Airlines, Airplanes and Airports - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 47

ianers_ianized

December 6th, 2008, 12:30 PM

I hate Guam, its a very boring port of call for me.

Contrary to you, I love Guam! The place is ideal to live in, good weather plus it is like little Philippines.

Here's my 2nd part of Travel Report to Guam...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7183.jpg
Tumon Bay @ Matapang Beach. Marriot Hotel can be seen.

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I certainly love it!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7207.jpg
The beauty of Guam

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7303.jpg
Guam and Tumon Bay @ Two Lover's Point.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7378.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7374.jpg
Move over Manila Ocean Park... Guam has Underwater World.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7449.jpg
I'm fascinated by their car plates.

Ok, return airport pics

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Entrance hall to check-in counters (My sis and mom are extras)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7470.jpg
The long queues to our national flag carrier.

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Departure check-in hall. Simple area and few landmarks

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7473.jpg
Guam murals inside the airport

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7471.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7472.jpg
Avoid the long queues! I'm quite dissappointed w/ PAL's staff at the counter. They are very slow in processing passengers. Plane will leave at 6am and yet its 5:45am the queues are still long! And add me, I am a chance passenger. I think we boarded 3rd before the last.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7481-1.jpg
Going to the departure gates - to gate 16! We're really in a hurry.
Airport was constructed without seperate way for incoming and outgoing passengers. They resolve this by putting dividers that will lead the pax to immigration upon arrival.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7483.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7484.jpg
We are really in hurry because of last check-in so I didn't get a clearer picture of the waiting area of boarding gates and also the airport from the plane. Sorry for the blurry pics.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7486.jpg
I am glad that we were boarded on the new A320 of PAL - the reflection of water theme upholstery. Seats are spacious.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7496.jpg
Guam airport - Continental's hub.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/IMG_7499.jpg
Inside the plane. Khit sa Guam mga senior FA's pa din ang pinapadala ng Guam kung sabagay GUM is still US.

Sorry for the blurry airport pics we're really in a hurry plus few whole airport facade pics from the plane as I wasn't in the window seat.

Guam is like a little Philippines and little Japan because there are so many Japanese, much more Pinoys! From airport staffs of PAL to security officers to hotels to grocery staffs and even neigbhors... ther are so many Filipinos. It feels like home.

AmbutLang

December 6th, 2008, 01:16 PM

Some green card holders use Guam instead of Hawaii when the year is almost up and have their P.I. passport stamp entry and departure in Guam instead of Hawaii or else the card holders will lose its priveleges. My aunt did it a few times.

lightning099

December 6th, 2008, 03:49 PM

5J ATR 72-500

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l140/lightning099/IMG_8091.jpg?t=1228571182

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l140/lightning099/IMG_8807.jpg?t=1228571293

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l140/lightning099/IMG_8174.jpg?t=1228571328

Sky Harbor

December 6th, 2008, 04:52 PM

http://www.caap.gov.ph/web/images/masthead_01.jpghttp://www.caap.gov.ph/web/images/masthead_02.jpg

OFFICIAL LIST OF INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
IN THE PHILIPPINES (http://www.caap.gov.ph/Downloads/ncaapcoa.pdf)

INTERNATIONAL
1. NAIA ( Authority )
2. MACTAN ( Authority )
3. CLARK ( Authority )
4. SUBIC ( Authority )
5. LAOAG
6. PUERTO PRINCESA
7. KALIBO
8. ZAMBOANGA
9. DAVAO
10. TAMBLER (GEN. SANTOS)

I Hope these will settle everything. This is the official government data that I requested from them to publish on the web to clear so much confusions on airport classifications. I'm sure others may have requested these data as well.

If you want to see how airports are officially classified, follow the link (http://www.caap.gov.ph/Downloads/ncaapcoa.pdf). :cheers:

Surprisingly, Lucena is still not in the classification. Neither are El Nido and Taytay, which have scheduled flights.

^^Wow! 10 airports servicing international flights:)

Not all of these airports service international flights. General Santos and Subic serve no international passenger flights at all (SFS still handles international cargo flights, though). It just so happened that in the past, these airports handled international flights.

arianespace

December 6th, 2008, 08:15 PM

^^
Those are government run airports. In the Philippines there are more than 200 airfields and over 100 airports. The 85 airports mentioned already have ICAO codes while the rest have pending registrations in the aviation governing body. Take note, ICAO is the world organization while IATA is the airlines association (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICAO_airport_code). In Bukidnon alone there are 2 airports and 5 airfields just to give you an idea. As I was saying before, most of the airports handle General Aviation.

