maybe peanut or something and then you can buy whatever you want if needed.

I think their transpacific route would still be the same full service with meal. It's just the shorter route that needs to be changed which make sense really if PAL wants to provide lower service and an ontime arrival or departure.

Still think Econolight passengers should be given the option to buy their food/snacks if they want to. You know us Filipinos, food is part of our culture. We love to eat no matter what - no denying that. I find it outrageous though that Econolight passengers are being encouraged to bring their own food. That's a picnic right there. Imagine people bringing rice complete with Fried fish or chicken, even tinolang manok - sounds really like a feast 30,000 feet in the air.:cheers:

I guess PAL's offering this no frills service for flights less than four hours is the sign of the times. The same no frills service for the same length of lfights are being offered by US airlines ala peanuts and beverage of choice service by LCC industry leader Soutwest Airlines. If you cant beat them then join them. I'm just relieved to know that PAL gives us their passengers that option to pay full service or close to that and still get the amenities - food, inflight entertainment etc that we are used to.

weewit

November 6th, 2008, 05:23 AM

^^ in that case, id rather take pal na econo fare, buy my own food, and if maka chamba, have ptv entertainment. hehehe...

control.... ang hirap naman to smell food from the food carts.. di naman para sayo. hahaha..:lol:

chicken or pork... chicken or pork.... chicken or pork.... row 66.... peanuts, tea or coffee. hahahaha...

dive-cebu

November 6th, 2008, 05:31 AM

i already got my econolite ticket for manila-cebu-manila (in time for sinulog). i only paid P1,592 all-in!

ericlucky290

November 6th, 2008, 06:56 AM

May free peanut din ba yung domestic? Kasi diba sa domestic, PAL is only serving peanuts and drinks.

IslandSon.PH

November 6th, 2008, 11:17 AM

Bangladesh-RP air pact pushed:cheers:
By Ann Corvera
Thursday, November 6, 2008

Bangladesh is pushing to implement eight existing agreements between the Philippines and the South Asian country specifically on air services.

In a visit to The STAR yesterday, Bangladesh Ambassador Ikhtiar Chowdhury cited the 1997 agreement entered into by his government with the Philippines on designating flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to make operational the proposed flight route of Manila to the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka via Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia twice a week.

Chowdhury expressed confidence that PAL has the “sufficient number of aircraft” and there will be “no shortage of passengers” especially in the Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur areas for the air service agreement to be implemented productively.

He highlighted the 40- to 45-million strong “purchasing power” of his countrymen. Bangladesh has a population of 150 million, he said.

Chowdhury also pointed out that some 1,000 of 150,000 foreign workers in Bangladesh are Filipinos. He added that in Malaysia, between 600,000 to 700,000 Bangladeshis are working in the popular hub for migrants that include Filipinos.

He said this “viable” pact could also be beneficial to the promotion of tourism and cultural relations between Bangladesh and the Philippines.

Chowdhury, a veteran in foreign service, who began his work as envoy last September, took note of the Philippines’ thriving tourism industry, which he added, is a reliable source of earning for many Filipinos.

He said he has recently met with the Philippines’ foreign secretary and executive secretary on the PAL air service pact and was assured that they would look into its implementation.

Chowdhury meanwhile said that under his tenure of three years, he aims to strengthen relations with the Philippines especially on efforts to lower the price of medicine here.

He said he would meet with the Philippine health secretary on the possibility of exporting medicine from Bangladesh which, he said, could lead to the lowering of the price of drugs here by some 60 to 70 percent.

Chowdhury said that Bangladesh is now producing and exporting “raw materials” even as decades earlier, they were in the same predicament as the Philippines where medicine and hospitalization costs are high, owing to the control of multinational companies of the drug sector.

He said the use of generic medicine and cheaper but still quality production of raw materials have prompted medicine prices in Bangladesh to fall dramatically.

“We are sufficient in drug production. We have an export license from the UK and soon in the US and Australia to export medicine,” Chowdhury said.

The ambassador also has high hopes that the implementation of the other agreements signed between 1980 and 1997 will thrive.

It lists the Trade Agreement and Cultural Agreement signed between the two countries on May 26, 1980; the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation and the Agreement on Merchant Shipping signed on Oct. 10, 1989; Memorandum of Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation signed on Feb. 18, 1995; Air Services Agreement signed on Sept. 8, 1997; the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and the Agreement on Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investment signed also on Sept. 8, 1997.

ashton

November 6th, 2008, 12:13 PM

^ wow. That is exciting. ;)

swahi

November 6th, 2008, 04:34 PM

PAL is just reacting to CebPac's moves. They now serve snack (sic), singular tense, not snacks, maybe one cupcake, or a cracker, and their drinks is a choice of coffee and water, no more juice, no more tea. So by the time these econolite tickets start, they may lessen their inflight service further.

abnkat

November 6th, 2008, 10:01 PM

QATAR AIRWAYS DOUBLE DAILY TO MANILA &
INTRODUCING 777-300ER
http://boeingblogs.com/randy/images/Qatar777Delivery_ip.jpg

QATAR plans to increase Doha - Manila service from 11 to 14 weekly starting 29MAR09.

QR644/645, which currently operates 4 weekly (Day 2467), is slated to be Daily with A330-300 aircraft.

QR646/647, current Daily A330-200 service, will see capacity increase with Boeing 777-300ER.

QR646 DOH0055 - 1530MNL 77W D
QR644 DOH1450 - 0525+1MNL 333 x135
QR644 DOH1820 - 0855+1MNL 333 135

QR645 MNL0655 - 1125DOH 333 x246
QR645 MNL1025 - 1455DOH 333 246
QR647 MNL1710 - 2140DOH 77W D

ashton

November 7th, 2008, 12:49 AM

^ Cool... I'm wondering what will happen to Cebu flights. BTW, source? thanks. ;)

ericlucky290

November 7th, 2008, 03:38 AM

ASEAN moves closer to ‘open skies’ (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view/20081107-170745/ASEAN-moves-closer-to-open-skies)By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:16:00 11/07/2008

MANILA, Philippines—The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has moved closer to creating a single aviation market as ASEAN transport ministers signed several agreements on Thursday to remove restrictions on air and air freight services and allow regional airlines to fly to any of the capitals of the 10 member countries.

Under the agreements, unlimited fifth freedom rights, allowing member countries the right to fly to each other’s capital cities, will be in place by 2010. By 2015, all of ASEAN will be a unified aviation market.

The deal which most impacts the Philippines is the multilateral agreement on air services which will allow airlines like Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines to expand their operations in ASEAN capital cities without having to seek additional entitlements.

“It will mean easier access of our own airlines to other ASEAN markets. The air freight deal could also benefit the country although it is more futuristic in nature since all-cargo traffic is still low within the region. But at least there will be no barriers when traffic does pick up,” said Carmelo Arcilla, executive director of the Civil Aeronautics Board.

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza estimates that an open skies agreement could add five million to the Philippines’ annual tourist volume, with each tourist spending an average of between $200 and $400.

This would give a critical boost to the economy to enable it to cope with the global financial crisis, he said.

The Philippines received 3.1 million tourists in 2007, according to Department of Tourism data.

The multilateral agreements on air services and the full liberalization of air freight services are part of plans drawn up by ASEAN to foster economic cooperation and growth.

Signing ceremony

The signing ceremony was held in Malacañang Thursday in the presence of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita who represented President Macapagal-Arroyo.

The transport ministers are attending the 14th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting in Makati this week.

ASEAN groups Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia and Laos.

The agreements signed were the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Inter-State Transport, ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalization of Air Freight Services and the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on Air Services.

Air freight deal

Unlimited third, fourth freedom traffic rights between ASEAN capital cities is set for implementation by end-2008 and unlimited fifth freedom traffic rights by 2010.

The air freight deal, meanwhile, raises capacity for two-way traffic to 250 tons weekly. It also allows designated all-cargo airlines to fly across ASEAN territories and to make stops for traffic or non-traffic purposes in all international airports. Implementation of the agreement is scheduled by the end of the year.

The so-called “freedoms of the air” are restrictions that govern international air travel and are decided through bilateral agreements between countries which are signatories to the Chicago Convention of 1944.

Freedoms of the air

The first freedom is the right to fly and carry traffic over the territory of another partner to the agreement without landing;
the second freedom, the right to land in those countries for technical reasons such as refueling without boarding or deplaning passengers;
the third freedom, the right of an airline from one country to land in a different country and deplane passengers coming from the airline’s own country;
the fourth freedom, the right of an airline from one country to land in a different country and board passengers traveling to the airline’s own country; and
the fifth freedom the right of an airline from one country to land in a second country, to then pick up passengers and fly on to a third country where the passengers then deplane.

abnkat

November 7th, 2008, 10:50 AM

^ Cool... I'm wondering what will happen to Cebu flights. BTW, source? thanks. ;)

source is amadeus.net booking machine. Just search for flights between Doha and Manila from March 29 onwards and you will see the changes.. No changes for Cebu flights, it will be operated with A330-300 aircrafts.

So if am not mistaken QR will be the sixt carrier to introduce B777-300ER aircraft to Manila besides Emirates (10 weekly), Etihad(daily) and KLM (???),JAL (?) and Cathay Pacific right?

brownman

November 7th, 2008, 03:17 PM

Just a question. Did PAL order for the Dreamliner? Because from what I've heard in the news, SIA's order of 20 787s are delayed due to some technical problems of the plane.

kiretoce

November 7th, 2008, 03:33 PM

^^ According to this Wikipedia link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Boeing_787_orders); PR is not on the list of carriers that placed an order for the B787 Dreamliner.

habagatcentral1

November 7th, 2008, 03:41 PM

Question:
Why is Airbus A320 family more popular than the Boeing 737 family here in the Philippines? What seems to be the difference and why it is the airplane of choice by majority of airline companies based here for narrow-body jet?

kiretoce

November 7th, 2008, 03:54 PM

^^ Boeing is planning on phasing-out some the B737 series, this from Wikipedia:

Boeing has already hinted that a "clean sheet" replacement for the 737 (internally dubbed Boeing Y1) could follow the Boeing 787. Y1 is a Boeing Commercial Airplanes project to replace the 737-700, 737-800, 737-900 and 757-200 product lines. It may also replace the 717 and 737-600 lines. The Y1 is also known as the 737RS (for 737 Replacement Study).

Igsuonnimo

November 7th, 2008, 03:56 PM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/2993893307_33e845b0d3_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2994736122_a642857468_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2993896483_68947b77a6_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2993898045_501feb0161_b.jpg

jameslab8470

November 7th, 2008, 04:18 PM

Cool A330!

a s i a n a

November 7th, 2008, 05:00 PM

A330/340 family looks good, especially the A345.:D (The 777 has a face of an angry person when facing front. But its wings look nice anyway.)

ashton

November 7th, 2008, 05:05 PM

Cool, thanks!
I think they only have 4 B773 ER in their fleet at the moment. It's good to know that one of them is gonna go to Manila. ;)

source is amadeus.net booking machine. Just search for flights between Doha and Manila from March 29 onwards and you will see the changes.. No changes for Cebu flights, it will be operated with A330-300 aircrafts.

So if am not mistaken QR will be the sixt carrier to introduce B777-300ER aircraft to Manila besides Emirates (10 weekly), Etihad(daily) and KLM (???),JAL (?) and Cathay Pacific right?

mwg12a

November 7th, 2008, 09:22 PM

Still think Econolight passengers should be given the option to buy their food/snacks if they want to. You know us Filipinos, food is part of our culture. We love to eat no matter what - no denying that. I find it outrageous though that Econolight passengers are being encouraged to bring their own food. That's a picnic right there. Imagine people bringing rice complete with Fried fish or chicken, even tinolang manok - sounds really like a feast 30,000 feet in the air.:cheers:

I guess PAL's offering this no frills service for flights less than four hours is the sign of the times. The same no frills service for the same length of lfights are being offered by US airlines ala peanuts and beverage of choice service by LCC industry leader Soutwest Airlines. If you cant beat them then join them. I'm just relieved to know that PAL gives us their passengers that option to pay full service or close to that and still get the amenities - food, inflight entertainment etc that we are used to.

Yeah, but Southwest airlines has no international services.

But, you're right about PAL short haul flights should be given an option to buy their own food or drinks instead of carrying your own food. God knows who would bring roasted peanuts and leave the shells on the carpeting..LOL:banana:

AmbutLang

November 8th, 2008, 08:52 AM

Have you tried Jet Blue LA/Long Beach to JFK?NYC? Even water you pay or head phones.
It's a crowded domestic airport.

mr.suroy

November 8th, 2008, 12:42 PM

Alam nyo po ba na may Old existing railway dito sa cavite city noon at kaya nga nag karoon ng kalye tren dito sa cavite city! dating #1 City in the province of Cavite!

Old existing railway

from Manila - Bacoor- Kawit - Noveleta - Cavite City!

nakikita pa ba yung ROW nito? hehe

bartstrife99

November 8th, 2008, 12:46 PM

nakikita pa ba yung ROW nito? hehe

di na po nasementuhan ng bato! during ramos era.

mr.suroy

November 8th, 2008, 01:06 PM

di na po nasementuhan ng bato! during ramos era.

ah kanino na yung lupa? hehe

weewit

November 8th, 2008, 05:55 PM

Yeah, but Southwest airlines has no international services.

But, you're right about PAL short haul flights should be given an option to buy their own food or drinks instead of carrying your own food. God knows who would bring roasted peanuts and leave the shells on the carpeting..LOL:banana:

Yeah, i remembered on one of my trips to KL via KK. after taking the inflight lunch, i wondered why the other seat tend to have dried leaves on her meal. i thought it was chicken pandan leaves, but wala naman sa menu... may dala palang siyang suman! :bash:

pepeng_agimat

November 8th, 2008, 06:15 PM

http://images.vibaljr.multiply.com/image/2/photos/65/600x600/39/117.JPG?et=lkjYkyJwKmxub%2CHLee5lWA&nmid=131892672

http://images.vibaljr.multiply.com/image/2/photos/65/600x600/40/118.JPG?et=pyGH0ydb9gFdWamz3%2C2Ckw&nmid=131892672

http://images.vibaljr.multiply.com/image/2/photos/65/600x600/42/120.JPG?et=w27gI0XUncjdNqRyOi1nSg&nmid=131892672

http://images.vibaljr.multiply.com/image/2/photos/65/600x600/45/123.JPG?et=zi2Z%2CzeIEB%2CKIkHuEzNPNg&nmid=131892672

http://images.vibaljr.multiply.com/image/2/photos/65/600x600/49/127.JPG?et=982zhiVVrgqrPSr9xb6zaQ&nmid=131892672

mygz14

November 8th, 2008, 07:41 PM

^^I love my hometown

mwg12a

November 8th, 2008, 11:44 PM

ponso

November 9th, 2008, 11:52 AM

Ha ha! But in this day and age of "a la carte" pricing for US airlines, I think it does make sense to BYOB (bring your own baon) on planes. Besides, airlines charge an arm and a leg for that pitiful sandwich and packet of peanuts..!

I would normally supplement airline food with some from the shops on the terminal's airside, after passing through security. Just in case I get hungry in between the meal service or more importantly, I don't like the food being served, which is almost always the case..! BA's morning flights serve the worst and smelliest English breakfasts ever (it also sticks on whatever you're wearing - good luck for that 10 AM meeting, ha ha!) so I try to avoid it by eating at the lounge / terminal shops before boarding...

^^^^^ HA HA HA, my grandma brought some siopao in her NWA flight long long time ago, course I was young and didn't know better, I was totally ashamed, I felt humiliated infront of those who saw her took it out of her huge handbag LMAO...

swahi

November 9th, 2008, 12:04 PM

On my Delta flight from Orlando to LAX last summer, I bought some hotdogs, fries and drinks supposedly to eat before boarding, knowing that delta only serves some drinks and some biscuits. Couldn't eat as by the time my orders (for 6 persons) was ready, the flight started boarding. So I brought my orders in the plane. And the plane started to smell of french fries, as it was newly cooked. So right before take off, the FA made his usual announcement, and announced as well to whoever is the owner of that smell that is pervading the cabin, has to surrender the item. Guiltily, I surrendered the french fries to a passing FA, who said that they were just joking. Seems that there were others on board that said they should have brought some french fries as well!

The thing is, when bringing food into a plane, suggest to bring those that are not newly cooked, or with lingering smell. It really lingers throughout the interior!
I had to cover up the hotdog in between bites as well, as I ordered the chili dog!

Chrisvenz

November 9th, 2008, 12:32 PM

^^ :lol:

huistenmark

November 9th, 2008, 01:15 PM

I would normally supplement airline food with some from the shops on the terminal's airside, after passing through security. Just in case I get hungry in between the meal service or more importantly, the I don't the food being served, which is almost always the case..! BA's morning flights serve the worst and smelliest English breakfasts ever (it also sticks on whatever you're wearing - good luck for that 10 AM meeting, ha ha!) so I try to avoid it by eating at the lounge / terminal shops before boarding...

At least it's free.. Bmi will charge you for the experience hahahaha!!

I always bring food and water when flying. Some CA's can't be bothered if you ask for a glass of water! I flew EasyJet once a girl beside me had what looked like a picnic basket!!! She did offer me something lol

Ph Man

November 9th, 2008, 02:25 PM

^^:lol: i also once bought something from the airport minutes before boarding time. when they started distributing biscuits, i brought out my pasta generously topped with seafoods. :lol: i still have one serving of Caesar salad, but i ate that one at home instead. nakakahiya na kasi. :lol:

sonnyville

November 9th, 2008, 09:00 PM

try united on a 5+ hour flight with the food they serve? from LAX to KOA (Kailua-Kona International Airport, Hawai'i) they serve some free drinks and some complimentary peanuts and such, but if your really hungry, you can buy their outrageous golf ball size dinner-roll sandwich. i was on the premium economy onboard one of their 757s to Kona and I was on the first couple of rows after the business/first class section and watched as they got a full meal and dinner served, including wine glasses. huge gap difference in terms of what services your paying for these days. almost forgot to mention that golf size meal sells for about 5+ dollars including tax. i think on 5+ hour flight on american domestic flights, people deserve the meal. specially how they're treated by airlines and the airport officials these days.

last time when i went home to the philippines, yung short flight from manila to cebu onboard PAL, plenty of snacks on a short 1 hour flight was so much appreciated by all the passengers, particularly the foreign travelers. i appreciated PAL for doing that, because at the time, only jetBlue in the US provided unlimited snack services on short 35 min. to 1 hour flights, but that has long ceased to be, because they even charge for pillows, drinks, and from what i've heard even the earphones that were once free prior to boarding. they used to be my favorite domestic airline, i didn't have to go to LAX, i live right next door to LGB and only took 5 min. to get to the airport and 15 min. to check everything in and get to the gate. i want to say that PAL shouldn't stop giving these services out even on their short domestic flights, it attracts the visitors on their holidays in the philippines to take PAL rather than cebu pacific or the other carriers. PAL's domestic services are incomparable to the US domestics. Southwest, Delta, and United could learn a few lessons from PAL.

mwg12a

November 9th, 2008, 10:51 PM

^^^ I think that would change now with PAL domestics and short haul flights. the ceiling high fuel costs is taking it all away from the flying public.

Christendom

November 10th, 2008, 01:14 PM

Bacolod-Silay Airport
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/bacolodinternationalairport/What20arriving20passengers20see20on.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/bacolodinternationalairport/The20Air20Philippines20check-in20co.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/bacolodinternationalairport/The20escalator20and20staircase20lea.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/bacolodinternationalairport/The20control20tower20of20the20new20.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/bacolodinternationalairport/The20new20Bacolod-Silay20Airport20a.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/bacolodinternationalairport/bsashuttlebusbsa2smcity.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/bacolodinternationalairport/bsaoverheadviewofthearrivallobby.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/bacolodinternationalairport/A20sign20pointing20to20the20baggage.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/bacolodinternationalairport/bsaportersbaggageclaimhall.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/bacolodinternationalairport/A20panoramic20view20of20the20gate20.jpg

bartstrife99

November 10th, 2008, 02:31 PM

ah kanino na yung lupa? hehe

nabili na ng mga tao at natayuan na ng mgagarang bahay! kaya yung tren naging kalye tren na lang! means as in Kalye na alng talaga!

mwg12a

November 11th, 2008, 03:29 AM

What is that airport shuttle bus for? Remote aircraft parking or is it to transport people to and from the City/ Airport?

FerrariLover

November 11th, 2008, 04:47 AM

What is that airport shuttle bus for? Remote aircraft parking or is it to transport people to and from the City/ Airport?

To SM City Bacolod (See the Bus Sign at the Side)

sonnyville

November 11th, 2008, 05:45 AM

hmm.... mukhang damaged na yung bus on the far front corner of the bumper. they should give it a nice paint scheme to make it look more attractive (tourists/visitors alike). i really love how bacalod silay airport looks! :)

AmbutLang

November 11th, 2008, 07:17 AM

^^That is similar setup passenger bus shuttles between MCIA and Cebu City, Fuente Osmena when the airport was new and until the bridge was constructed. There were three barges that transversed between Mandaue and Mactan to ferry the shuttle buses and private vehicles.

swahi

November 11th, 2008, 10:32 AM

Just arrived from Guangzhou. Saw a shop at the airport where they had model airplanes and saw model planes of the A380 with logos of China Southern, China Eastern, Air France, Qatar, Lufthansa, KLM plus a few more. Majority are members of the Skyteam alliance.

kiretoce

November 12th, 2008, 03:13 AM

To those griping about going hungry on a flight. Well, since the airlines allow you to check-in four hours before the flight, I suggest you be there and check-in early and then use the the downtime while waiting for your flight to board to find a place to eat. And if you have a layover in between legs of your journey, you can also make use of that and stuff your face before you resume your flight to your final destination. :okay:

In these days of ala carte services in the airline industry, one must take into their own hands what needs to be done and make things happen instead of waiting to be "served" onboard like the good old days. :colgate:

mwg12a

November 12th, 2008, 03:40 AM

To SM City Bacolod (See the Bus Sign at the Side)

OH yeah, thanks. I didn't notice the SM sign at first, I had to look real close to the monitor to see it closer or zoom it out. I still can't read the rest though, the bold ones are the ones I can clearly see, Bacolod Silay Shuttle bus.

To those griping about going hungry on a flight. Well, since the airlines allow you to check-in four hours before the flight, I suggest you be there and check-in early and then use the the downtime while waiting for your flight to board to find a place to eat. And if you have a layover in between legs of your journey, you can also make use of that and stuff your face before you resume your flight to your final destination. :okay:

In these days of ala carte services in the airline industry, one must take into their own hands what needs to be done and make things happen instead of waiting to be "served" onboard like the good old days. :colgate:

And to top it all. Most airline serve foods are crappy, other taste good but you get sick a few hours after...LOL Just the way it is...:nuts:

numiX

November 12th, 2008, 04:09 AM

with the financial crisis looming around. Price matters.

bitoy

November 12th, 2008, 04:18 AM

^^ When I got stranded and bumped to a red eye flight in San Francisco going to MD, I called my barkada in Bay Area and we ate dinner at Goldilocks, then nagbaon ako ng snacks then we went to Valerio's for more snacks...dami kong biniling Empanada and Pan de Sal.. :lol:, even the kid next to my seat was so happy eating those Empanadas during that long flight, pati yung mom niya.
And the last time I went home, I bought some Burgers in Seatac, bitin sa akin yung mga in-flight meals ng NW. :lol:

mwg12a

November 12th, 2008, 04:21 AM

what's a red eye flight? I guess I never experienced it so I never knew about it...LMAO

bitoy

November 12th, 2008, 04:25 AM

what's a red eye flight? I guess I never experienced it so I never knew about it...LMAO

Late night flight, usually the last flight from the westcoast going to the eastcoast. Masarap din minsan kasi, tulog lahat ng katabi mo.
Alis dito ng 9 or 10 pm, dating sa Eastcoast ng next day na, kaya may muta pa minsan. :lol:

mwg12a

November 12th, 2008, 04:28 AM

That's what I thought. Thanks! Kala ko lahat ng kasama mo sa eroplano, may sore eyes LMAOOOOOOOOOOOo nyuck, corny

bitoy

November 12th, 2008, 04:30 AM

^^ :lol: red eyes nga, karamihan lasing after their seminars or conferences. buwahaha!

Ph Man

November 12th, 2008, 04:42 AM

may movie na red eye di ba?

bitoy

November 12th, 2008, 04:49 AM

may movie na red eye di ba?

There was a movie. Red Eye (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421239/synopsis), I did not finished watching it on DVD rental. An action/Thriller and the girl was afraid of flying, parang TV movie kasi, kaya nakatulog ako. :lol:

kiretoce

November 12th, 2008, 05:16 AM

A "red eye" flight is a late night departure on the west coast (usually nonstop), travels overnight, and arrives early in the morning on the east coast. The term came about because of the bloodshot eyes that passengers get partly due to the lack of sleep onboard the flight (ie. uncomfortable position, noise, etc.).

I remember the first time I took a red eye flight from LAX to MCO; departed at 9:00pm (PST) and arrived at 6:00am (EST), and went straight to the office from the airport. Needless to say, I was a zombie the whole day at work and I think I even zonked out a couple of times (on my breaks, of course). :nuts:

habagatcentral1

November 12th, 2008, 08:26 AM

^^ Usually they say that "red eye" flights are cheaper than ordinary flights.

brightblade

November 12th, 2008, 12:00 PM

The new seats at CX are fantastic! Leg room isn't compromised even if you recline.Tried it at a mnl-hk flight last sunday. Took a peek also at their new business and first class seats. I wonder if PAL got the same seats for their refurbishing?

absinthe_888

November 12th, 2008, 05:51 PM

CAB seeks legal backing to charge local airlines (http://www.bworld.com.ph/BW111308/content.php?id=043)
Paolo Luis G. Montecillo

THE CIVIL Aeronautics Board (CAB) has sought the Justice department’s opinion regarding a legal technicality that bars it from collecting administrative and regulatory fees from local airlines.

The CAB wants clarity on whether it can charge local airlines administrative fees, which can boost the air transport regulator’s revenues.

Airlines are exempt from paying regulatory fees to the CAB as provided by their congressional franchises, the CAB said.

"We are seeking a Department of Justice opinion whether the franchise provisions include filing and other administrative fees," CAB Deputy Executive Director Porvenir P. Porciuncula said in an interview yesterday.

He was referring to fees that can be collected from carriers for filing applications to increase fuel surcharge and flight entitlement petitions, among others.

He noted that while the CAB collects these fees from foreign carriers, local airlines are not charged.

Local airlines pay the government for the use of airport services and other aeronautical fees, which are collected by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, formerly the Air Transportation Office.

Mr. Porciuncula said the CAB had sought the opinion of government lawyers in August, but no answer had been given.

He said the CAB could use the extra income to improve its services.

"We will be able to upgrade our services... We will also be able to launch an improved Web site," he added.

Better online services will improve the CAB’s image, "especially since we are dealing with a number of foreign entities," he said.

He said improved online service would help industry players since they can submit filings through the Net instead of physically going to the CAB office in Parañaque City.

The extra money will also be used to train CAB personnel, Mr. Porciuncula said, especially with the recent approval of air liberalization deals between Southeast Asian Nations.

The CAB posted an income of around P47 million in 2007. Mr. Porciuncula said the extra fees were unlikely to hurt airline revenues, noting that the charges would be minimal.

He did not say how much they expect to collect from local carriers.

Meanwhile, local airlines said they would wait for the DoJ opinion before commenting on the matter.

AmbutLang

November 12th, 2008, 10:59 PM

^^There goes the bargain fare flights. The extra fees will be passed to the passengers say at least 20 to 50 pesos each passengers on all flight.

kiretoce

November 13th, 2008, 02:12 AM

Usually they say that "red eye" flights are cheaper than ordinary flights.

Flights that departs/arrives during off-peak hours are cosiderably less than flights that departs/arrives during peak hours at an airport. Most airports' off-peak hours are during the mid-afternoon and late night/post-midnight hours.

arianespace

November 13th, 2008, 02:56 AM

^^
Consider the cost of airport parking too. Airlines charge less at night because the parking bay is much cheaper than prime time hours which usually happen during the day. Its like spot you pay in a television commercials during prime. The difference is pretty much huge. The logic is for you to fly at night when there is little much activity so you wont add to the congestion.

ianers_ianized

November 13th, 2008, 04:03 AM

^^ So that's why PAL's Guam flights and HNL flights (more on early morning flight) are on red eye flight because of cheap cost, right? Plus airport operations in those time have less activity and not hectic.

BTW, I love that "Red Eye" movie. Good suspense movie. While I hate the movie "Snakes on the Plane"

AmbutLang

November 13th, 2008, 09:19 AM

^^How about the oldies "Airport 75". The H53(325) helicopter used in the movie was assigned in Utah and was transferred in Albuquerque, New Mexico at Kirkland Air Force Base where I serviced its instrument systems when I was in the USAF service.

arianespace

November 13th, 2008, 11:03 PM

http://news.cheapflights.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/17/delta1.jpg

TOP 100 AIRLINES OF THE WORLD BY NUMBER OF FLIGHTS MADE
Ending November 2008

Ranking Airline Code Airline Name Frequency
1 DL DELTA AIR LINES 24,912
2 AA AMERICAN AIRLINES 24,296
3 WN SOUTHWEST AIRLINES 22,941
4 US US AIRWAYS 22,478
5 UA UNITED AIRLINES 21,371
6 CO CONTINENTAL AIRLINES 17,734
7 NW NORTHWEST AIRLINES 16,573
8 LH LUFTHANSA GERMAN AIRLINES 13,388
9 AF AIR FRANCE 10,142
10 AC AIR CANADA 9,796
11 CZ CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES 9,035
12 MU CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES 7,480
13 FR RYANAIR 6,956
14 NH ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS 6,831
15 IB IBERIA 6,347
16 JJ TAM LINHAS AEREAS 6,225
17 SK SAS SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES 6,004
18 CA AIR CHINA 5,741
19 AS ALASKA AIRLINES 5,652
20 BA BRITISH AIRWAYS 5,562
21 JL JAPAN AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL 5,313
22 QF QANTAS AIRWAYS 5,202
23 U2 EASYJET 4,768
24 FL AIRTRAN AIRWAYS 4,642
25 G3 GOL TRANSPORTES AEREOS 4,324
26 NZ AIR NEW ZEALAND 4,305
27 KL KLM-ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES 4,149
28 B6 JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORPORATION 3,757
29 TK TURKISH AIRLINES 3,459
30 AB AIR BERLIN 3,338
31 AM AEROMEXICO 3,303
32 AZ ALITALIA 3,104
33 DJ VIRGIN BLUE 3,075
34 IT KINGFISHER AIRLINES 3,070
35 BE FLYBE 2,990
36 MH MALAYSIA AIRLINES 2,854
37 OS AUSTRIAN AIRLINES AG 2,844
38 SA SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS 2,765
39 LX SWISS 2,727
40 MX MEXICANA DE AVIACION 2,664
41 WS WESTJET 2,640
42 KE KOREAN AIR 2,598
43 HU HAINAN AIRLINES 2,514
44 ZH SHENZHEN AIRLINES 2,498
45 9W JET AIRWAYS INDIA 2,494
46 SV SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES 2,481
47 IC INDIAN AIRLINES 2,211
48 F9 FRONTIER AIRLINES INC. 2,203
49 AV AVIANCA 2,178
50 WF WIDEROE'S FLYVESELSKAP 2,071
51 EK EMIRATES 1,985
52 MF XIAMEN AIRLINES COMPANY 1,966
53 AK AIRASIA 1,908
54 LA LAN AIRLINES 1,907
55 TP TAP AIR PORTUGAL 1,901
56 GA GARUDA INDONESIA 1,889
57 2F FRONTIER FLYING SERVICE 1,869
58 OZ ASIANA AIRLINES 1,855
59 AY FINNAIR 1,854
60 TG THAI AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL 1,840
61 ZK GREAT LAKES AIRLINES 1,830
62 AP AIR ONE 1,774
63 SU AEROFLOT RUSSIAN AIRLINES 1,701
64 9K CAPE AIR 1,680
65 BD BMI BRITISH MIDLAND 1,641
66 FM SHANGHAI AIRLINES 1,617
67 CM COPA AIRLINES 1,588
68 MS EGYPTAIR 1,584
69 SQ SINGAPORE AIRLINES 1,552
70 DY NORWEGIAN AIR SHUTTLE 1,536
71 OA OLYMPIC AIRLINES 1,524
72 CX CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS 1,500
73 OK CZECH AIRLINES 1,489
74 LO LOT - POLISH AIRLINES 1,470
75 JK SPANAIR 1,467
76 SC SHANDONG AIRLINES 1,462
77 QR QATAR AIRWAYS 1,452
78 3U SICHUAN AIRLINES 1,412
79 HA HAWAIIAN AIRLINES 1,378
80 JQ JETSTAR AIRWAYS 1,327
81 EI AER LINGUS 1,326
82 JT LION AIR 1,313
83 PR PHILIPPINE AIRLINES 1,300
84 VN VIETNAM AIRLINES 1,299
85 5J CEBU PACIFIC AIR 1,285
86 YX MIDWEST AIRLINES 1,284
87 YO HELI AIR MONACO 1,269
88 SN BRUSSELS AIRLINES 1,260
89 ZL REGIONAL EXPRESS 1,182
90 4C AIRES 1,078
91 NT BINTER CANARIAS 1,069
92 AR AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS 1,046
93 PK PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 1,030
94 4U GERMANWINGS 1,028
95 X3 TUIFLY 1,002
96 UX AIR EUROPA 996
97 A3 AEGEAN AIRLINES 986
98 NK SPIRIT AIRLINES 963
99 GS GRAND CHINA EXPRESS 960
100 JV BEARSKIN AIRLINES

http://www.navashika.com/IMG_0961.JPG

TOP 100 AIRPORTS OF THE WORLD BY SEAT CAPACITY
Available on International Departing Flights
Ending November 2008

Ranking Departure Airport Name Total Number
Airport Code of Seats
1 LHR LONDON HEATHROW APT 775,141
2 CDG PARIS CHARLES DE GAULLE APT 661,269
3 HKG HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL APT 628,796
4 FRA FRANKFURT INTERNATIONAL APT 589,249
5 DXB DUBAI 515,934
6 SIN SINGAPORE CHANGI APT 506,241
7 AMS AMSTERDAM 502,929
8 BKK BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI INTERNATIONAL APT 449,882
9 NRT TOKYO NARITA APT 402,723
10 ICN SEOUL INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 398,202
11 MAD MADRID BARAJAS APT 345,309
12 MUC MUNICH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 303,001
13 TPE TAIPEI TAIWAN TAOYUAN INTERNATIONAL APT 288,393
14 ZRH ZURICH AIRPORT 275,770
15 JFK NEW YORK J F KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL APT 270,793
16 KUL KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 265,223
17 DUB DUBLIN 251,936
18 VIE VIENNA 250,728
19 FCO ROME FIUMICINO APT 242,855
20 PVG SHANGHAI PUDONG INTERNATIONAL APT 228,206
21 BRU BRUSSELS AIRPORT 224,853
22 MIA MIAMI INTERNATIONAL APT 223,370
23 CPH COPENHAGEN APT 220,746
24 LGW LONDON GATWICK APT 220,506
25 IST ISTANBUL ATATURK AIRPORT 219,962
26 STN LONDON STANSTED APT 197,557
27 YYZ TORONTO LESTER B PEARSON INTL APT 186,158
28 BCN BARCELONA APT 178,893
29 DOH DOHA 177,652
30 PEK BEIJING CAPITAL APT 177,000
31 LAX LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL APT 176,698
32 MXP MILAN MALPENSA APT 174,132
33 ORY PARIS ORLY APT 156,465
34 DUS DUSSELDORF INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 152,376
35 BAH BAHRAIN 146,296
36 SYD SYDNEY KINGSFORD SMITH APT 144,666
37 ARN STOCKHOLM ARLANDA APT 142,454
38 PRG PRAGUE 140,989
39 KIX OSAKA KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 140,917
40 ORD CHICAGO O'HARE INTERNATIONAL APT 138,116
41 AUH ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL APT 136,110
42 LIS LISBON 135,996
43 HEL HELSINKI 135,050
44 CAI CAIRO 132,516
45 EWR NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL APT 128,989
46 MNL MANILA NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL APT 128,882
47 SVO MOSCOW SHEREMETYEVO INTERNATIONAL APT 127,477
48 GVA GENEVA 124,024
49 MAN MANCHESTER INTERNATIONAL APT 121,139
50 JNB JOHANNESBURG O.R. TAMBO INTERNATIONAL 119,376
51 ATH ATHENS INTL ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS APT 118,293
52 OSL OSLO AIRPORT 116,711
53 BOM MUMBAI 116,211
54 DEL DELHI 115,382
55 ATL ATLANTA HARTSFIELD-JACKSON INTL APT 112,072
56 GRU SAO PAULO GUARULHOS INTL APT 111,409
57 MEX MEXICO CITY JUAREZ INTERNATIONAL APT 107,569
58 TLV TEL AVIV BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL APT 105,860
59 DME MOSCOW DOMODEDOVO APT 104,241
60 KWI KUWAIT 103,133
61 EZE BUENOS AIRES MINISTRO PISTARINI 102,004
62 CGK JAKARTA SOEKARNO-HATTA APT 94,829
63 BUD BUDAPEST 94,687
64 IAH HOUSTON GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AP 93,818
65 SFO SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL APT 93,370
66 AKL AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL APT 90,859
67 SJU SAN JUAN LUIS MUNOZ MARIN INTL APT 89,730
68 TXL BERLIN TEGEL APT 88,863
69 SGN HO CHI MINH CITY 87,128
70 JED JEDDAH 84,274
71 WAW WARSAW 84,248
72 IAD WASHINGTON DULLES INTERNATIONAL APT 83,148
73 YVR VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL APT 80,883
74 LTN LONDON LUTON APT 79,723
75 HAM HAMBURG AIRPORT 78,016
76 CUN CANCUN 76,970
77 PTY PANAMA CITY TOCUMEN INTERNATIONAL 76,568
78 BHX BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 73,507
79 NGO NAGOYA CHUBU CENTRAIR INTERNATIONAL APT 70,385
80 RUH RIYADH 67,896
81 STR STUTTGART AIRPORT 67,770
82 YUL MONTREAL PIERRE ELLIOTT TRUDEAU INT APT 67,765
83 AGP MALAGA 67,672
84 LIM LIMA 66,739
85 CMN CASABLANCA MOHAMED V APT 66,428
86 DFW DALLAS/FORT WORTH INTL APT 65,797
87 SCL SANTIAGO ARTURO MERINO BENITEZ 65,514
88 MFM MACAU 64,421
89 CAN GUANGZHOU 64,409
90 CMB COLOMBO BANDARANAIKE APT 64,298
91 MEL MELBOURNE AIRPORT 61,807
92 MCT MUSCAT 61,124
93 KBP KIEV BORISPOL APT 60,909
94 BOG BOGOTA 60,509
95 NCE NICE 60,395
96 PMI PALMA MALLORCA 59,554
97 NBO NAIROBI JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL APT 58,766
98 OTP BUCHAREST OTOPENI APT 58,755
99 AMM AMMAN QUEEN ALIA INTERNATIONAL APT 58,289
100 RIX RIGA

http://redferret.net/Images/tn_airport.JPG

source: www.oagmax.com (http://www.oag.com/oag/website/com/OAG+MAX+Online/home/#)

sf_airwarrior

November 14th, 2008, 02:24 AM

Interesting that PAL , considered the country's dominant flagship carrier has only 15 more flights than budget carrier Cebu Pacific as shown in the post above. PAL flew 1,300 flights , 15 more than Cebu Pacific's 1,285 in the period ending November 2008.