Taytay and El Nido as well as those in Bukidnon are privately owned airports with the former being owned by TKD Corporation and some of the latter being owned by Del Monte and Zubiri. Another airport in Davao is owned by Floriendo. Thats why they could never be classified and listed as a government owned and operated airport. Because the rest are simply privately run airports.

For example, OMNI airfield adjacent to Clark is an airport on its own right but you can never see it as a listed airport other than Clark even if handles more aircraft movements than Clark presently had.

Both General Santos and Subic Airports handled international chartered flights based on the airports official figures in 2007. Although they don't have regular flight from operating airlines, chartered flights bring in foreign tourist which needs customs and immigration clearances. Thats why they have data for it. Other unlisted airport don't have these facilities. FYI :)

Sky Harbor

December 7th, 2008, 05:21 AM

^^ Lucena Airport is a government-run airport with an ICAO code: RPUE, yet it isn't classified. It was previously classified as a feeder airport. On the other hand, Malaybalay was replaced by Wao, and I've been unable to find any info on it.

arianespace

December 7th, 2008, 07:47 AM

^^
Not anymore. It might be an airport then but it ceased to be one a long time ago. Here is an article published by PDI way back in 2003.

Abandoned airport declared housing site for poor (http://www.accessmylibrary.com/comsite5/bin/aml2006_library_auth_tt.pl?item_id=0286-24109242).

LUCENA CITY-Close to 1,000 families would soon have a house and lot of their own as President Macapagal-Arroyo finally declared that the more than 17-hectares of abandoned airstrip and its adjacent government land located at Barangay Ibabang Iyam as housing site for the city's poor and government employees.

Right now there is no airport to speak off as the land constituting the airport now belongs to individual taxpayers through Presidential Proclamation 436 dated Aug. 11, 2003.

Further to that AO139 of 2008 declared that zone an aviation safety hazard similar to Malaybalay. So its resurrection to an ideal CODE 1A operations entails demolition of building structures. As to what it is I have no idea. So there you go.

And for those who might be willing to know more about airports, Pursuant to AO 139, operators of uncertified aerodromes may apply to have their aerodromes registered by ATO. And for others they may opt not to. Thats why most are not on the list. Of course aerodrome is the technical term for airport.

A registered aerodrome will have aerodrome information published in AIP, and changes to aerodrome information or conditions affecting aircraft operations can be notified through the NOTAM system. So typically if it is registered then you can have the corresponding ICAO code as well. If you wonder what AIP means, it is Aeronautical Information Publication. In short, it is the map in the sky to which route airplanes follow. FYI:)

filino

December 8th, 2008, 09:49 AM

http://www.caap.gov.ph/web/images/masthead_01.jpghttp://www.caap.gov.ph/web/images/masthead_02.jpg

OFFICIAL LIST OF INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
IN THE PHILIPPINES (http://www.caap.gov.ph/Downloads/ncaapcoa.pdf)

INTERNATIONAL
1. NAIA ( Authority )
2. MACTAN ( Authority )
3. CLARK ( Authority )
4. SUBIC ( Authority )
5. LAOAG
6. PUERTO PRINCESA
7. KALIBO
8. ZAMBOANGA
9. DAVAO
10. TAMBLER (GEN. SANTOS)

I Hope these will settle everything. This is the official government data that I requested from them to publish on the web to clear so much confusions on airport classifications. I'm sure others may have requested these data as well.

If you want to see how airports are officially classified, follow the link (http://www.caap.gov.ph/Downloads/ncaapcoa.pdf). :cheers:

ano ibig sabihin ng Principal Class 1-15 and Princiapl Class 2-19? anong pagkakaiba?

ngprofflorida

December 8th, 2008, 12:28 PM

How About Bacolod and Iloilo Airport.......still domestic?

Sky Harbor

December 8th, 2008, 01:00 PM

ano ibig sabihin ng Principal Class 1-15 and Princiapl Class 2-19? anong pagkakaiba?

Major domestic at minor domestic. Yung una, kaya ng jet (at least 100 seats). Yung ikalawa, propeller plane lang (at least 19 seats).

How About Bacolod and Iloilo Airport.......still domestic?