Cebu Pacific has really grown by leaps and bounds now to the point that it has become a threat to PAL's dominancy both domestically and internationally. Wonder how the two Philippine air carriers differ in terms of passenger volume/numbers.

sf_airwarrior

November 14th, 2008, 02:32 AM

Here's an interesting link from Saipan's Pacific Magazine on PAL's interest to resume service there. http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/11/13/philippine-airlines-eyeing-manila-saipan-flights

Also got to browse PAL's Manila-San Diego route application. Their US DOT applicaiton of proposed new route calls for a three times weekly service via Vancouver using A340 aircraft. The application was filed in January of this year and is fully backed by the San Diego International Airport Authority and San Diego businessmen. Hawaian Airlines also sent a letter stating their support. If the FAA downgrade on Philippine airports did not happen, PAL could be flying said MNL-YVR-SAN route by now. Proposed start up of said service was the fourth quarter of 2008.

Hopefully the FAA downgrade will be lifted early 2009 so we will be able to see San Diego added to PAL's international route system. Then maybe Chicago and New York maybe Seattle will be next on tap.

Mabuhay!

Maxxclip

November 14th, 2008, 02:43 AM

this is great:okay: my sister will be happy when this proposed new routes get it's approval.

kiretoce

November 14th, 2008, 03:20 AM

Hopefully the FAA downgrade will be lifted early 2009 so we will be able to see San Diego added to PAL's international route system. Then maybe Chicago and New York maybe Seattle will be next on tap.

Mabuhay!

Personally, I'd rather drop SEA for now, and maybe replace it with IAD or BWI. There are cosiderably larger and more established Pinoy communities in the states of VA, MD, and the metro DC area that needs air connections to MNL. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here, the lifting of the Cat2 downgrade should be the first and foremost agenda on the to-do list that needs to get done, and done ASAP.

flesh_is_weak

November 14th, 2008, 03:26 AM

^^^^^ HA HA HA, my grandma brought some siopao in her NWA flight long long time ago, course I was young and didn't know better, I was totally ashamed, I felt humiliated infront of those who saw her took it out of her huge handbag LMAO...

was the siopao bought from the airport (MNL)?

IMO, those are the best tasting siopaos in the world :lol:

terrapinoy

November 14th, 2008, 04:01 AM

Personally, I'd rather drop SEA for now, and maybe replace it with IAD or BWI. There are cosiderably larger and more established Pinoy communities in the states of VA, MD, and the metro DC area that needs air connections to MNL. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here, the lifting of the Cat2 downgrade should be the first and foremost agenda on the to-do list that needs to get done, and done ASAP.

PAL could open up a large untapped market here in the East Coast. There are very few flights to Asia from IAD and the few available direct flights to NRT or ICN are always packed. PAL could even market to the large Vietnamese population as an alternative to routing through HKG or NRT and use MNL as a hub to Vietnam. PR can definitely make a big difference in this market.

Let's hope that the downgrade gets lifted soon. Heck, I would even welcome the sight of 5J flying over the Potomac river. :lol:

kiretoce

November 14th, 2008, 04:23 AM

^^ Exactly what I was thinking, terrapinoy. :okay: They can also try flying the trans-Atlantic route via continental Europe like SQ's JFK-FRA-SIN. That's "hitting two birds with one stone," tapping the markets on the US East Coast and a return to Europe for PR.

But then again, I have to get back down to reality and deal with the hear and now. :colgate:

terrapinoy

November 14th, 2008, 04:41 AM

^^ @Kimber we would be dangerous if we ran an airline. We would fly to all the major Pinoy population centers in the world. All we need now is a fleet of spare 777ER. :lol:

kiretoce

November 14th, 2008, 05:41 AM

^^ Heck, if I was only obscenely filthy rich I'd buy PR from Mr. Tan and give the ME and SEA carriers a run for their money. ;)

arianespace

November 14th, 2008, 10:07 AM

^^Personally, I'd rather drop SEA for now, and maybe replace it with IAD or BWI. There are cosiderably larger and more established Pinoy communities in the states of VA, MD, and the metro DC area that needs air connections to MNL. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here, the lifting of the Cat2 downgrade should be the first and foremost agenda on the to-do list that needs to get done, and done ASAP.

Kimber, thats the same argument some of the forumers, including some of us here, ran against the LAS operations of PAL, and 5 years going they are still there. I think they knew better than the rest of us. According to Jaime Bautista, they would fly immediately after the restriction is lifted. So probably, it has become a torn on their part as they wanted to grow despite the worlds airline turbulence. Well, they have good balance sheet to boot.

PAL could open up a large untapped market here in the East Coast. There are very few flights to Asia from IAD and the few available direct flights to NRT or ICN are always packed. PAL could even market to the large Vietnamese population as an alternative to routing through HKG or NRT and use MNL as a hub to Vietnam. PR can definitely make a big difference in this market.

Let's hope that the downgrade gets lifted soon. Heck, I would even welcome the sight of 5J flying over the Potomac river. :lol:

Manila is already a hub for the Vietnamese population from the west coast, as one senior official of the company told me. And it has been going on since 2002 which is a long time already.Thats the reason why the 340 do the rotation to Tan Son Nhat.

Your idea of it happening has a good prospect of becoming. Well I hope!

terrapinoy

November 14th, 2008, 02:26 PM

kiretoce

November 14th, 2008, 04:29 PM

Kimber, thats the same argument some of the forumers, including some of us here, ran against the LAS operations of PAL, and 5 years going they are still there. I think they knew better than the rest of us. According to Jaime Bautista, they would fly immediately after the restriction is lifted. So probably, it has become a torn on their part as they wanted to grow despite the worlds airline turbulence. Well, they have good balance sheet to boot.

I can understand PR serving LAS, it is afterall it's a major tourist destination here in the US and the world for that matter. But with SEA? I don't see a draw there other than that of some Pinoys residing there. The reason I ventured the idea of serving either IAD or BWI is because both airports serve Washington, DC (and Baltimore), and will provide service from to and from both nation's capitals. Also the extent of these airports' flying public extends not only into (northern) VA, MD, and metro DC, but also parts of WV, PA, and DE.

Manila is already a hub for the Vietnamese population from the west coast, as one senior official of the company told me. And it has been going on since 2002 which is a long time already.Thats the reason why the 340 do the rotation to Tan Son Nhat.

Your idea of it happening has a good prospect of becoming. Well I hope!

This is great news (to me at least)! Not only Filipinos patronizing PR but also the Vietnamese, and sees it as an alternative to the major carriers tha fly between Vietnam and the United States. But with VN gaining prominence, I hope they would still fly with PR.

Interesting. That supports what my Vietnamese friends have said. They prefer flying PAL because of the connections in MNL and they have said that T2 was an easy airport to transit through. A couple of them have even extended their vacations to travel around the Philippines. :okay:

Yeah, I heard the "Vietnoys" (resettled Vietnamese refugees in the Philippines) like PR because of the ease and comfort of using T2 whenever they go back home.

terrapinoy

November 14th, 2008, 04:59 PM

^^ We can also include our Cambodian and Lao neighbors who have some affinity with the Philippines since many of them came through the re-settlement camps in Palawan and Bataan. Let's hope that PR can connect with these communities to continue marketing MNL as a hub.

There was a big push a while back for DOT to approve the IAD-PEK route which United won with support from Congress. The "capital to capital" campaign could also be used by PR.

arianespace

November 14th, 2008, 07:29 PM

I can understand PR serving LAS, it is afterall it's a major tourist destination here in the US and the world for that matter. But with SEA? I don't see a draw there other than that of some Pinoys residing there. The reason I ventured the idea of serving either IAD or BWI is because both airports serve Washington, DC (and Baltimore), and will provide service from to and from both nation's capitals. Also the extent of these airports' flying public extends not only into (northern) VA, MD, and metro DC, but also parts of WV, PA, and DE.

I think the catchment area will either be served in ORD or JFK/EWR. As far as I can remember the capital was never on their radar. The 77W is propose to serve the route via ICN to MNL while the other route is CEB-LAX. But that is still in the drawing board. Its just what my friend inside told me. They got the data already for the Illinois traffic, My take on it is that Chicago is the next in line. Its still to soon to be true though.

abnkat

November 14th, 2008, 07:43 PM

http://www.anna.aero/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/rotw3.jpghttp://www.anna.aero/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/cebu.jpg
Cebu Pacific launched six new routes from the Philippines this week. Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (formerly Clark Air Force Base) became the airline’s fourth base after Manila, Cebu and Davao. Services to Bangkok (BKK), Hong Kong (HKG), Macau (MFM) and Singapore (SIN) began from Clark (CRK) this week. Singapore and Hong Kong will be served daily with Macau served four times weekly and Bangkok thrice weekly. Lance Y. Gokongwei, CEB president and CEO said, “The residents of Central and Northern Luzon can now fly directly to Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok, and Singapore, without traveling all the way to Manila. More importantly, we are now making our trademark low fares available to even more people in the country.” Two further domestic routes also began this week with flights from Cebu (CEB) to Ozamis City (OZC) and Surigao (SUG). These two routes will be operated by one of the airline’s four ATR 72-500 aircraft

kiretoce

November 14th, 2008, 09:11 PM

I think the catchment area will either be served in ORD or JFK/EWR. As far as I can remember the capital was never on their radar. The 77W is propose to serve the route via ICN to MNL while the other route is CEB-LAX. But that is still in the drawing board. Its just what my friend inside told me. They got the data already for the Illinois traffic, My take on it is that Chicago is the next in line. Its still to soon to be true though.

I agree. A return to ORD and/or JFK/EWR will most likely happen sooner than other US cities they plan on serving.

arianespace

November 14th, 2008, 09:36 PM

Ex SAS Q400 does it again the Second Time!

http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/photos/rp-c3018.jpg

PAL EXPRESS Plane takes emergency landing following glitch in landing gear
By JOSE G. DALUMPINES AND RIZALENE P. ACAC (http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/story.php?id=22664)
Published : 2008-11-14

A passenger plane coming from Zamboanga performed an emergency landing at the Davao International Airport past 2 p.m. yesterday following a glitch in its landing gear.

Domingo Duerme, executive vice president on sales of the Philippine Airlines, said the pilot of Flight 272 performed an emergency procedure after the plane’s landing gear light blinked, indicating a problem in the system.
The plane, however, landed safely and all passengers and crew were unhurt.
“Nevertheless, the plane is undergoing a thorough check by our mechanics to ensure safety of the landing gear and its signal light,” Duerme said.
There was false alarm on the landing light indicator. Mechanics are coming to ensure (its) safety,” he added.
A report reaching the Davao Region Police Office based in Camp Catitipan showed that PAL Express RPC 3030, Flight 272 with 47 passengers on board coming from Zamboanga City landed safely at 2:37 p.m.
Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II, outgoing director of the Police Regional Office-XI, said the instrument panel indicated that the left landing gear was “unlocked,” which prompted the pilot to immediately perform the usual procedure under the circumstances.
Observers saw the airport firefighters spraying fire extinguishing foam on the left side of the plane after it taxied safely on the tarmac.
A Times source who asked not to be identified said the plane known as Dash 8 hovered for more than 30 minutes.
In this case, the situation was “not alarming” although the pilot requested for an emergency landing for the tower controllers to give priority to the plane.
Upon landing, a tow truck was dispatched to pull the plane. The source explained that the smoke that observers saw came out of the truck and not from the plane. (with reports from Guy Lorenzo Lao)

kiretoce

November 14th, 2008, 09:40 PM

^^ Maybe the third time's a charm. :lol:

arianespace

November 14th, 2008, 09:45 PM

Cebu Pacific barred from using Ozamiz Terminal

http://i2.flugzeugbilder.de/73/96/1210889981.jpg

By Daxim Lucas (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20081113-172067/Cebu-Pac-barred-from-Ozamiz-terminal)
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:59:00 11/13/2008

BUDGET CARRIER Cebu Pacific has started flying between Cebu and Ozamiz City in northern Mindanao thrice a week with the reopening of the Ozamiz airport after a 10-year closure.

The Gokongwei-owned airline is being barred, however, from using the airport's rehabilitated terminal building since it stands on property owned by rival carrier Philippine Airlines.

Because of this, Cebu Pacific has had to locate its terminal operations--like passenger check-in, pre-departure, and arrival services--under a tent adjacent to the newly refurbished passenger terminal, which is owned by the state-run Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

At present, passengers waiting to board Cebu Pacific's Monday-Wednesday-Friday ATR 72 turboprop ferry flight between Cebu and Ozamiz sit on benches outside the airport's perimeter fence while waiting to board the aircraft.

"What we don't understand is why we're not being allowed to use a facility that was built using public funds," said Cebu Pacific vice president for commercial planning Alex Reyes.

Nonetheless, he expressed optimism about the potential of passenger traffic between both cities, given the traditional trade links of Cebu with Visayan-speaking residents of Ozamiz in Misamis Occidental.

Both inbound and outbound inaugural flights last Wednesday were fully booked, despite the conditions at the Ozamiz airport.

During ceremonies to mark the inaugural flight, Misamis Occidental governor Loreto Ocampos vowed to remedy the situation, saying that the current condition--where one airline uses a government facility and another uses makeshift tents--was unacceptable.

"What we will do is that [the provincial government] will just buy this property so that everyone can use it," he said in Visayan.

Ocampos pointed out, however, that the provincial government presently does not have the funds for such an undertaking, adding that he would ask President Macapagal-Arroyo for additional resources to boost the budget of the local government.

The CAAP expressed resignation over the issue, saying PAL's stand was affirmed by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.

"CAAP did not bar Cebu Pacific from using the Ozamiz terminal building, but they were made aware that CAAP sought the legal opinion of the OGCC on the legality of allowing them to occupy a space in the terminal building," the agency's legal chief Deo de Ocampo told the Inquirer.

"Records appear that the terminal building was constructed at the time when PAL was majority-owned by the government," he added. "PAL is claiming ownership over the terminal building based on legal principle. The accessory, terminal building, follows the principal, land."

Philippine Airlines' subsidiary Air Philippines operates flights between the city and Manila using a Boeing 737--a service that Cebu Pacific, so far, cannot match because the 1.8-kilometer runway of the Ozamiz airport is not designed to to handle the weight of an Airbus A320.

Philippine Airlines did not respond to requests for comment on the issue.

arianespace

November 14th, 2008, 09:53 PM

Cebu Pacific reports 174% decline in profits, but plans to increase passenger base to 7 million

CEBU AIR, Inc., operator of budget airline Cebu Pacific, posted a 174% decline in profits from January to September this year, citing high oil prices and the appreciation of dollar-denominated loans.

In a disclosure to the local exchange, Cebu Pacific’s holding firm, JG Summit Holdings, Inc. said the airline had lost P1.87 billion in the nine month period — a turnaround from the P2.53 billion profit the company made in the same period last year.

"[These losses were] due to higher operations-related expenses, particularly, fuel cost which posted a 96% increase" to P6.53 billion this year from P3.33 billion last year, the parent firm said.

Jet fuel prices peaked at $180 per barrel in July, or near double its price from a year ago.

Today however, jet fuel, which is more expensive than regular gasoline, has gone down to $84 per barrel, or just under 20% lower than its price a year ago.

"Cebu Pacific recognized a foreign exchange loss from its dollar denominated obligations amounting to P1.57 billion during the period compared to a foreign exchange gain of P1.06 billion recorded last year," the company said.

Excluding the foreign exchange and mark-to-market effect, the airline would have posted a net income of P187.71 million for the nine months.

The airline’s costs and operating expenses went up 47.33% in the nine-month period, to P13.23 billion from just under P9 billion last year.

The airline posted a 28.3% increase in revenues for the nine-month period to close to P14 billion, from just under P11 billion in the same period last year, "brought about by additional routes and flights."

The company is looking to grow its passenger base to 7 million passengers a year by the end of 2008, from the five million passengers it carried all of last year.

The Gokongwei-led carrier plans to do this by expanding to more routes and fielding a total of six aircraft — four 72-seater ATR Turboprops and two 180-seater Airbus 320s — which the company expects to be delivered next year. — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW111508/content.php?id=042)

mwg12a

November 15th, 2008, 01:09 AM

^^ Interesting. That supports what my Vietnamese friends have said. They prefer flying PAL because of the connections in MNL and they have said that T2 was an easy airport to transit through. A couple of them have even extended their vacations to travel around the Philippines. :okay:

At first I can't believe these because an american friend who constantly visit the Philippines told he always fly with alot of vietnamese people to Manila transiting to Vietnam. He said he can spot easily now which one are filipinos and which ones are Vietnamese.

kiretoce

November 15th, 2008, 01:38 AM

Sou-jiro

November 15th, 2008, 02:56 AM

^^^
I'snt actor Jay Manalo of vietnamese blood partially?..isnt his mom of vietnamese background?..correct me if im wrong

Fly2Bacolod

November 15th, 2008, 04:56 AM

^^
yup!

Fly2Bacolod

November 15th, 2008, 05:02 AM

BACOLOD-SILAY AIRPORT

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abnkat

November 15th, 2008, 09:31 AM

Hong Kong’s Dragon air has confirmed it’s latest new route will commence on 15 December and will be from Hong Kong to Manila in the Philippines.The new service will operate five times each week with an Airbus A320 aircraft with timings as follows:

KA913 HKG2000 - 2200MNL 320 x26
KA912 MNL1050 - 1255HKG 320 x37

KA913/912's timing complements existing Cathay Pacific 913/912, which operates twice weekly .The airlines CEO believes the new flight will offer a wider choice of option’s for passengers as traffic flow between HKG and Manila continues to grow

boom_box

November 15th, 2008, 12:47 PM

the only first Filipina licensed APIC pilot....

http://www.mnnetherlands.com/mn/articles/023_uthestoryofucaptcatherine.php
http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=20081113-171964

not to mention... sila din ang first batch graduate sa APIC course along with other pilots... including 5J Capt. Sir Manny "windwalker" of PFSG

BTW...
from Manny "windwalker" of PFSG
APIC - Airbus Pilot Instructor Course.

Its a totally new course based on the now defunct TRI (Type Rating Instructor) Course. APIC is more extensive because Airbus did not like the idea of the TRI graduates getting airline specific differences in training philosophy. So they (Airbus) came up with APIC which is more Airbus Factory Standardization specific, in order to ensure the uniformity of the training philosophy worldwide, as well as the quality of the graduates. I was told Capt. Brooke & I are the first from Cebu Pacific to take the full APIC course. The course can be taken in "modules" - and can be completed at different time frames. It was purposely made 10 times harder than the previous TRI course.

mwg12a

November 15th, 2008, 11:50 PM

I wonder why there are very few filipinas interested in becoming an airline pilot or just being a pilot per se??? It would be nice if there are female pilots in any Philippine fleets or carrier..

mwg12a

November 15th, 2008, 11:54 PM

^^ It's a lesser known fact that there are indeed a lot of Vietnamese people in the Philippines. Most were brought there as they were in the process of being resettled to the US after the Vietnam war. Although majority transited through, a considerable amount also decided to stay in the Philippines and have integrated themselves into Filipino mainstream society. That's why we have a segment of society in the Philippines called "Vietnoys."

They said Vietnam is very much like the Philippines. The same climate. Both countries has about an average 8 inches of rain yearly.

Were they vietnamese married to a pinoy? Did they stay in the Philippines and started their own businesses?

sonnyville

November 16th, 2008, 12:24 AM

Madami sila sa Palawan, the government at the time thought it was just temporary following the end stage of the Vietnam War, spread of communism in Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia), and the Cambodian genocide, but many (couple of thousands lang siguro natira ngayon) insisted to stay to start new lives in the RP. Sa Palawan nila na process or if in transition to the USA sa Morong, Bataan. The government then had them educated and integrated in to Filipino society. Hangang ngayon there are considerable amount of Chinese/Vietnamese/Cambodians on homemade floating rafts/boats that come to our shores seeking to escape these oppressive regimes. Yung mga naiwan sa Pilipinas have done well, as they have opened businesses, integrated Filipino customs and ways with their own. Sa susunod try the Pho soup in Puerto Princessa, authentic Vietnamese food without leaving our country.

From Google:

Many Vietnamese boat refugees landed in the Philippines in post-1975 and, as a result, a community called Viet-Ville (French for "Viettown") was formed in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, making it the center of Vietnamese commerce and culture complete with Vietnamese restaurants, shops, and Catholic churches and Buddhist temples at the time. Its ethnic Vietnamese population of the community has dwindled greatly, however, as many have since been resettled in the United States, Australia, or Western Europe. Viet-Ville remains a popular destination for local Filipino residents.

Montecito_kid

November 16th, 2008, 02:20 AM

Me helicopter scheduled flight na pala ang PR. :bash:

Ex SAS Q400 does it again the Second Time!

A Times source who asked not to be identified said the plane known as Dash 8 hovered for more than 30 minutes.

kiretoce

November 16th, 2008, 06:38 AM

I wonder why there are very few filipinas interested in becoming an airline pilot or just being a pilot per se??? It would be nice if there are female pilots in any Philippine fleets or carrier..

I once read (though I'm not completely sure) that Lucio Tan's daughter once flew for PR.

bitoy

November 16th, 2008, 08:54 AM

I once read (thought I'm not completely sure) that Lucio Tan's daughter once flew for PR.

She was enrolled on their own PAL flight school with some other women on their class, that was 4 or 5 years ago? . I'm not sure if she got her commercial pilot license.
I guess she doesn't need to, she'll just take one from the hangar and take off just to joy-fly with her friends. :lol:

vogriphach

November 16th, 2008, 05:17 PM

in_a_rush

November 16th, 2008, 05:27 PM

bitoy

November 17th, 2008, 12:43 AM

http://images.inquirer.net/media/globalnation/features/features/images/pic-11130303170166.jpg

Capt. Catherine Marie Castillo ~ now a flight instructor of Airbus.

Chrisvenz

November 17th, 2008, 02:11 AM

absinthe_888

November 17th, 2008, 12:09 PM

Igsuonnimo

November 17th, 2008, 06:50 PM

Manila-HK route is a very lucrative business. Ilang pinoy na lang ba (Class C-A) ang hindi pa nakakapunta ng HK? Yung ibang Pinoy pumupunta ng HK para lang mag-shopping. Yung mga Pulitiko nga daw kapag naghihire ng mga Sexy stars na babae sa mga hotels sa HK pa nila ginagawa yung krimen para iwas eskandalo. OT na. haha

WTF! whoa how can you know that if mga politicians go to HK just to do the thing with their hook-ups since "umiiwas" sila. :)

O kaya mga taga showbiz na nagpapalamig sa awayan tulad ni Sharon Cuneta at Senator Francis Pangilinan:lol: Sorry OT

Pero lucrative talaga ang route na MNL-HKG..sa dami ng mga Pinay DH dun eh. Lalo na dun sa meh HSBC Building pag Sunday..

Hellow! Ok lang kayo??? :lol:

Nasa Pinas tayo noh? Lahat dito pwede pag-usapan lalo na kapag ang topic ay tsismisan :)
Welcome to the Pilipins!
Mabuhay!

raffy_east

November 17th, 2008, 06:54 PM

SEAIR to mount flights from Palawan to Malaysia

MANILA, Philippines - South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) will be mounting flights from Puerto Princesa to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, marking the carrier’s entry into the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP EAGA) market.

Scheduled on November 28, 2008, the inaugural flight will allow passengers to visit world renowned destinations in a circuitous route without backtracking. It also opens up direct flights from Kota Kinabalu to Puerto Princesa and Boracay, the carrier said in a statement.

From January to October this year, more than 35 percent of all flights to Caticlan (Boracay) were through SEAIR, the company said, adding that there are four different airlines serving that route.

“SEAIR made 3,511 flights to and from Caticlan. This translates to 635 flights more than our nearest competitor. This [new] service will add further to the connectivity to Boracay with twice a week flights direct from Caticlan to Puerto Princesa," said Patrick Tan, SEAIR’s vice president for commercial affairs.

To further boost passenger traffic, SEAIR recently introduced a state-of-the-art reservation system where passengers may avail of the best online deals such as inexpensive fares for definite travel dates (FlySaver) and VIP tickets for those who require a good deal of flexibility on their itinerary (FlyFlex). All flights start selling at P35++.

Just last month, SEAIR posted record sales for 2008 with 20 percent of the tickets sold online. Online bookings are expected to increase by 250 percent as peak season nears.

Two new airbuses are scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2009.

With the recent signing of the ASEAN Open Sky Agreement, it is full speed ahead for SEAIR as it bared plans to operate flights to Singapore, Macau, Incheon, Bangkok, and Kaoshiung.

“We believe in tourism as the industry of the future for the Philippines and SEAIR wishes to continue to contribute in the tradition of its pioneering effort that started 14 years and recently has been manifested in new services to Tablas, Daet, Baler, Basco and Borongan," Tan added. - GMANews.TV

abnkat

November 17th, 2008, 07:13 PM

sf_airwarrior

November 18th, 2008, 02:26 AM

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6738/pala380rf4.jpg

mwg12a

November 18th, 2008, 02:41 AM

http://images.inquirer.net/media/globalnation/features/features/images/pic-11130303170166.jpg

Capt. Catherine Marie Castillo ~ now a flight instructor of Airbus.

Is she based in France or she is based in the Philippines for the airbus company? She's cute...

bitoy

November 18th, 2008, 05:20 AM

Is she based in France or she is based in the Philippines for the airbus company? She's cute...

Capt. Catherine Castillo
First Filipina Jet Aircraft Pilot (http://www.mnnetherlands.com/mn/articles/023_uthestoryofucaptcatherine.php)

I think she'll be teaching Filipino AirBus pilots.

http://www.mnnetherlands.com/mn/articles/023/paris-eiffel%20tower%20with%20colleague%20manny_s.jpg

http://www.mnnetherlands.com/mn/articles/023/carcassone,%20fun%20shot_s.jpg

boom_box

November 18th, 2008, 06:49 AM

kiretoce

November 18th, 2008, 06:52 AM

^^ Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV) still flies to MNL, it hasn't dropped or abandoned that route from their network.

boom_box

November 18th, 2008, 07:09 AM

awts.... but why there's a article in newspaper where a PAF C-130 will fly to Saudi to fly our muslim brothers..?

bitoy

November 18th, 2008, 08:29 AM

^^ That would be scary to fly on the remaining C-130 of the PAF. It can only handle 92-110 passengers for the stretch version of the C-130E. And the distance from Manila to Jeddah is about 5,000 mi. Wow!

sloanesquare

November 18th, 2008, 09:17 AM

Qantas jets collide at airport
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Larissa Ham
November 18, 2008 - 2:33PM

Related coverage
Timeline of Qantas mishaps
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Two Qantas jumbo jets - including the plane involved in the Manila mid-air explosion last July - have collided while being towed at Avalon.
"Two 747s at our Avalon maintenance base have come into contact with each other during towing this morning," a Qantas spokesman said.

"Both aircraft sustained some damage, the extent of that is still being assessed."

The spokesman confirmed one of the planes was the aircraft that was forced to make an emergency landing earlier this year when its oxygen tank exploded mid-air, blowing a hole in the plane's fuselage.

Repairs to the aircraft involved in the July incident were undertaken in Manila by Boeing, but further work was being done at Avalon.

The plane has not carried passengers since the emergency landing four months ago.

Staff involved in this morning's collision, which occurred about 9.30am, have been stood down pending a full investigation, a Qantas spokesman said.

a s i a n a

November 18th, 2008, 05:16 PM

Here's a good post from airlineroute.blogspot.com (http://airlineroute.blogspot.com/2008/11/1981-philippine-airlines-network.html).

abnkat

November 18th, 2008, 09:24 PM

Do you guys have any news on Spirit of Manila airlines? Their website (http://www.spiritofmanilaairlines.com) looks quite impressive. According to the route map, they only want to fly international routes? So is there going to be a codeshare agreement for domestic routes? or simply, do they have fixed a date to start operations?
salamat po

bongskie09

November 19th, 2008, 05:28 AM

http://images.inquirer.net/media/globalnation/features/features/images/pic-11130303170166.jpg

Capt. Catherine Marie Castillo ~ now a flight instructor of Airbus.

My family and I had a chance of having a picture taken with her just recently :)
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/bongskie09/bongcompanies067.jpg

bitoy

November 19th, 2008, 07:09 AM

! WOW!, me too would loved to have a picture taken with her. Meron ako photo with a female USAF pilot, pero mas macho pa sa akin... :lol:

quannar

November 19th, 2008, 07:14 AM

^^ Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV) still flies to MNL, it hasn't dropped or abandoned that route from their network.

here's the flight schedule of Saudia out Manila

SV873 (Monday)
Routing: Manila-Hong Kong-Riyadh-Jeddah
ETD MNL: 1500H ETA JED: 0125H

SV871 (Tuesday)
Routing: Manila-Jeddah
ETD MNL: 1645H ETA JED: 2240H

SV865 (Friday)
Routing: Manila-Hong Kong-Riyadh-Jeddah
ETD MNL: 1720H ETA JED: 0350H

SV875 (Saturday)
Routing: Manila-Dammam-Jeddah
ETD MNL: 2015H ETA JED: 0340H

ianers_ianized

November 19th, 2008, 12:20 PM

^^ Travel Agent? amadeus or abacus?

^^How about the oldies "Airport 75". The H53(325) helicopter used in the movie was assigned in Utah and was transferred in Albuquerque, New Mexico at Kirkland Air Force Base where I serviced its instrument systems when I was in the USAF service.

sori i don't remember the movie and but tried to search for it. It was an all-star cast.

quannar

November 19th, 2008, 04:01 PM

[QUOTE=ianers_ianized;28235112]^^ Travel Agent? amadeus or abacus?

nope!!! freight forwarding company.....and it's quannar not amadeus nor abacus? :lol::lol::lol:

sf_airwarrior

November 19th, 2008, 10:11 PM

Does this mean more scrimping and budget cuts to affect the customers?

Last week, low cost Philippine rival carrier Cebu Pacific reported P1.87 billion loss for the similar period.

To read the whole article from the Philippine Airlines website http://www.philippineairlines.com/news/19nov_pal_reports_usd_114M_loss.jsp

numiX

November 20th, 2008, 02:32 AM

sad picture for the airline industry. i saw passenger loads drop on a daily basis as a flight attendant. :O(

dive-cebu

November 20th, 2008, 02:42 AM

^^ that's sad... global credit crunch is to be blamed, nothing else.

ianers_ianized

November 20th, 2008, 04:45 AM

[QUOTE=ianers_ianized;28235112]^^ Travel Agent? amadeus or abacus?

nope!!! freight forwarding company.....and it's quannar not amadeus nor abacus? :lol::lol::lol:

What I mean w/ Amadeus and Abacus are reservation systems of travel agents and airlines... I thought you are using it to see flight schedules.

Madami sila sa Palawan, the government at the time thought it was just temporary following the end stage of the Vietnam War, spread of communism in Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia), and the Cambodian genocide, but many (couple of thousands lang siguro natira ngayon) insisted to stay to start new lives in the RP. Sa Palawan nila na process or if in transition to the USA sa Morong, Bataan. The government then had them educated and integrated in to Filipino society. Hangang ngayon there are considerable amount of Chinese/Vietnamese/Cambodians on homemade floating rafts/boats that come to our shores seeking to escape these oppressive regimes. Yung mga naiwan sa Pilipinas have done well, as they have opened businesses, integrated Filipino customs and ways with their own. Sa susunod try the Pho soup in Puerto Princessa, authentic Vietnamese food without leaving our country.

I think this was inspired partly in the teleserye - "Vietnam Rose" about a Vietnamese girl fled to the shores of the Philippines after escaping the war and tries to reconcile her past to present while living in a Filipino community.

BACOLOD-SILAY AIRPORT

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/3021316949_132239a7b7.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/3021316953_17ebce6138.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/3022132402_74e70689ef.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2937982996_05c9c163ab.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2756099633_94091acf70.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/2677579664_dd64ae3731.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/2878351593_51897bd004.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/2767163865_5e7108708f.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2571984535_a8384738c8.jpg?v=0

sna they put more Bacolod flavors in the airport after the banig design, like sna the Masskaras w/c is highly associated with them. Another difference they hadw/ ILO airport is that Ilo has many plant ornaments inside the apt facility. sna BCD would come up a different one.

mwg12a

November 20th, 2008, 05:29 AM

Can't avoid these to happen even with Philippines' local airline industry, stock market is going down, it's the rippled effect of the US economic down pour that's sweeping the global market, it's impossible that the Philippines would not be affected by these since most countries all over the world has some major business dealing with the US. It will recover somehow , hopefully....

swahi

November 20th, 2008, 05:43 AM

airlines are now in a lose-lose situation. Faced with dwindling passenger traffic and soaring losses, whereby the economic crisis means travellers will really run after the promo flights (forget about the mileage!), to increase the ticket rates would mean less passengers, either they transfer to other airlines, or stop travelling altogether.

The drop in fuel surcharges just means reflecting the global oil downward trend. Airlines pass these on to the travellers, to the chagrin of those who bought advanced prepaid tickets. I don't think they will be able to claim for a refund on the difference in the fuel surcharge when they bought their tickets then, and if they had bought their tickets now, to travel in the future. But this will not be enough to encourage people to travel more.

We will surely see lesser daily flights in the very near future.

dive-cebu

November 20th, 2008, 06:38 AM

^^ what will be the effect on the airfares given the decrease in daily flights?

a) decrease in flights can be equated to lesser supply, so will this drive the airfares UP?

or

b) decrease in number of passengers will push the airlines to sell tickets at a discount, so airline tickets will significantly go DOWN further?

mwg12a

November 20th, 2008, 06:56 AM

^^^ High cost of fuel oil, drop in stock market, high costs of basic needs would cause the people to travel less. These less travelers and the high cost of surcharges would drive the airfares to shoot up high so these companies has to resort to all cost cutting expenses just to be able to offer affordable airfares to the public.

You can't sell discounted ticket if there are no clients who buy.... it means, lesser flights offers. Sacking routes that are not very profitable.

swahi

November 20th, 2008, 07:02 AM

Buyer's market. More seat supply than demand. This means that airlines will lower the frequencies just to be able to maintain a minimum load factor. They will continue with their promo fares, as increasing the prices will just further dampen the passenger traffic.

You can see it happening. PAL's travel lite, as the answer to Cebu Pac's. The lower weight allowance. Higher penalties for rebooking, no shows, cancellations, or overweight charges would be their "extra" income source. PAL's inflight service is now down to one piece of snack, water, and coffee. Gone is it in the plural with snackS, gone is the tea and the juice. Would the newspaper follow? Last time I took PAL this november, their newspaper was already limited, they are not able to distribute enough papers for all passengers even on a 3/4 load plane.

ianers_ianized

November 20th, 2008, 07:12 AM

^^ does their snack pack in domestic flights reduce to one snack already... may last travel to their domestic flight was April 2008 in ILO

AmbutLang

November 21st, 2008, 12:55 AM

Have you tried the old C-123 cargo plane of the PAF? There were about 25 civilian passengers including women and children waiting for a hitch ride to Manila. A cargo plane arrived from Zamboanga to drop some cargoes on the way to Manila. We were given instructions that all male passengers had to assist the military personnels to unload the cargoes so the plane can leave Mactan on its way to Manila before night fall. WE unloaded six fallen soldiers, casualties of rebel encounters in Mindanao. The plane seats were for women and children and the rest sat on the remaining cargoes bound manila. It was a sad trip. The worst part was the plane can not be pressurized so plane cruised at 10,000 feet and full of bullet holes. It was freezing. Then I recalled why the passengers were having jockets at a ready while we were waiting at the hanger sweating. me :bash:
All of us were connected to a Philippines government jobs or dependents as a requiremnt of a free ride.

abnkat

November 21st, 2008, 09:37 AM

Alfonso Cusi, General Manager of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), said he has often encountered cases of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) unable to leave for jobs in the Middle East because "only a few seats are allocated by these airlines to our OFWs". These are the low-priced seats bought by Middle East employers for Filipino workers."These Middle East carriers regularly depart Manila with empty seats. OFWs cannot afford to pay for higher-priced seats"

Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) director Rene Diaz pushed for Philippine Airlines (PAL) to resume its service to the oil-rich region, citing OFWs' problem of flight bookings with Middle East-based carriers.

Ma. Socorro R. Gonzaga, PAL senior assistant VP (External Affairs), said there are more seats available on all foreign airlines per week between Manila and the Middle East than the weekly seat capacity between Manila and the US mainland. Filipino workers are discriminated by Middle East airlines who prioritize passengers traveling to Europe and elsewhere.The heavy government subsidy to these carriers, enabling them to offer cheap tickets, is one of the reasons PAL suffered years of losses in its operations to the Middle East.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) said local carriers could not compete with Middle Eastern carriers, which offer lower fares since they have access to cheaper fuel. PAL said local airlines do not serve Mid-East routes since these are unprofitable. It also said most Middle Eastern airlines enjoy heavy state subsidies, which allow them to bring ticket prices down.

Diaz is going after Tan’s Philippine Airlines (PAL). On one hand, PAL has just come out from a rehabilitation program that focused on the lucrative US market, while dropping red ink routes in the Middle East and Europe, where competitors get government subsidies. On the other hand, there aren’t enough flights to the Middle East, which has resulted in a waiting list of up to two months for Filipinos who need to get to their new jobs.