They still are. :(

michael_ray

December 8th, 2008, 04:48 PM

habagatcentral1

December 8th, 2008, 05:13 PM

Seems that nobody has posted the new Busuanga (Coron) Airport image yet...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/3021713291_d61009f570_b.jpg
Flickr Photo by RomulusRueda (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wormulus/)

habagatcentral1

December 8th, 2008, 05:19 PM

Inauguration of Busuanga Airport, Palawan
by Radio and TV Malacanang
rSVOrDud-aM

Sky Harbor

December 8th, 2008, 05:28 PM

habagatcentral1

December 8th, 2008, 05:30 PM

zmep

December 8th, 2008, 05:45 PM

I am a frequent PAL flyer for domestic. I took 5J going to Manila for a... change. The plane was okay, it was a brand new A319. But, but, but... aside from the LANGAW making its own flight inside the aircraft, the cabin crew were so passive. Worst, I could hear 'em talking about certain passengers during take off. Wow, work ethics my friend is highly valued along with safety in the aviation industry. Tsk Tsk. I'll definitely go back to my first choice on my next flight.

Speaking of professionalism, for me, 5J fails. I can still remember the incident last summer in Kalibo, 5J cancelled our flight minutes before the scheduled departure. Of course, we were concerned with our safety due to inclement weather condition but they should be responsible enough in flight cancellations. To make things worst, the Kalibo 5J staffs, I think all of them, especially that blonde lady, the lady with a short hair and the tall guy, mishandled the situation. Instead of pacifying the angry passengers, they created an uproar. 5J employees should be trained the proper way in the customer service. In our summer trip, we would be booking at PAL.

arianespace

December 8th, 2008, 06:09 PM

^^
ano ibig sabihin ng Principal Class 1-15 and Princiapl Class 2-19? anong pagkakaiba?

In addition to what Sky Harbor said, these are the differences.

International Airports:
Airports with border control facility used for International flights

Principal Airports:
Airports used for domestic scheduled flights (or domestic airports served by carriers certified under AO No. 121)

.......... Class 1: Airports used for Jet services (Jet aircraft including B737, A320, DC9 or greater, which has equal to or more than 100-seat capacity)

.......... Class 2: Airports used for Prop services (Prop aircraft or jet aircraft smaller than those indicated in Class 1, which has equal to or more than 19-seat capacity)

.......... Class 3: Community Airports used for General Aviation and Prop services, (Prop aircraft which has less than 19 seat capacity)

While Ozamiz airport is served by a passenger jet, a 737-200 of Air Philippines, it is still listed as Class 3 airport because of facility and flight safety deficiencies,from qualified personnel, emergency services, to flight restrictions. As you may know the land area where the terminal is as well as the building itself is owned by Philippine Airlines. Thats why the government cannot improve it. The best solution would be for the government to buy the terminal for the airport rather than constructing new one since its cheaper.

Pagadian Airport on the other hand complied with the minimum safety requirements. Its just closed for runway improvements. While Surigao airport needs to have at least 1,800 runway to be certified as class 1 airport. FYI :)

arianespace

December 8th, 2008, 06:15 PM

^^ This development has IMO has been overlooked in SSC. Wala masyadong discussions or pix of its interior or whatsoever unlike the airports of major cities....bago pa lang pala ito...at least its apron now its concrete unlike the old muddy lane.

Maybe because most wants to discuss the big ones. Even overlooking what has been done to Kalibo and Caticlan. Few filipinos knew that Busuanga is the next big thing in Philippine tourism. Its a pity only foreigners know the exceptional views it offered. Thats why the Koreans offered their hand to develop the airport if our government is not inclined to improved its airport. Now its even better than Caticlan. It has a decent brand new runway too!

richard24

December 8th, 2008, 06:21 PM

Speaking of professionalism, for me, 5J fails. I can still remember the incident last summer in Kalibo, 5J cancelled our flight minutes before the scheduled departure. Of course, we were concerned with our safety due to inclement weather condition but they should be responsible enough in flight cancellations. To make things worst, the Kalibo 5J staffs, I think all of them, especially that blonde lady, the lady with a short hair and the tall guy, mishandled the situation. Instead of pacifying the angry passengers, they created an uproar. 5J employees should be trained the proper way in the customer service. In our summer trip, we would be booking at PAL.

medyo infamous na ang staff ng 5j sa Kalibo. marami na silang nakaaway, including me.
after what their freaking manager in kalibo did to me, i will never set foot in kalibo ever again. (at least not using 5j) :)

benchjade

December 8th, 2008, 07:19 PM

anong airlines ang may flights manila to baguio?

habagatcentral1

December 8th, 2008, 10:12 PM

Maybe because most wants to discuss the big ones. Even overlooking what has been done to Kalibo and Caticlan. Few filipinos knew that Busuanga is the next big thing in Philippine tourism. Its a pity only foreigners know the exceptional views it offered. Thats why the Koreans offered their hand to develop the airport if our government is not inclined to improved its airport. Now its even better than Caticlan. It has a decent brand new runway too!