Just yesterday, Diaz—as the newly appointed board member of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB)—pushed for the official designation of Clark as mega-Manila’s international airport of the north and the current one in Parañaque as the international airport of the south.

If that proposal flies, Diaz will then push for the CAB to give flag carrier status to other local airlines even though not one has shown any indication that they will service the Middle East or Europe any time soon. This means PAL will keep its flag carrier status since it is based in Metro Manila, while other local airlines with international operations based in Clark will also be given the same standing. ..

Sky Harbor

November 21st, 2008, 07:11 PM

KOTA KINABALU IS SEAIR’S NEWEST DESTINATION (http://www.flyseair.com/seair-goes-international)

Airline unveils “Paradise to Paradise Plus One” route

A triple treat of fun and adventure awaits passengers as SEAIR unveils its “Paradise to Paradise Plus One” route and offers its first ever international scheduled flight to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

The inaugural flights scheduled on November 28 will commence from Clark to Caticlan to Puerto Princesa to Kota Kinabalu. The one-way all-in rate between Caticlan and Puerto Princesa starts from as low as Php 2,660 and Php 2,975 for Puerto Princesa and Kota Kinabalu.

“The overall route allows passengers to visit world renowned destinations in a circuitous route without backtracking. The choice of the Puerto Princesa-Kota Kinabalu route is a result of our being designated as the official RP carrier in the Brunei- Indonesia- Malaysia- Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP EAGA),” said Patrick Tan, SEAIR’s VP for Commercial Affairs.

SEAIR is famous for its “paradise to paradise” destinations and the airline ups it a notch by adding Kota Kinabalu as one of its premiere stops. Aside from its rich tourism industry, Kota Kinabalu is strategically located as a starting point to many of South East Asia’s main cities.

SEAIR has always pioneered new and exciting destinations to help spur development in the tourism sector and the opening of this route is long awaited by all nations in BIMP-EAGA as it marks the first time a BIMP-EAGA carrier is flying between two points in the Growth Area.

jefflacs

November 22nd, 2008, 03:18 PM

For the nth time it's Qantas again....

Qantas takeoff aborted as damage spotted
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20081122-173796/Qantas-takeoff-aborted-as-damage-spotted
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 20:03:00 11/22/2008

SYDNEY, Australia -- A Qantas jumbo jet carrying 213 passengers aborted a flight shortly before takeoff from Sydney Saturday when an engineer spotted that one of its wings was damaged, the airline said.

The New Zealand-bound Boeing 747-300 was taxiing towards the runway when damage to a right wing flap was noticed by an engineer on the ground and the pilot was alerted, Qantas said.

"It was a technical issue with the wing prior to departure," an airline spokeswoman told AFP.

All passengers on the plane had been provided with accommodation and booked on another flight on Sunday morning, she said, and the cause of the damage was being assessed.

The incident is the latest in a series of problems suffered by Australia's troubled national airline in recent months.

On Tuesday, two Qantas jumbos were damaged when they collided on the ground at a maintenance base.

In October, a computer glitch caused a Qantas plane to plunge into a 200-meter mid-air nosedive, injuring more than 70 people, with some suffering broken bones.

In July, a Qantas Boeing 747-400 made an emergency landing in Manila after a mid-air blast caused by an exploding oxygen bottle punched a hole in the fuselage during a flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne.

arianespace

November 23rd, 2008, 06:19 PM

Congressional franchise makes Seair optimistic
by Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2372:congressional-franchise-makes-seair-optimistic&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58)
Sunday, 23 November 2008

http://www.flyseair.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/do328.jpg

LEISURE carrier Southeast Asian Airlines Inc. (Seair) has just been granted a franchise to operate domestic and international routes by the Philippine Congress.

The franchise is expected to boost Seair’s value, making it more attractive to potential buyers, according to an airline official and a legislator who coauthored a bill granting the franchise.

Seair owners, led by the foreign partnership of Iren Dornier and Nikos Gitsis and the Filipino group of Tomas Lopez Jr., have been trying to negotiate for a buyout of their shares with prospective investors, after their talks with Filipino-Chinese businessman Alfredo Yao fell through in May. Dornier and Gitsis own 40 percent of Seair while the rest of the shares are owned by Lopez’s group. Yao wanted to merge the operations of Seair with that of Zest Airways, formerly Asian Spirit, which he acquired in March 2008.

As this developed, a Seair official said the airline is still on an expansion mode and unaffected by the current global economic crisis which is seen dampening tourism worldwide. In its October 2008 report, the World Tourism Organization projected global tourism growth slowing down to a range of zero percent to 2 percent for 2009, from a revised growth of 2 percent to 3 percent in 2008. Average tourism growth from 2004 to 2007 was 7 percent.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_Iwj7VoMGkmY/RYq_9wOw8KI/AAAAAAAAACg/06Y9RJqmOBg/s400/pfortune-pic.jpg

Interviewed over the weekend, Seair president Avelino Zapanta said the law granting the carrier’s congressional franchise was recently signed by Sen. Manuel Villar, “among his last acts as Senate President,” and is now in Malacañang “awaiting the signature of President Arroyo.”

He said the Senate virtually adopted House Bill (HB) 3788, coauthored by Reps. Eleajandro Jesus Madrona, Ferjenel Biron, Teodoro Locsin Jr., et al.—who comprise the House Committee on Legislative Franchises—which is “more complete than that of the Senate’s bill.”

Through Committee Report 97, HB 3788 was endorsed for approval by the Senate Committee on Public Services, chaired by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, on August 28, “without amendment, taking into consideration Senate Bill (SB) 2376.” The latter was coauthored by Senators Ponce Enrile and Juan Miguel Zubiri. SB 2376 is likewise a proposed legislation granting Seair the “franchise to establish, operate and maintain domestic and international air transport services, with Clarkfield, Pampanga as its base.”

Seair’s congressional franchise has a term of 25 years upon the law’s effectivity.

Meanwhile, in a text message from London, Locsin said the congressional franchise “gives Seair permanency,” such that its operations cannot just be indiscriminately cancelled by any government agency without due cause.

This was echoed by Zapanta, who said the franchise gives the airline “a sense of legitimacy; that we’re not operating like a colorum anymore.” Colorum is a Filipino term usually applied to jeepneys and buses which do not have the license to ply certain routes. While it flies without a congressional franchise, Seair has a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), allowing the carrier to operate scheduled flight services.

Locsin added that with the franchise, the airline “can also borrow [loans], as well as sell its equity at a premium.”

Asked about the advantage of having a congressional franchise, considering that Seair has been operating and expanding since 1995, Zapanta explained that while “some banks will probably consider that [an airline’s franchise] before extending a loan, until you sell that airline, that value [of having a congressional franchise] is not actually manifested. It strengthens your value.”

The airline executive agreed that now that Seair has acquired its franchise, its owners could demand a higher price from potential buyers. When Yao group’s offered to buy out Seair’s owners, the latter were only offered $2 million (worth P84.63 million in May) in cash. With the congressional franchise, industry analysts estimate that Seair owners can now command even “three times that amount.”

Zapanta said the congressional franchise also gives the airline tax incentives such as duty-free importation of capital equipment and income tax holidays.

Locsin, meanwhile, said the franchise would enable Seair to continue flying, fostering competition among the airlines. “I believe that when you have more competition in the industry, it can only result in better service for the airline travelers.”

Meanwhile, Zapanta said Seair remains optimistic about the local and regional tourism market despite projections that the global financial crisis will slow down international travel beginning next year. “We’re bullish and even expanding our routes. We recently were allowed to operate in Singapore, for instance.”

On November 28, the airline will commence flights to Kota Kinabalu; in April 2009, Singapore and Macau; August 2009, Bangkok and Hong Kong, as well as Cebu and Davao; and in September 2009, “we’re looking at Inchon, Kuala Lumpur and Kaohsiung,” he added. All new flights will be out of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga, which has more liberal aviation policies.

He stressed that the regional flights are “basically a Seair operation,” but using two aircraft, Airbus 320s, leased from Tiger Airways, a budget carrier based in Singapore. On July 31, the CAB approved the lease agreement between Seair and Tiger Air, two years after both carriers signed it. Local airlines had been opposing the agreement, saying it was a prelude to granting fifth freedom rights to Tiger Air, which they claimed would fly local destinations using Seair.

Fifth freedom rights allow an airline to pick up passengers from one country, transport them to another country, pick up passengers there, and fly to yet another country, like Philippine Airlines’s Manila-Vancouver-Las Vegas-Manila route.

Under the terms of its congressional franchise and in accordance with provisions in the Philippine Constitution on public utilities, Seair is also mandated to offer at least 30 percent of its outstanding capital stock to the public, “within five years from commencement of its operations.” But under the rules of the Philippine Stock Exchange, a company may list its shares in the market after three years of continued profitability. However, in certain instances, this requirement has been waived, as in the case of mining companies and small and medium enterprises.

In May this year, Seair owners rejected the offer of Yao to purchase 60 percent of the airline, because they felt it was a very low price for their shares. While the agreement between both groups was for Yao to purchase Seair for $3.75 million (P158 million then), the actual cash involved would only be $2 million.

x x x x x N O T E S x x x x x

The emphasis is noteworthy of attention for those who want to learn whats really inside the airline business and what it takes to be a flag carrier and to have a long prospect of flying overseas. The objections of local carrier to SEAIR-TIGER alliance has become moot after the approval and effectivity of the Asean open sky in December. Its the reason why opposition was dismissed. :cheers:

abnkat

November 23rd, 2008, 06:48 PM

http://www.anna.aero/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/cebu-mnl-kix-route.jpg
Cebu Pacific has launched flights from Manila (MNL) to Osaka Kansai (KIX) in Japan. This is the airline’s first route to Japan and will operate thrice weekly (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) on an A320. It will compete with Philippine Airlines and Thai Airways on the route. Lance Y. Gokongwei, airline President and CEO, said, “We are confident that our Japan operations will increase the accessibility between Japan and the Philippines. Osaka is our first destination in Japan and we believe that our trademark low fares can stimulate tourism to both countries. The inclusion of Osaka in our international route network makes us the only low cost carrier in the ASEAN region to serve the major North Asia markets of Japan, China, and South Korea.

diz

November 23rd, 2008, 07:51 PM

^^ Air Asia doesn't fly to North Asia?

filino

November 24th, 2008, 12:05 AM

Question: Is it true that PAL wil be using bigger planes (jets) for Surigao-Manila route come January 2009? anyone can confirm on this?

numiX

November 24th, 2008, 12:56 AM

i dont think surigao airport can handle a320's/319s. Correct me if iam wrong. And Butuan is close to Surigao which uses a runway capable of handling A320's/319's. Maybe market wise not yet, but let us see.:O)

arianespace

November 24th, 2008, 04:49 AM

^^

Only the airports of Zamboanga, Dipolog, Cagayan, Butuan, Davao, Gensan, and Cotabato are certified as capable of handling narrow-bodied jets in the class of B733/4/7/8/9 and B757 as well as A319/320/321. All of them have control towers, runway lights and standard PAPI facilities that consist 4 sets of light and a usable runway length of at least 1,800 meters. All except Cotabato and Dipolog have ILS as well, and by 2010 all of them will have those too. Kalibo and Butuan got their ILS from old Iloilo and Bacolod airports.

Those airports have more than what the minimum requires. If you want to know, an Airbus 319 is capable of making a landing and take-off at Caticlan airport which is merely 800 meters. But it needs to be empty to do that. Technically though, only 1.5 Km is enough to make them fly and land loaded provided they land on the touchdown zone which usually does not happen all the time like the incident in Butuan and Tacloban.

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/2946461.jpg

Surigao, Pagadian and Ozamiz airports are capable of handling narrow bodied JET as big as Boeing 737-200/500/600, E190/195 and Airbus 318 but with service restrictions for safety reasons. It is not certified to handle a fully loaded jet in excess of 100 pax. Meaning, it can't load all passengers and cargo as much as the plane can carry altogether. Air Philippines does that to its Ozamiz run with weight penalty. All can however accommodate a BAE146 without restrictions as it was designed as STOL aircraft and hold only 83 passengers.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_WIm-Z1P-ooc/SHyDbt579gI/AAAAAAAAAH8/07au1o4wZ3k/s400/DSC02043.JPG

http://bp1.blogger.com/_WIm-Z1P-ooc/SHxxnO6PjlI/AAAAAAAAAHc/HJ0wdORdcDU/s400/DSC02049.JPG

http://bp0.blogger.com/_WIm-Z1P-ooc/SHxwGgqsiyI/AAAAAAAAAHM/9D6PWjTqp-0/s400/DSC02059.JPG

http://bp3.blogger.com/_WIm-Z1P-ooc/SHxvsSD4NkI/AAAAAAAAAG8/afi4WUOFPy8/s400/DSC02073.JPG

If Surigao is raking more passengers than the Q400 could swallow everyday, then Air Philippines B732 with 130 seats would probably take that route next year, similar to what is being done in Naga, assuming it flies alone, which I doubt because 5J and RIT will make a run of its money on the ATR and Xian to Manila pretty soon.

In fairness to Surigao airport, they do have a very impressive and decent under-utilized terminal building beyond the league of most secondary airports in the Philippines. And they can accommodate more passengers too than what Butuan, Dipolog and Cotabato airports can managed, except the traffic that needs to be generated from it. Probably a product of good City Planning. Their politicians definitely knew what they are doing even if there was yet no airline around. Well, at least its not a white elephant now.

Personally, I think Zest Air should have considered flying out of Manila first before cracking Cebu hub. PALEX and CEB are already killing each other on that route among others with an initial average load factor of 21%. To operate profitably, both airlines must carry at least 30% of its planes capacity.

So assuming by December-January period, which is a peak season for travel, they can carry as much as 35% monthly pax average from Cebu, they may have to divide it by 3 again, which is still bad since what they probably share will be a measly 23.3%.

The Zest operations is already cracking like thin ice, from aircraft certification to fleet management to loss of loyal customers. And now its route networking is flawed too. I hope its not birth pains. Alfred Yao may have to kiss his dreams goodbye soon unless he change the management that currently runs it. For sure, the asian spirit that flies it has been gone a long time ago!

[dx]

November 24th, 2008, 05:34 AM

Legazpi City Domestic Airport
by Storm Crypt (http://www.flickr.com/photos/storm-crypt/)

Terminal
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/3041379716_5bd345bfb3_o.jpg

View of Mayon
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/3040539379_01281125af_o.jpg

Runway 06
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/3040539425_062d275bab_o.jpg

The airport and Ligñon Hill
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/3046018112_b850ca1033_o.jpg

Sky Harbor

November 24th, 2008, 01:24 PM

The Zest operations is already cracking like thin ice, from aircraft certification to fleet management to loss of loyal customers. And now its route networking is flawed too. I hope its not birth pains. Alfred Yao may have to kiss his dreams goodbye soon unless he change the management that currently runs it. For sure, the asian spirit that flies it has been gone a long time ago!

That would be hard, seeing that Yao himself is the president of Zest. Is it possible to change the management if he is the management?

Sky Harbor

November 24th, 2008, 01:26 PM

^^ Air Asia doesn't fly to North Asia?

It does not. Its furthest destination is Guilin on mainline AirAsia and Tianjin on AirAsia X.

arianespace

November 24th, 2008, 02:45 PM

That would be hard, seeing that Yao himself is the president of Zest. Is it possible to change the management if he is the management?

And Yao become a wizard kid overnight!

That would also be saying Lucio Tan runs Philippine Airlines if we follow that line of thinking do we? How absurd can that be? Can you think harder than that? I give you a clue. What does the like of Jaime Bautista or Avelino Zapanta do?

Remember, owning and managing are two different sets of animal in the corporate world. Its like Getsis owned and piloted a Seair plane but never officially speaks about how it is ran. There are people hired to do the job professionally.

Sky Harbor

November 24th, 2008, 03:20 PM

^^ Jaime Bautista and Avelino Zapanta are the presidents of PAL and SEAIR, respectively. With all due respect, both of them are excellent airline managers, and PAL and SEAIR are for the most part very reliable and the most respected among Philippine air carriers. Alfredo Yao, on the other hand, is still learning the ropes. Let's face it though: Bautista and Zapanta have spent years in the airline industry, while Yao is merely getting started.

I wouldn't expect Asian Spirit's reputation to be immediately uplifted from the rebranding and refleeting, especially given its massive birth pains.

arianespace

November 24th, 2008, 05:53 PM

ericlucky290

November 25th, 2008, 07:43 AM

Wing glitch forces Northwest jumbo jet back to Manila (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/135526/Wing-glitch-forces-Northwest-jumbo-jet-back-to-Manila)
11/25/2008 | 01:16 PM

MANILA, Philippines - A US-bound Northwest Airlines jumbo jet was forced to return to Manila less than an hour after departure Tuesday because of a mechanical problem, an airport official said.

The pilot of the Boeing 747-400, carrying 401 passengers and 14 crew members, reported a problem in the plane's wing flaps but it was able to land safely, said Octavio Lina, deputy manager of Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The passengers disembarked while the plane was undergoing inspection and repairs. It was scheduled to leave Manila later Tuesday.

Lina said flight NW002 to Los Angeles included a stopover in Narita, Japan.

Northwest said it would issue a statement later. - AP

mwg12a

November 25th, 2008, 08:25 AM

^^
I beg to disagree with you. Good old Fred is NOT running the show at Zest. It moves on somebody else hand not his. He may be the one owning the airline but another person is running it to his detriment. Go figure.

So, How would these owners make money if they seems to have no clue on how to run their own businesses? I would run my own business at first for sure .... I mean, if I am a business person and I wanted to start a business, I should know the ins and outs of the business I would be creating. I would defintely would hire people to help me in the long run, so, not all the burden would be on my shoulder. I would also need to have a second and even a third opinion, that is what I would be expecting my managers to function hired but the last decision and whatever I feel is right for my company it is still what needs to be done, otherwise, if I just lay out some cash and let somebody else run a business for me, would I really get my desired profit and not in the hands of my hired people SINCE THEY SEEMS TO KNOW everything and I am almost no clue? I mean, this is how I perceived the analogy you were trying to impart on us and I am having hard time trying to process all these.

jvl

November 25th, 2008, 11:32 AM

arianespace

November 25th, 2008, 02:50 PM

^^
So, How would these owners make money if they seems to have no clue on how to run their own businesses? I would run my own business at first for sure .... I mean, if I am a business person and I wanted to start a business, I should know the ins and outs of the business I would be creating. I would defintely would hire people to help me in the long run, so, not all the burden would be on my shoulder. I would also need to have a second and even a third opinion, that is what I would be expecting my managers to function hired but the last decision and whatever I feel is right for my company it is still what needs to be done, otherwise, if I just lay out some cash and let somebody else run a business for me, would I really get my desired profit and not in the hands of my hired people SINCE THEY SEEMS TO KNOW everything and I am almost no clue? I mean, this is how I perceived the analogy you were trying to impart on us and I am having hard time trying to process all these.

Depending on trust, I believe owners could have the last say in any business.

Both of you are correct my friends. Hire people who knew the business to run it for you and of course you hired those whom you trust. That is where the logic ends. The airline is being ran by a pilot and a relative who are supposed to managed it well. Sadly, they are not even at par. To say the least. Why? They missed big time! Shall we say just a couple of million dollars.The simple word is INCOMPETENCE. Had it not for blood affiliation, the guy would have been fired a long time ago. The expat management consultant even left before the game officially began. If that does not alarm you, I'm sure CAAP does.

Here is an argument to start, a pilot may be good at flying planes but managing how to run the airline is a different matter because you will always have the minds of a pilot. What does it mean? They don't have a clue how to fill the plane they fly literally. In short, making it a going concern, a continuity so to speak. More like a no disruption of business operations. A clear illustration of that is what Iren and Nickos do. Giving management of the airline to the experts.

As I was saying before, management and ownership are two different animal in the corporate world.

Have you notice why managers are paid more than the best pilot salary there is? Because they bring back the bacon home. And they lose much of their hairs too because of too much thinking and anticipation. In simple terms, they simply think of everything ahead, from procurement, certification, training, cost management and provisions.

I'm not saying that a pilot has no right to go up and take the management post. What I'm saying is if you feel you are truly qualified for that job, then grab it as long as you have the knowledge on the ins and outs, education on the basic rules, as well as experience and trainings to back it up. Not because you are an elder aviator having the trust of the owner.

Take note, not all of us can be a pilot, and not all pilots can become airline managers but some of us do become airline managers but is not or does not become a pilot. You can take a closer look at Jaime Bautista. He is an accountant by profession but got the job when he convinced his boss the proper way to do it. Make sense!

All operations manager knew that before you make an airplane fly, you must make it sure that it is airworthy, meaning it is safe to fly. Well, all brand new planes are safe to fly. Thats what FRED thought. Yes, he was correct but he forgot that our country signed the ICAO convention. Wait a minute. Whats that supposed to mean?

Simple, the airplanes you fly, brand new or not, needs to be certified by a governing agency as airworthy. That can be done. Its already certified in China. Similar certification can be done easily in the Philippines. So fly we go!

Opps! Not yet. Why not? Haven't you heard in the news that the US FAA downgraded our category status to level 2 because we cannot adequately supervise aircraft inspection? So, what does it to do with my planes? It seems it was not inspected as conforming to JAA, EASA and FAA Standards (http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/international/bilateral_agreements/link_intl_sites/).
What? They are the only authorized ICAO inspectors. But I am not in US or EU? But definitely you will eventually have passengers from their country do you? Well yea. Why can't I fly then? Our inspection facilities were adjudged as inadequate so we cannot give you a decent certification but if you have those certification from those countries we will let you fly. Whats that have to do with it? Well, the insurance companies will not give you insurance on passenger liability because their foreign re-insurers wouldn't approve it. I'm sorry but thats the rules. What if I give you a bribe to approved it? Uhmm, the thing is, while its nice to accept your offer, today is really not a good time for that because the FAA and EASA is on our neck and would be conducting reviews in January and October next year. We want to be upgraded so definitely we don't want that torn on our head. But we don't fly in the States? But other airlines do. So what can we do then? I have to endorsed our inspection report to FAA for their review and approval before we give you certification. Damn. Nobody told me about this. We could have extended the lease on the BAe's and the YS but I think its too late to do that now.

The story is true per conversation with a CAAP official. I just have the luxury of knowing those guys. I just presented it briefly in a storyline.

Poor dumb ass manager who failed to figure that out. I personally dont know that either. I would rather say that is the smartest way of NOT doing it but they did which made them a laughing stock in the airline industry for now. And for the business opportunity losses? Not good either, hovering in pesos that is 8 figures.

I'm not even presenting the problems of the crews yet. Anyway, thats far as it goes. I might lose the free ride. :cheers:

Reading boy

November 26th, 2008, 01:49 AM

I thought you guys might be interested in this, I haven't seen it posted elsewhere. sorry if it's in the wrong thread.

No-frills long-haul carrier launched
A new air fares war has been launched by the world's first long-distance no-frills carrier.

By David Millward, Transport Editor
Last Updated: 10:32PM GMT 25 Nov 2008
AirAsiaX is targeting passengers travelling to Australia and increasingly popular holiday destinations in the Far East including Bali and Phuket.
It is selling one-way tickets to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from £99 – including taxes.
But everything else, including food and water on a 12-hour flight will have to be paid for, with meals costing between £5 and £7.50.
The airline plans to start operating five flights a week from Stansted in March.
Ryanair is also planning to set up a new carrier which would offer heavily discounted tickets to the United States.
Both are preparing to enter the market at a time when the aviation industry its biggest crisis since September 11.
At least two dozen carriers have collapsed including Zoom, Oasis, XL, Silverjet, MaxJet and Eos.
Tony Fernandes, the Malaysian entrepreneur behind the project, says that his company is unlikely to suffer the same fate.
AirAsiaX is the offshoot of AirAsia, an established low-cost carrier already operating from Kuala Lumpur with a network of routes across the region and to Australia.
"We have 86 aircraft and are already carrying 20 million passengers a year in Asia," Mr Ferndandes said.
This, he added, means that it can undercut existing operators on some of the most profitable routes, such as London to Perth.
AirAsiaX could offer return fares for as little as £300 on the route, less than half the figure charged by its rivals.
The eye-catching £99 fares will be available for about 30 per cent of seats on each aircraft, with the average ticket price for a one-way trip to Kuala Lumpur reaching £150 including all taxes.
Mr Fernandes said that passengers on the company's flights from Malaysia to Australia – which can last as long as eight hours – have accepted the principle of having to pay extra for food.
"There are people who have backpacked and spent hours on a bus without food.
"We are not denying you something you get for free on other airlines, because they really include food as part of the ticket price."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/3521378/No-frills-long-haul-carrier-launched.html

mwg12a

November 26th, 2008, 02:36 AM

arianspace, my focus was just on the business and the marketing aspects only of the firm. On how to grow a corporation into multibillion dollar corporation, just the money part of the whole ball game.

I understand about the maintenance of an aircraft, the FAA scenarios are all, certifications and such which ofcourse still fall under the management issue just in a different department. I guess you were thinking ahead of us so there was a bit of confusion and misunderstanding. Thanks for the explainations anyhow.

angelneo

November 27th, 2008, 03:16 AM

SPIRIT OF MANILA Hangar project inauguration, capsule laying
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE — Government and Spirit of Manila Airlines executives undertake the Inauguration and time capsule laying of the Spirit of Manila hangar that will operate aircraft maintenance center that can handle regular “C” and “D” checks of its aircraft and accepts third party works. The hangar can service and accommodate aircrafts up to Airbus 380-800 and Boeing 747-8. Photo shows (l-r) Mr. Juan C. Paraiso III, president, Spirit of Manila Airlines; DOTC Undersecretary for Aviation Doroteo A. Reyes II; Mr. Jose Victor Luciano, Clark International Airport Corporation CEO; Mr. Bienvenido Manga, General Manager, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport; and Mr. Basilio Reyes, chairman Spirit of Manila. (PNA photo By Eric Apolonio)

http://balita.ph/2008/11/11/spirit-of-manila-hangar-project-inauguration-capsule-laying/

angelneo

November 27th, 2008, 03:17 AM

Spirit of Manila Airlines gets nod to fly to 5 Asian, ME destinations By Rudy Santos Updated November 27, 2008 12:00 AM

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has approved the petition of Spirit of Manila Airlines to fly to two destinations in Asia and three destinations in the Middle East.

In five separate filings, the Pampanga-based airline sought the CAB’s approval to fly to Macau in China, Taipei in Taiwan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Dubai in the Middle East. This approval makes Spirit of Manila the newest International scheduled airline of the Philippines and the second Philippine carrier to fly to the Middle East.

Spirit of Manila is the latest Filipino-owned airline company offering scheduled international passenger services from Manila to key Asian and Middle Eastern countries. The airline is based in the Clark Special Economic Zone at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Spirit of Manila is designed for Filipino and international travellers, offering safe, reliable and on-time airline services through its experienced and dedicated staff whose objective is to satisfy the expectations of its passengers. The airline offers budget fares and other affordable fare schemes to cater to the overseas Filipino worker market.

Company officials said “That with this approval, it will strengthen Spirit of Manila’s presence in Clark giving more available flights to OFWs and travelers based in the Central and Northern Luzon areas, and make the Philippines an even more attractive destination for tourism and trade.”

About 533,000 passengers flew through Clark’s sprawling Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in 2007. Clark International Airport Corp. plans to build a P4-billion terminal in the former US base that can accommodate three million passengers yearly by year 2010.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=418853&publicationSubCategoryId=66

jvl

November 27th, 2008, 08:43 AM

Hire people who knew the business to run it for you and of course you hired those whom you trust. That is where the logic ends. The airline is being ran by a pilot and a relative who are supposed to managed it well. Sadly, they are not even at par. To say the least. Why? They missed big time! Shall we say just a couple of million dollars.The simple word is INCOMPETENCE. Had it not for blood affiliation, the guy would have been fired a long time ago. The expat management consultant even left before the game officially began. If that does not alarm you, I'm sure CAAP does.

Well, so much for a pretentious owner and manager who thinks they know it all.... this scenario, though not uncommon, should serve as a lesson to would-be entrepreneurs.

seven07

November 27th, 2008, 11:02 AM

pede po ba magrequest ng list (and if possible pictures na din po, hehe) ng airlines dito sa RP.

tnx.

kiretoce

November 27th, 2008, 11:06 AM

^^ Click here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airlines_of_the_Philippines). It's just a listing though, no photos. :colgate:

Igsuonnimo

November 27th, 2008, 01:12 PM

New airline readies Clark-Macau service (http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20081127-174630/New-airline-readies-Clark-Macau-service)

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:27:00 11/27/2008

MANILA, Philippines--Spirit of Manila, a new, Filipino-owned airline, will start flying from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in the Clark Special Economic Zone, north of Manila, to Macau next month, an airline official said.

The airline has two short- to medium-haul aircraft and will be managed by a group of former officials of Philippine Airlines, its corporate communications head Eric Apolonio said.

It will use a Boeing 737 jet for the Clark-Macau flight, Apolinio said in an interview. “We don’t have a particular date yet since we just got the permission from the Civil Aeronautics Board,” he said. “We can fly to Macau first and then to Taipei.”

Spirit of Manila has also obtained permission to fly to three destinations in the Middle East, Apolonio said. It may acquire wide-bodied, long-haul twinjet aircraft for the Middle East service, he said.

In a statement, the airline said it received permission to operate from the Civil Aeronautics Board on Nov. 25.

Spirit of Manila was established last January to provide budget international flights, particularly for travelers from the northern and central Luzon regions, home of families of about 2.1 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) whose foreign exchange remittances amount to $5.6 billion a year—about 40 percent of the total $14 billion sent home by OFWs annualy.

Passenger traffic at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is expected to grow to two million by the end of this year from 533,000 last year, airport officials say. Riza T. Olchondra; edited by INQUIRER.net

New Clark-based budget airline to launch Asia, M. East flights (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/11/26/08/govt-allows-spirit-manila-budget-flights-asia-middle-east)

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/26/2008 2:37 PM

The civil aviation authority granted permission to a Clark-based local airline to offer budget flights between central Luzon and destinations in Asia and the Middle East.

On Tuesday, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) granted permission to Spirit of Manila to fly to two destinations in Asia--Macau in China, Taipei in Taiwan--and three destinations in the Middle East--Kuwait, Bahrain and Dubai.

In previous statements, Spirit of Manila said it aims to add more routes to cover Bahrain, Bangkok, Dubai, Hong Kong, Johor Bahru, Kaohsiung, Osaka, Palau, Mumbai, Karachi and other destinations in the Gulf Region.

The Philippine airline is set to take advantage of revival in bilateral air talks with other countries. In almost 10 air talks negotiated this year, the Philippine panel has been able to add allocations to DMIA, which is being primed as the next premiere international gateway next to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, which is sandwiched amidst residential properties and highways in the city proper, making future expansions difficult.

In a statement, Spirit of Manila spokesperson Eric Apolonio said that the airline, which has a 10-hectare hub at the Clark Special Economic Zone beside the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark in central Luzon, will now start packaging its products for Filipino travellers to Asia and the Middle East. It did not specify when these flights will commence.

The region is home to some 2.1 million OFWs whose aggregate remittance totals $5.6 billion a year, which is estimated to account for almost 40 percent of the total $14 billion sent home by migrant workers annually.

Spirit of Manila was established in January 2008 by long-time aviation industry players, led by former Philippine Airline (PAL) executive Juan C. Paraiso III. It eyes to service overseas Filipino workers (OFW), especially those destined for the Middle East.

PAL used to service the Manila-Middle East route, but financial problems caused PAL to cease operating that route, instead focusing its planes to cover the US destinations.

Spirit of Manila will be up against Middle East airlines, which receive fuel subsidies. Fuel costs are airlines' second biggest item in their cost structures.

as of 11/26/2008 3:49 PM

[dx]

November 27th, 2008, 01:21 PM

Pilot's View of plane landing in NAIA's Runway 06 :okay:
68m70bvtwnk

habagatcentral1

November 27th, 2008, 01:55 PM

If I may ask....who was the owner of now defunct airline company "Aerolift?"

mwg12a

November 27th, 2008, 11:53 PM

Well, so much for a pretentious owner and manager who thinks they know it all.... this scenario, though not uncommon, should serve as a lesson to would-be entrepreneurs.

It's too unfair to call someone "pretenious" when you start a business, you definitely gamble your money. Spending your own money to make profit from it is not being pretentious. They just have the guts to gamble their money. Ofcourse , in any business you start, it doesn't always go the way you want it to be. People learn as they go through the whole process and that applies to our own very personal experience. If some business owner didn't win in the end, it doesn't mean they are just a "Wanna be" or someone who is "mayabang/hambuguero".. but on your last words, yes, it would be a lesson another enterpreneur would learn.

WawaY[625]

November 28th, 2008, 07:46 AM

Guys ano po ba ang difference between an international airport and an airport of international standards? :D

Sky Harbor

November 28th, 2008, 08:05 AM

;28653382']Guys ano po ba ang difference between an international airport and an airport of international standards? :D

It's very complicated. In the most common definition, an "airport of international standards" is supposedly an airport built to ICAO specifications (such as ILS, etc.), but can be either a domestic or international airport. An "international airport", on the other hand, is an airport that services international flights and has the capabilities for servicing such, whether it be of "international standards" or not.

However, let me make it clear that the "airport of international standards" designation is unique only to the Philippines, and ILO and BCD, the only airports tagged in this designation, are poised to become international airports in their own right. The CAAP definition of an international airport is only dependent on whether or not the airport has or had international flights, which both do not currently meet.

OshHisham

November 28th, 2008, 08:10 AM

^^ Air Asia doesn't fly to North Asia?

east asia not yet, but they just launched flight to London.

WawaY[625]

November 28th, 2008, 08:48 AM

arianespace

November 28th, 2008, 04:25 PM

It's very complicated. In the most common definition, an "airport of international standards" is supposedly an airport built to ICAO specifications (such as ILS, etc.), but can be either a domestic or international airport. An "international airport", on the other hand, is an airport that services international flights and has the capabilities for servicing such, whether it be of "international standards" or not.

However, let me make it clear that the "airport of international standards" designation is unique only to the Philippines, and ILO and BCD, the only airports tagged in this designation, are poised to become international airports
in their own right. The CAAP definition of an international airport is only dependent on whether or not the airport has or had international flights, which both do not currently meet.

C'mon Sky. Dont be stupid. I know you are better than that! An Airport of international standards IS SUPPOSEDLY AN AIRPORT BUILT TO ICAO specifications? What do you think it is? No wonder some of us here laugh at you when you persist to carry that word based on your wikipedia article.

As I always said and have to repeat it all over again, an airport is classified with international standards because the design and construction COMPLIES WITH ICAO CLASSIFICATION on how airports should be. That is from landside to airside to safety. It is huge not because its the international standard but because it has incorporated provisions for its expansion later on.

It is simply called an "airport of international standards" because the airport is built to ICAO specifications. Not because it is supposed to be.

On the second sentence you are correct. Your second paragraph is dubious. What do you think of CAAP and its people? Also a moron? An airport of international standards are NEVER UNIQUE in the Philippines. Why? because only media idiots classified it as such. Manila, Davao, and Cebu are airports of international standards. So are the airports of General Santos, Subic, Zamboanga and Clark and the rest of the major commercial airports in the Philippines served by mainline jetliners. If they were not, then it could have been part of the FAA report on safety issues.

The word tagged for both Bacolod and Iloilo is simply an Aggrandizement. I don't have to be rude but it is just what it is! Not because that is what you defined in your article presumably based on some news source which have credibility problems but because official documents does not say it so. Even if they don't have a brand new terminal, the new airport will always be classified as one because of its design. What makes it better is its ability for future expansion which other airports does not enjoy. A grandiose terminal is never part of it. What I'm saying is, the new Bacolod and Iloilo Airports would still be classified as an international standards airport even if they have the same terminal as the old one. On the other hand, it will not become a international standard airport even if it has the best terminal in the world if it fails the landside criteria. Good thing we have forums here to clear that out.

Also for information of everyone interested, Congress or CAAP DOES NOT DEFINE what is an International Airport. ICAO Convention does to which the Republic of the Philippines as well as almost all other countries abides and adopts including the EU and the US of A. Its distinction lies on the provisions for border control facilities. Each of the country have one voting right. So if the Philippines have to classify it that way, then we have to convinced other countries to vote and adopt our proposal to approve it as well. To date, there is no single proposal to start.

Sky Harbor

November 28th, 2008, 05:29 PM

^^ I'm prone to my lapses too, you know. I'm no expert. (By the way, the definition I used is not wiki-based, and the PMs you sent me about the issue are still in my inbox). If you need to correct me, go ahead.

But please, do not paint me as an ignorant moron simply because I follow Wikipedia policies and is perceived to be too lazy to remove "International" from the articles in question simply because a few people here want me to. Remember, if people here think Wikipedia is not credible, try it the other way around: people there think that SSC, let alone any message board or forum, is not credible.

To clarify that issue, since it's always brought up whenever this issue is discussed for some reason: we are required, by policy, to abide by the most common name of the airport based on popular perception, which in turn are verified by sources. This is based on the following principle:

The names of Wikipedia articles should be optimized for readers over editors, and for a general audience over specialists.

If people commonly refer to the airport as international, and there are sources to prove this, then from the wiki POV, even if it isn't really international, the name is still valid.

---

OT: I just thought of an idea now on how we can resolve this hullabaloo: we abolish the type-based system of classification altogether! :nuts:

Frankly, after this post, I'm inhibiting myself from any more discussion on the issue of airport classification. An airport is an airport, and that's all there is to it.

absinthe_888

November 28th, 2008, 05:29 PM

arianespace

November 28th, 2008, 06:31 PM

^^
No harm intended there dude!

Which is more general, the World or the Philippines? World readers or Filipino browsers? Just a thought, and to think you are writing an article which is supposed to be factual!

That is why I insist you to write stuff not just in factual manner but also with credibility. Both are not the same thing. What I'm saying is you don't have to write everything the papers said just because its quoted from someone else.

Its like writing that the world is flat because the press told you so when you clearly sense it is not and its really not. Your adamant stand based on that proposition will always fail no matter how you construed it. I'm not here to criticized the manner on how you write. I'm only telling you how to be a respected contributor. You may have a plethora of contributions to the wiki project but it does earn you respect if it contains dubious assertions. While a single contributor will easily earned the respect of his peers because he write sensibly. Remember you write on world audience not local ones. Think about it!

sonnyville

November 28th, 2008, 09:28 PM

Taken 11.26.08 at C5 entry northbound 8:19AM
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/6498/dsc06903zt1.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/947/dsc06901zs6.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/87/dsc06902xl0.jpg

wow... mga tatlong mg kakapatid na 747s ng PAL. ngayon ko lang sila nakita mg kakasama. rare yan ata...

[dx]

November 29th, 2008, 02:09 AM

Pilot's view of Plane landing in Legazpi Domestic Airport
j8DGSNhc8dE

Pilot's view of Plane taking off from Legazpi Domestic Airport
_5dNaXAcj2k

diz

November 29th, 2008, 07:29 AM

Philippines gets more flights to Japan (http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20081128-174870/Philippines-gets-more-flights-to-Japan)
11/28/2008

The Philippines has gained more flights to Japan at the conclusion of the latest bilateral air talks.

The Philippines got 58 more “coefficients,” which are on top of the 61 that are currently fully served by Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air.

Members of the Philippine negotiating panel told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Japan granted the Philippines 14 coefficients from Manila to Osaka and Nagoya, six from Clark to Osaka and Nagoya, 10 from Manila to Fukuoka, and 28 from other international airports in the Philippines to Japanese airports other than Tokyo.

The agreed equivalent of one coefficient is one round-trip flight using an aircraft with about 200 passengers; 1.5 coefficients for aircraft with 250 to 293 passengers; and two coefficients for 300 or more passengers.

Philippine carriers are mostly using Airbus aircraft counted as one coefficient. Philippine Airlines flies to Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo from Manila and has a service from Cebu City to Osaka and Tokyo. Cebu Pacific flies between Manila and Osaka.

Japan is the Philippines’ second-largest source of foreign arrivals, next only to the United States. Aside from incoming Japanese visitors, some 170,000 overseas Filipino workers fly annually between the two countries.

However, passenger traffic between Japan and the Philippines is declining. From 421,000 passengers from Japan in 2006, the number fell to 395,000 in 2007.

In a recent interview, Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla attributed the decrease to an overall softening in the global travel market, to more stringent Japanese regulation on overseas Filipino workers, and to reduced tourist arrivals from Japan.

“But we are confident that new coefficients will enable our airlines to develop the market notwithstanding an overall decline in global travel,” Arcilla said. With editing by INQUIRER.net

boom_box

November 29th, 2008, 09:02 AM

BTW... paano ba makakapasok sa flight deck ng airplane..? especially kung gusto mung umupo sa jumpseat at kumuha ng mga pics at videos during takeoff and landing..?

I never find any pics and videos in internet with jumpseat videos of PAL's 747 and A343 during international flights..

diz

November 29th, 2008, 10:40 AM

^^ Too late. Prohibited after Sept. 11, 2001.

Ph Man

November 29th, 2008, 08:49 PM

and cockpit has security locks now.

nice to see 3 out of 5 B747s of PR together!

kiretoce

November 30th, 2008, 06:18 AM

PAL, Cebu Pacific ready to fly to Bangkok anytime (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=419869)

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has expressed readiness to fly to Bangkok anytime but said the problem lies not with them but in Thailand’s airport management.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand’s premiere airport, has been closed since Tuesday after it was occupied by thousands of anti-government protestors forcing the cancellations of all flights in and out of Bangkok.

“On our part, Philippine Airlines is not really losing revenues because the seats were already paid in advance,” Rene Solaiman, corporate communication manager said.

“We just diverted the plane to other destinations like Shanghai and other Asian destinations kaya wala kaming lugi (we didn’t lose anything) except for the refund of some passengers who do not want to board PAL anymore,” he added.

Solaiman clarified that PAL is not required to give hotel accommodation to stranded passengers because it was not their fault.

“The airplanes are there ready to fly. We have two flights a day to Bangkok, one in the morning using a wide body aircraft A330 with some 302 passengers, and another flight at night using A320 with 156 passengers and with turnaround flights,” he said.

Sources from Cebu Pacific said they are also ready to fly to Bangkok anytime and are just waiting for the go signal from Thai airport management.

NAIA on red alert

Meanwhile, Manila International Airport Authority general manager Alfonso Cusi ordered assistant general manager for security and emergency services chief Angel Atutubo to place the terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on “red alert status” following the terrorist attack in Mumbai, India and the anti-government protests in Bangkok.

Cusi said he already instructed Atutubo to dispatch the airport police bomb squad with bomb sniffing dogs to patrol the airport vicinity to protect people from lawless elements.

“We don’t want it to happen here,” Cusi said.

Atutubo, for his part, instructed other security forces at the NAIA, especially the Philippine National Police aviation security group, to be more alert at checkpoints.

“We don’t want to compromise the safety of all travelers. As far as possible, we are ready in case of eventuality,” Atutubo stressed.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, on the other hand, ordered its 5,000 personnel to intensify monitoring and tighten its security around the country.

Tamayo said the Coast Guard Headquarters has directed all units around the country to intensify security checks of ports and ships “in view of the recent bombing incident in Mumbai, India.”

He also alerted the Coast Guard sea marshals, anti-terrorist unit and the K9 units to ensure the safety of ship passengers. The boarding teams were directed to increase their vigilance, visibility and preparedness against possible threats or acts of maritime terrorism.

In a related development, diocesan priest Fr. Santosh Digal told Radio Veritas that there are about 200 Indian priests, nuns and missionaries in the Philippines who are praying for the safety of those who are still being held captive by the armed men in Mumbai.

He said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India condemned the attack and said they “are praying for the souls of those who died and all those who were injured.”

“The Indian bishops also remember in a very special way those who were held hostage in a hotel and hopefully they soon be freed.”

The Indian bishops said they are also hoping that the people of Mumbai would maintain the peace and harmony in the area.

kiretoce

November 30th, 2008, 06:37 AM

SEAIR debuts Puerto Princesa-Kota Kinabalu route (http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=61302)

Sabah aims to complement the inaugural South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) flight from Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Philippines to Kota Kinabalu while continuing to market itself as the "premier nature-adventure destination in the world".

Welcoming the entourage on board the 32-seater Dornier 328 at Terminal Two, Friday, Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin said there's so much that Palawan and Sabah could offer.

"We feel the two destinations have so much to share to complement one another for its benefit.

"(And) with travelling period of only about an hour from Puerto Princesa to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah is a good choice for a quick getaway as well as a first choice of travelling regionally to visitors from Puerto Princesa," he said.

While Sabah is not out to compete with its counterparts, he said both destinations have beautiful pristine beaches, lush tropical rainforest, a myriad of wildlife and unique cultures that are just waiting to be explored.

From January until August this year, Sabah recorded 45,229 tourists from the Philippines, a slight increase from the 44,465 arrivals during the same period last year. Nevertheless, Adlin said the STB would continue promoting and marketing Sabah as well as creating awareness on Sabah in the Philippines.

"We will also continue to work hand in hand with relevant airlines to improve our air connectivity as well as flight frequency," he said.

With the SEAIR flight now available once a week from KK to Puerto Princesa, he said more Sabahans could now travel to Malaysia's neighbour to see and experience what the Philippines has to offer.

The service, nonetheless, would strategically place Sabah at the lead of the airline's vision to increase and encourage more travel as well as enhances connectivity and taps the international market from the republic's hub.

He also said that SEAIR's initiatives would definitely bring a positive influence to tourism and travel-related industries and further contribute to the economy of both countries, namely Malaysia and the Philippines.

President of SEAIR, Avelino L. Zapanta, meanwhile said they plan to increase flight frequency to twice a week in January next year.

The current schedule is once a week.

He said Filipinos in Palawan could travel to KK and do their shopping here instead of Manila since it nearer.

SEAIR Vice-President for Commercial Affairs, Patrick Tan said the Puerto Princesa-KK route was a result of the airline being designated as the official carrier in the BIMP-EAGA region.

SEAIR has flown almost three million passengers to 12 local tourist destinations in the Philippines since its inception in 1995.

Ph Man

November 30th, 2008, 05:00 PM

my former manager was trapped in bangkok. she was supposed to go to Geneva with a connecting flight at BKK.

swahi

December 1st, 2008, 01:34 AM

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20081201-175384/CebPac-passengers-ask-What-about-us

CebPac passengers ask: What about us?

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net

Posted date: December 01, 2008

MANILA, Philippines -- While 433 stranded passengers of Philippine Airlines are scheduled to fly out of Chiang Mai, Thailand at 5 p.m. (local time) Monday, Cebu Pacific passengers are asking: "What about us?"
Spouses Naplin and Maria Nora Narzoles arrived in Thailand on Tuesday, at the height of the anti-government protests there, for a short vacation. They were scheduled to fly back home past midnight Saturday, but their Cebu Pacific flight has been cancelled.

"We need to go home. May trabaho kami (We have jobs in Manila). We cannot stay here forever," Maria Nora, an accountant, said in a long-distance interview with INQUIRER.net.

"Maganda ang hotel pero gusto na naming makauwi (The hotel is nice but we want to go home)," said Naplin, an administrative officer for a school in the Philippines.

Maria Nora said she was heartened by the announcement that PAL was going to send an airplane to fetch its stranded passengers.

"It's understandable that PAL tends to its passengers first, but what about us?" she asked.

Maria Nora said she was told by PAL office personnel in Bangkok that she and her husband have to shell out 7,000 baht each for a ticket to Manila.

Naplin said Cebu Pacific has not attended to the needs of its stranded passengers.

"No advisory was released except for the cancellation of their flights. The option given to us was either to rebook and reroute within 15 days or request for refund and to call their call-center service in the Philippines," he said.

"Since we are also running out of cash, contacting Cebu Pacific in the Philippines is very costly so we asked our relatives in the Philippines to do the rebooking for us. All of the rebooked dates were cancelled. Since everything here is indefinite, we are very disappointed that the airline has not made an effort to contact nor give alternative
solutions to its passengers," he added.

Maria Nora said that while the other airlines of other similarly stranded passengers had contact details made available to their clients at their hotel (The Imperial Queen's Park Hotel), Cebu Pacific did not provide the service.

She said she has met in the hotel and in the Philippine embassy more than 10 Cebu Pacific passengers under similar circumstances.

"Cebu Pacific does not have an office here. Their partner company here cannot give us a rebook date. We get a text and an e-mail message about the cancellation of the flights, but we need to know when we can go home," Naplin said.

Naplin also wrote INQUIRER.net clarifying that the free hotel accommodations he and his wife and other similarly stranded tourists have had at The Imperial Queen's Park Hotel were not provided by the airline, but by the Thailand Tourism Authority. Also, he said, it was arranged by the Philippine embassy there, and again not by the airline.

"When we went back to the PAL office this [Sunday] afternoon and told them of the contingency announcement of the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) for the stranded Filipino passengers, we were told to wait until tomorrow [Monday] for further announcement. We just hope that we will be included in the list," he said.

INQUIRER.net forwarded the feedback from the Narzoles couple to Cebu Pacific in the wee hours of Monday for comment

WawaY[625]

December 1st, 2008, 07:47 AM

and ang comment ng cebu pacific nyan eh "low cost lang po kami" :lol:

habagatcentral1

December 1st, 2008, 09:53 AM

^^ Di pa sila rumesponde dyan...nakakaturn-off na ang serbisyo nila.

cHemon

December 1st, 2008, 11:33 AM

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20081201-175384/CebPac-passengers-ask-What-about-us

CebPac passengers ask: What about us?

One of my filipino friend is also stuck here in Bangkok. He's supposed to be back in Manila since Nov27.
I called him this morning and he told me there's still no informaiton from Cebu Pacific. To go to Chiang Mai and get a seat on Philippine Airlines is too costly for him and his visa will be expired on Dec7.

If you guys have any update news regarding Cebu Pacific flight, please kindly post here.
On my side, I'll try to see if TAT or other Thai authorities can do anything.

This is really frustrating and embarassing.
:ohno::ohno:

Thanks

ericlucky290

December 1st, 2008, 01:11 PM

One of my filipino friend is also stuck here in Bangkok. He's supposed to be back in Manila since Nov27.
I called him this morning and he told me there's still no informaiton from Cebu Pacific. To go to Chiang Mai and get a seat on Philippine Airlines is too costly for him and his visa will be expired on Dec7.

If you guys have any update news regarding Cebu Pacific flight, please kindly post here.
On my side, I'll try to see if TAT or other Thai authorities can do anything.

This is really frustrating and embarassing.
:ohno::ohno:

Thanks

(Update) Cebu Pacific sending plane to Thailand Monday night (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/136759/(Update)-Cebu-Pacific-sending-plane-to-Thailand-Monday-night)
ANNA BARBARA L. LORENZO, GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu Pacific is deploying a 179-seater Airbus A320 at 9 p.m. Monday to get stranded Filipinos in Thailand, an airline official said.

"We have made all the arrangements and have just received our permit to land in U-Tapao, which is about one and a half hours from Bangkok," Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and sales Candice Iyog said in a statement issued Monday afternoon.

Cebu Pacific passengers billeted at different hotels in Bangkok may get assistance from the Philippine Embassy at the Thai capital for the service to the Bitec Center on Bangna Road. From there, they will be transported by bus to the military airport of U-Tapao.

Iyog said non-Cebu Pacific passengers will also be accommodated as long as there are available seats.

The Cebu Pacific plane from U-Tapao is scheduled to be back in Manila by 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Iyog said the airline is in talks with Philippine and Thai officials to determine the need to transport the remaining passengers in Bangkok in the coming days. - GMANews.TV

numiX

December 1st, 2008, 04:43 PM

With PAL "its all about experience", With Ceb Pac " It's all about the money" hehe. Its actually passengers risk to travel to a destination and the airline will not be at fault for this kind of situation. However... it's their responsibility to bring them home safe. We all have to understand that the airports were shut down for sometime now, and logistically its hard. Its the slow response of the airlines (Ceb pac) in particular, which makes it more frustrating. But it's not like you send a bus then bring them home. Remember permits should be given to this routes and its not only Philippine carriers asking for permits, i mean a lot. And will take sometime to be given. I am saddened on whats happening in Thailand. Once a vibrant Airport full of activities, now marred by protest rallies with economic implications to the Thai economy.:O( You can voice out but without disturbing other people's right.

swahi

December 1st, 2008, 05:53 PM

yes, the airlines are not obligated legally to the passengers for situations like this. But for the sake of the passengers, some assistance is better than no assistance. PAL handled the situation much better than CebPac, and has been the case in the several times I experienced problems with PAL flights, and the times Cebu Pac flights had problems. There is a huge difference in the two during such occasions.

eagle1974

December 1st, 2008, 07:01 PM

Does anyone know about Northwest's E-first upgrade?

ericlucky290

December 1st, 2008, 09:39 PM

First batch of stranded Pinoys from Thailand arrives in RP (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/136838/First-batch-of-stranded-Pinoys-from-Thailand-arrives-in-RP)
AIE BALAGTAS SEE, GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines - After nearly a week of uncertainty, the first batch of Filipinos stranded in Thailand due to the unrest there arrived home Monday night.

Radio dzBB's Louie Garcia reported that more than 400 Filipinos arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 2 (NAIA-2) at about 11:13 p.m.

The first batch, which included several tourists and 91 overseas Filipino workers from Kuwait who were stranded in Thailand since Nov. 26, were on board Philippine Airlines flight PR733 - the largest aircraft of PAL.

They were welcomed by their loved ones, members of the Philippine National Red Cross, Department of Foreign Affairs personnel, and several social workers.

Earlier Monday, Philippine ambassador to Thailand Antonio Rodriguez said the Filipinos left Bangkok past 8 a.m. He added that the first group proceeded to Chiang Mai aboard 10 buses.

After a roughly ten-hour drive, they arrived at Chiang Mai provincial airport in Thailand where the special flight awaited them.

A second group of stranded Filipino nationals are slated to board another PAL flight Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific has also deployed a 179-seater Airbus to fetch and provide assistance to the stranded Filipinos.

Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and sales Candice Iyog said their company has received the permission to land in U-Tapao military airport. The Cebu Pacific plane which took off at about 9 a.m. is scheduled to be back in Manila by 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Cebu Pacific passengers billeted at different hotels in Bangkok may get assistance from the Philippine Embassy at the Thai capital for the service to the Bitec Center on Bangna Road. From there, they will be transported by bus to the military airport of U-Tapao.

Iyog said non-Cebu Pacific passengers will also be accommodated as long as there are available seats.

Iyog said the airline is in talks with Philippine and Thai officials to determine the need to transport the remaining passengers in Bangkok in the coming days. - GMANew.TV

FlashCollider

December 1st, 2008, 10:01 PM

;28776992']and ang comment ng cebu pacific nyan eh "low cost lang po kami" :lol:

hahaha:lol:

Igsuonnimo

December 1st, 2008, 10:16 PM

BANGKOK CRISIS
Over 400 Filipinos finally home

By Jerome Aning, Cynthia Balana, Noel Adlai O. Velasco
Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20081201-175527/Over-400-Filipinos-finally-home)
First Posted 23:23:00 12/01/2008

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 3) The first group of Filipinos stranded in Thailand arrived in Manila late Monday onboard a special Philippine Airlines flight.

They were so relieved at being back in the Philippines they erupted in cheers as the PAL plane (Flight PR 733) landed at the Centennial Terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at around 11:30 p.m.

“We are so happy and relieved to be home,” Edith Villanueva, Sugar Industry Foundation Inc. president, said in a telephone interview, shortly after their arrival.

Villanueva and her husband, Jose Ma. Villanueva, president of First Farmers Holding Corp. in Talisay City, were among the 432 PAL passengers, 417 of whom were Filipinos, who returned on the first rescue plane sent to pick up stranded Filipinos since Thai anti-government protestors shut down the international and domestic airports in Bangkok, halting air travel.

Villanueva said that as the stewardess announced that they had landed at the NAIA, the Filipinos on board broke out in loud applause.

“It’s a shared exuberance. Everybody was smiling at each other on the plane and at the airport,” she said.

The Filipinos first had to endure a 10-hour bus ride from Bangkok to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai where the PAL plane was waiting for them at 5 p.m.

Chiang Mai is the home province of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the venue of the ASEAN summit scheduled for this month.

Sigh of relief

At 5 a.m. Monday (6 a.m. in Manila), 10 buses with the Filipino passengers rolled out of Bangkok for Chiang Mai.

Although tired, the Filipino passengers heaved a sigh of relief that they would finally get home and be reunited with their loved ones after five restless days in Bangkok.

The last two buses, one of which carried Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Antonio Rodriguez, left Bangkok at 7 a.m. on Monday.

“We saw the beautiful side of Filipinos. Everybody was helping each other,” Edith Villanueva said

Villanueva praised the work of the Philippine embassy and the friendliness of the PAL staff in managing the repatriation of the more than 400 Filipinos there.

“And you could not have been stranded in a better place. The Thais were very hospitable,” she said.

Thai hotels gave accommodations and meals to stranded foreigners for free, telling them their firms would get reimbursed by the Thai government, said Villanueva.

Businesswoman Geraldine Macavinta said foreigners were safe as Thai anti-government protesters took over the Bangkok airports, where the political drama appeared to have been confined.

"We weren’t harmed. They (protesters) did not hurt us. The rest of the city was peaceful," she said.

Filipino worker Regine Alipala, who was en route to a job in Kuwait but got stuck in Bangkok since November 26, admitted feeling scared upon receiving news of clashes between government security and Thai protesters.

"We were afraid, especially where there were clashes," she said.

Fe Bueno Albano of Dingras, Ilocos Norte, who went to Thailand with her son for an early Christmas shopping, was undaunted by the entire Bangkok crisis and was already thinking of returning there in the future.

"Despite the delay in our return, we had delightful experiences. We will be back again to shop," she said.

According to PAL president Jaime Bautista, the special PAL flight, a Boeing 747, has a passenger capacity of 433, but the flag carrier accepted just 422 passengers, including 10 foreigners. Six of the seats had been reserved for members of the media from Manila.

Bautista said PAL was committed to bring all its clients back to the Philippines.

The first batch of Filipinos airlifted from Chiang Mai included overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who came from Kuwait, professional Filipino golfers, politicians, a group of senior engineers, doctors and tourists.

Other stranded Filipinos, who could not be accommodated by the special PAL flight, are taking a Cebu Pacific plane.

Cebu Pacific announced it was sending a 179-seat Airbus A320 Monday to the U-Tapao naval base, 190 kilometers from Bangkok. The flight was to leave at 9 p.m. Monday night and would be back at 5 Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday afternoon, PAL is sending a second plane to Chiang Mai to pick up other stranded Filipinos.

Some 350,000 foreigner travelers are stranded in Thailand because of the protests that have closed down two airports in the Thai capital.

On Sunday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the repatriation of Filipinos stranded in Thailand. Among them were Lanao del Norte Representative Mohammad Dimaporo, who was with his wife and 29 village officials.

Senator Madrigal in Pattaya

Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal is also in Thailand, but aides are not sure whether she was stranded. Aides on Monday said that Madrigal had gone to Pattaya on November 26 upon the invitation of the prince of Denmark for an environment project.

Aides said that the senator was due to return home on Sunday and that they had difficulty communicating with her.

Vice President Noli de Castro, presidential adviser on overseas Filipinos, said the government expected the number of stranded Filipinos to increase because the airports in Bangkok remained closed.

The Philippine Embassy has recommended the postponement of nonessential travel to Bangkok by Filipinos because of the escalation of violence and the campaign to oust Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

The protesters accuse the prime minister of being a corrupt proxy of Thaksin who was ousted in a coup in 2006. Somchai is Thaksin’s brother-in-law.

PAL spokesperson Rolly Estabillo said a PAL A330 aircraft, which has a capacity of 322, would leave Manila at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The plane is expected to return to Manila at 12:30 Wednesday morning.

“It is open to commercial passengers,” Estabillo told the Philippine Daily Inquirer Monday night.

Promissory notes

Ambassador Rodriguez earlier said that the passengers, most of them tourists, would have to pay for their flight home as the PAL plane was a commercial flight.

Passengers who cannot afford to pay immediately may make arrangements such as promissory notes, he said.

PAL manager Monet Trespeses said 280 stranded passengers had reserved seats for the flight to Manila as of 4 p.m. Monday. They included 60 passengers holding PAL tickets and 220 passengers of other airlines, but mostly from Cebu Pacific.

Penniless

But some frantic passengers were worried they might not be able to board the PAL flight.

Already penniless after days of being stranded in Bangkok, they said they would not be able to shell out the Bt7,000 air fare required by PAL (1 baht is equivalent to 1.38 pesos).

“Please tell the government to do something. We don’t have money anymore,” said a woman who called up the Inquirer by mobile phone. She was with a group of 11 on a tour package.

Nilo Abuyan, a government employee in Quezon province, also complained about government inaction on the plight of stranded Filipinos.

“The Philippine government should have contingency plans in these kinds of situation,” he said.

He came to Bangkok with three members of his family for a vacation. Now his problem is how to get home since they are booked on Kuwait Airways and their funds are almost depleted.

He said many other Filipinos were even in a much worse situation.

Angry

Several stranded passengers in Bangkok have been calling the Inquirer to ask about the latest developments and to vent their anger at the government for not doing enough to ease their plight.

“All our stranded passengers are being taken cared of since the closure of airports in Thailand. We are making arrangements for flights to bring them home as soon as possible,” Esteban Conejos Jr., foreign undersecretary for migrant workers’ affairs, said in Manila.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has disbursed $30,000 to address the needs of stranded Filipinos in Thailand.

Also on the PAL flight to Manila were six OFWs from Kuwait. They were stranded in Bangkok after their Thai Airways flight was forced to land at U-Tapao naval air base on November 26 when protesters seized the Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

The six were part of a group of 103 Filipino OFWs en route to Manila via Bangkok. They include a caregiver, a diesel mechanic, a mechanical technician and a sales lady.

Their flight was supposed to stop at Bangkok just for one hour before proceeding to Manila but it failed to take off. They were taken by buses instead to the Amari Boulevard hotel in Bangkok.

The remaining 97 failed to board the PAL flight and were still stranded in Bangkok, waiting for the next PAL flight to Manila.

Mild stroke

A woman married to a Kuwaiti national said she suffered a mild stroke a day after their arrival in Bangkok, probably due to the stress of being stranded. She said she was going home to Manila because of her heart ailment.

Although tired after five days in Bangkok, she said she would endure the gruelling trip back home, including the 10-hour bus ride to Chiang Mai. “It’s OK. We’re on our way home anyway.”

Lanao village officials

Representative Dimaporo was glad that his group was not stranded that long in Bangkok. Dimaporo and his wife arrived on November 22 while the village officials came on November 25, just before the airports were closed.

“We went to eight provinces in Thailand to observe best practices in agriculture, fisheries, processing and other systems being used in Thai Villages. If they work well, we will replicate them in our barangay,” Dimaporo told the Inquirer.

They arrived in Bangkok from the provinces on November 28 and were scheduled to fly to Manila on November 29.

Engineers

A group of senior engineers, who attended a conference of the ASEAN Federation of the Engineering Organizations in Bangkok, said they were the only delegates left after other delegates from other countries were airlifted by their respective governments.

“But we’re glad, we’ll finally be able to go home to our loves ones,” said Alfredo Antonio, president of the ASEAN Eng, who led the 20-member Philippine delegation to the conference. With a report from Christine O. Avendaño in Manila and Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas

habagatcentral1

December 2nd, 2008, 09:31 AM

The truth behind GMA's 'repat orders,' PAL's 'goodwill' flights (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2008/12/02/the.truth.behind.gmas.repat.orders.pals.goodwill.flights.html)
BY FLORENCE F. HIBIONADA | The News Today

(Note: The writer is one of the hundreds of Filipino tourists stranded in Bangkok, Thailand since Nov. 27, 2008)

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Four hundred thirty-three Philippine-bound travelers stranded here for 5 days due to the airport shutdowns made it home last night. Thanks to the repatriation efforts of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo matched with the "goodwill" flight of Lucio Tan's Philippine Air Lines (PAL), it is less 433 stranded people here now. Latest Thai Tourism estimates placed the number at a "conservative" 100,000.

News wires reported that all 433 airlifted via said PAL flight are Filipinos. Not quite so, the passenger-manifest will prove with yesterday's trip actually repatriating and extending goodwill to a target group.

As soon as news got out Sunday of an authorized Philippine-bound flight out of Bangkok, word got around stranded Filipinos thus the rush to the PAL office here. There was a catch though made very clear by a PAL staff thereafter – PAL ticket holders, Filipinos or not, is the priority. Second priority is the 93 returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Kuwait who had the misfortune of making a stop-over in Bangkok. Last priority are stranded "other ticket holders," Filipinos yes, and non-Filipinos too.

Turned out that the Philippine Government's initial repatriation funding of US $15,000 was actually used to pay the 700 kilometer bus ride to Chiang Mai for confirmed PAL passengers. A portion of the fund too was used to pay for the plane tickets of the 93 OFWs. Other Filipinos from other airlines? Sorry. Not included in the "repat" plan. Or not yet, at least. At the moment, it remains to be "repat-yourself-at-your-own-cost."

Similar message echoed repeatedly by a PAL staff who announced to Filipinos standing-by the then cramped office "THIS IS A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT. NOT A RESCUE FLIGHT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO NON-PAL TICKET HOLDERS MUST BUY A TICKET AND BE ON THE STAND-BY LIST. BUT AGAIN, IF ANY OF OUR PAL PASSENGERS ARRIVE AT ANY TIME WE ARE PROCESSING THIS FLIGHT, THEY WILL GET THE PRIORITY."

Interestingly enough, visibly posted in the PAL glass doors and counter was the news item on PAL helping stranded Filipinos. The news item failed to note that help had certain restrictions and categories.

Yesterday's news further highlighted Tan's statement that "the repatriation was out of goodwill and solidarity with fellow countrymen caught in a crisis away from home."

In fact, Tan happily announced that stranded Filipinos had been given accommodations by PAL, "many of them ticket holders of Cebu Pacific."

True. Accommodations were indeed extended but not to forget the rest of it – IF and only IF 7,605 Baht (about P10,000) will be paid. And paying by credit card? Be prepared to pay an extra credit card charge of 5% as per PAL guideline.

Many who were on the "Standby-list" waiting to be included in the PAL flight could only shrug off their plight and fate.

So this writer's realization? Amazing Thailand? Yeah. But more amazing Philippines. Imagine help from your own government but with double-standards too. Aren't we all Filipinos in crisis here? Why the discrimination? And if the President was able to make arrangements with PAL, why can't the same be done with Cebu Pacific? This is a nightmare not only for Thailand but for other governments like ours. Responding yet responding wrongly.

At the height of Sunday's bookings and listings, a sudden outburst halted the operations with a confrontation from a group of Filipino travelers and a travel agent. Apparently, standby-list was affected with the travel agent's listing with the PAL manager here entering the fray to clarify matters.

Consolation though to the confirmed passengers with the check-in procedures done in the PAL office. While the bus that took the passengers to Chiang Mai, 700 kilometers north of Bangkok was paid for by the Philippine Government and not PAL. Bus travel is estimated to be between 9 to 10 hours.

______________________________________
^^ Ah so, ganun pala...if CebPac ka pala na pasahero, bayad P10K pala...Hmmm...buti na lang nagpadala na ang CebPac ng eroplano nila at lalapag ito na mas malapit pa sa BKK kesa ang sa PAL...

Tas ang binayad daw ng gobyerno, yung bus trip lang pala...hmmm.....I don't want to think about it kasi wala din akong tiwala sa gobyerno anyway. :lol:

If this is indeed true, its a sad plight of the stranded Pinoys.

numiX

December 2nd, 2008, 10:19 AM

LUCIO TAN? "GOODWILL"? HELLO......??? PAL knows the game of media frenzy good, image paying. Ceb pac for its part really has to do some contingency measures if situation warrants. I was also shocked to know, i thought PAL will "airlift guest: out of goodwill. Goodwill to Lucio Tan: meaning it's really not their responsibility, but ok because the president asked for it. In the first place PAL is a flag carrier, govt still owns something like 15 - 20% (correct me if iam wrong). Why do they have to pay extra if its a goodwill flight. Hay naku business as usual. Ceb pac for its part has no initiative, they waited for govt agencies to ask for help. Hay aku ulit.:O(

richard24

December 2nd, 2008, 12:58 PM

just to cheer people up. :)

Bruce Willis Reportedly In Suvarnbhumi Vent System

http://www.notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=654

'Die Hard’ star was passing through terminal on connecting flight when it was taken over

BANGKOK – Police say they are ready to reclaim the Bangkok International Airport with the help of Hollywood actor Bruce Willis, who is currently crawling inside Terminal 2’s air conditioning system.

http://www.notthenation.com/files/bruceeee.jpg

Police say the ‘Die Hard’ star immediately ducked into a maintenance room and then climbed through a vent when he saw that the airport was being taken over on Wednesday.

He is now in communication with Bangkok police via a walkie talkie he lifted from a PAD guard whom he strangled to death.

Willis will likely draw specifically upon Die Hard 2: Die Harder for inspiration in overcoming the PAD and returning normalcy to Thailand. In that film, his character John McClane thwarted terrorists who had taken over Washingtong-Dulles International Airport. Sources say Willis has asked permission from police to use similar tactics, including igniting a fuel trail to blow up a plane with all the PAD leaders in it.

“Bruce really can’t believe he is in this situation again but he is eager to help,” said police spokesman lieutenant Sombat Sreephathep. “We will see if he can infiltrate the PAD from inside the airport. On behalf of the entire Royal Bangkok Police force, I would like to say, ‘Yippee-ki-yay, Bruce.’”

After hearing that Willis was hiding inside Suvarnbhumi’s air ducts, a cocky Sonthi Limthongkul said it would be impossible for one man to single-handedly wreck his plans. But as a precautionary measure, he has reportedly tied used tampons to the grates of all vents inside Terminal 2.

“I see dead people,” he warned Willis.

le Reine

December 2nd, 2008, 01:21 PM

^^:rofl::lol: that was indeed hilarious

a s i a n a

December 2nd, 2008, 01:51 PM

chevy_boy

December 2nd, 2008, 05:34 PM

A Cebu Pacific flight from U-Tapao in Pattaya just arrived this afternoon to ferry the stranded passengers from Bangkok...

arianespace

December 2nd, 2008, 06:45 PM

The truth behind GMA's 'repat orders,' PAL's 'goodwill' flights (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2008/12/02/the.truth.behind.gmas.repat.orders.pals.goodwill.flights.html)
BY FLORENCE F. HIBIONADA | The News Today

^^
WHAT IS THE REAL SCORE ON RESCUE AND GOODWILL FLIGHT?

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04jmgdF89pfB8/610x.jpg

This is the reason why the PRESS are amazing. And we always quote it as a reliable source of information, or are they? I was reminded of a song by Black Eyed Peas "Where is the Love" ...."wrong information always shown by the media"...

Anyway, So how do we classify a rescue flight from a goodwill flight?

Basically, in Civil Aviation parlance, a rescue flight is a special flight funded and its safety guaranteed by the government, meaning, its the government/UN body that charters the plane for a fee, to retrieved people in a conflict zone which it is not authorized to land. Also, a rescue flight does not carry incoming passengers except its crew.

A goodwill flight is a free flight offered by an airline company to its displaced passengers, usually in events beyond the airlines control. Example of these are airport closures, war, and natural calamities. Goodwill flights are extra services airline provide to protect its passengers and promote goodwill in the end and which is not necessary in its contract of carriage with passengers on those situations mentioned above.

So are the flights of PAL and CEB properly classified as such?

Yes, in more ways than one. It is a special rescue flight because all airlines right to land in Thailand are temporarily suspended. And when rights are suspended, its the government that negotiates for temporary access and not airlines. Thats why its called special. In effect,the airlines safety is guaranteed by the government even it it does not fully pay for its charter. It is also a goodwill flight because airlines are not obligated to fly and transport passengers on such conditions. They cannot also be held liable for breach of contract for refusing to fly due to safety concerns. Its decision to fly when it is not obligated to ferry passengers is a goodwill to help ferry stranded passengers. It is also a commercial flight because all of them are paying passengers.

These news clippings is more like it.

PAL announces special commercial flight (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/30/08/arroyo-orders-airlift-stranded-filipinos-thailand)

Philippine Airlines (PAL) meanwhile announced on Sunday the deployment of a special PAL Boeing 747-400 to Thailand to fly home hundreds of Filipinos stranded due to political unrest.

PAL, in a statement, said its chairman Lucio C. Tan has ordered the special flight to Chiang Mai on northern Thailand on Monday to ferry Filipinos who have been stranded since Thailand’s anti-government protestors shut down the country’s airports in Bangkok.

The statement said that Tan made the move “out of goodwill and solidarity with fellow countrymen caught in a crisis away from home.”

Earlier PAL said the special flight, PR 732, would be a utility flight which would depart Manila without passengers, Monday 12:30 p.m. and would arrive at Chiang Mai International Airport at 3 p.m.

Rolando G. Estabillo, PAL Vice President for Corporate Communications Department, told ABS-CBN News Sunday night however that the special flight would be a [B]commercial flight and that passengers who would like to travel to Thailand through Chiang Mai airport can book flights Monday.

The statement said that about 200 passengers have confirmed seats on the special flight. It said it expected the number to increase as Philippine embassy officials in Thailand organize the travel arrangements of other Filipinos stranded in Bangkok and other locations in Thailand.

Nearly 40 empty planes evacuated from Thai airport (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/393364/1/.html)
Posted: 01 December 2008 1356 hrs

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0bVl7dz2HNfG1/610x.jpg

BANGKOK: Anti-government protesters have allowed 37 empty airliners to leave Bangkok's besieged main airport after agreeing to a request by Thai authorities, officials said Monday.

Australian airline Qantas on Monday sent an extra plane to Phuket to bring home hundreds of travellers, while Air France-KLM said it would operate a similar flight.

The French government said a heavy transport plane would fly from the U-Tapao base. Spain has also sent two military planes and a chartered aircraft, which are due to arrive there on Monday.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dpWdtzgIb8uk/610x.jpg

WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT WHY PAL is the only Asian Airline using Chiang Mai when U-tapao is better? I sense something fishy in here! :ohno:

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45256000/gif/_45256282_thailand_airports_0112.gif

Chiang Mai, in the north, is 700km (435 miles) by road from Bangkok, while another option - Phuket, a resort in the south - is 850km.

UK, France and Spain have chartered planes to pick up nationals at U-Tapao naval base south-east of Bangkok. Air France-KLM and Australia's Qantas have also sent extra planes to Phuket.

[dx]

December 5th, 2008, 04:13 AM

Cebu Pacific announces new services from Cebu (http://cebupacificair.com/aboutus/press/2008/12042008b.html)
Mounts more domestic flights from queen city

Gokongwei-owned airline Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) further boosts its Cebu operations by mounting additional services to key destinations within the archipelago. Starting January 10, 2009, CEB will fly three times weekly between Cebu and Cotabato, and four times weekly between Cebu and Legaspi, with a year-round ‘Go Lite’ fare of Php 888 one way.

On January 12, the airline will begin thrice-weekly flights between Cebu and Dumaguete, with a year-round ‘Go Lite’ offering of Php 588 one way. Also commencing on the same day is a thrice-weekly service between Cebu and Siargao, with a year-round ‘Go Lite’ of Php 888 one way. “Cebu is a very important market for our airline,” said Candice Iyog, CEB VP for marketing and distribution. “We will continue to strengthen this hub by offering as many choices for our Cebu passengers as possible.”

Iyog added, “At the same time, we’d like to maximize Cebu’s accessibility to both foreign and domestic passengers, to heighten both tourism and business opportunities for the entire province.” In addition to its four new Cebu services, the airline will increase the number of flights of existing services.

By January 9, 2009, flights between Cebu and Tacloban will become daily, while starting January 11, CEB will increase its Cebu – Ozamiz flights to four times weekly. By February 2, CEB’s Cebu – Iloilo service will go from thrice weekly to daily. Iyog said that the earlier passengers book their flights, the greater the chances of availing the lowest possible fares.

“The fastest and most convenient way to book and pay for flights, is through www.cebupacificair.com,” she said. “Passengers can also block their preferred seats and pre-pay excess baggage through our website, plus check out our other services including fun tours and travel insurance.”
CEB is the largest domestic airline in the Philippines, which flies to 27 domestic and 15 international destinations. From Cebu, CEB offers the most number of flights, as it services 15, soon to be 19 domestic destinations and four international destinations.