Now it is giving me a realization that political will among the local and national politicians plays a vital role in infrastructure. ILO, BCD, TAC, CGY are trunk line airports but I haven't seen any improvements so far for Kalibo and Caticlan (especially MPH/Caticlan) given the increasing amount of passenger volume and air traffic.

Question...if Caticlan would have an ILS system, then would there be a chance of having flights to Boracay well over the night? Another thing that scares me during landing at Boracay is that hill approaching the runway upon descent.

habagatcentral1

December 8th, 2008, 10:14 PM

anong airlines ang may flights manila to baguio?
Does Asian Spirit/Zest Air operate Baguio now? I think they are the sole airline to operate such route as of this moment (or is it still?)

swahi

December 9th, 2008, 02:38 AM

i don't see baguio in their lists of destinations in their website.

boom_box

December 9th, 2008, 02:56 AM

Loakan Airport is already close i guess, due to it's poor visibility... Most of the flights now are diverting to San Fernando airport in Pangasinan...

pi_malejana

December 9th, 2008, 05:44 AM

^^ di ba sa la union ang san fernando??:D

kiretoce

December 9th, 2008, 05:54 AM

^^ Depends, there's also a San Fernando, Pampanga.

pi_malejana

December 9th, 2008, 06:06 AM

^^ he said flights are diverting to san fernando.. the nearest airports from baguio would be in the ilocos region--san fernando, la union being one of them..:)

michael_ray

December 9th, 2008, 07:57 AM

Speaking of professionalism, for me, 5J fails. I can still remember the incident last summer in Kalibo, 5J cancelled our flight minutes before the scheduled departure. Of course, we were concerned with our safety due to inclement weather condition but they should be responsible enough in flight cancellations. To make things worst, the Kalibo 5J staffs, I think all of them, especially that blonde lady, the lady with a short hair and the tall guy, mishandled the situation. Instead of pacifying the angry passengers, they created an uproar. 5J employees should be trained the proper way in the customer service. In our summer trip, we would be booking at PAL.

Okay na sana ang 5J, yung mga cabin crew ang ground staff lang nila ang medyo kulang pa ng training. I hate that cabin crew na bading ng 5J na payat na medyo curly ang hair na nakacontact lens pa. Sya yung tinutukoy ko na malakas ang boses habang nagkkwentuhan sila about a certain passenger while take off. Nasa 1E kaya ako kaya I can clearly hear 'em. Excuse me yaya, you're such a loser yaya! Hindi ka maganda!

benchjade

December 9th, 2008, 08:22 AM

tumawag ako sa zest, wala na daw silang flight sa bagui, wala rin sa san fernando, kakainis!

richard24

December 9th, 2008, 09:33 AM

alam ko cancelled na din ang flights to san fernando. (yata)

Sky Harbor

December 9th, 2008, 11:36 AM

Loakan Airport is already close i guess, due to it's poor visibility... Most of the flights now are diverting to San Fernando airport in Pangasinan...

Loakan Airport was supposed to be converted into an extension of an economic zone near the area, but after intense lobbying from Baguio business interests (TI in particular), Arroyo went against closing it. It's still open, as far as I know, just with no scheduled flights.

Sky Harbor

December 9th, 2008, 11:49 AM

^^ This development has IMO has been overlooked in SSC. Wala masyadong discussions or pix of its interior or whatsoever unlike the airports of major cities....bago pa lang pala ito...at least its apron now its concrete unlike the old muddy lane.

Well, here's a few pics then for you:

Busuanga then...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2315/2506642837_c5631e45a1_b.jpg

(photo by jnbest99 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23839321@N04/))

...and now

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/2966664430_dc7ee8edc3_b.jpg

(photo by Rueddy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79571019@N00/))

habagatcentral1

December 9th, 2008, 11:51 AM

^^ Sinamahan pa ng bebot, hehehe!!! :D Thanks! I wish I could see more of the interior of Busuanga's new airport terminal. I wish they could do the same with Caticlan now.

habagatcentral1

December 9th, 2008, 12:23 PM

Laoag International Airport (RPLI/LAO)
Province of Ilocos Norte

by ela_china (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/414525092_524e41b843.jpg?v=0)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/414525092_524e41b843.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/414525009_0058c156f1.jpg?v=0

by Hsu Hsu Clarie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hsuhsuclaire/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/2571085934_9234756ed8.jpg?v=0

by Ahlou (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24977794@N07/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2394757325_13874b103f.jpg?v=0

by Shinji Ikari (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ikari/)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1157/630949357_4ebe289c43.jpg?v=0

habagatcentral1

December 9th, 2008, 12:25 PM

Old Baguio Airport
by Pale Spectre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dagdrommare/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/136500789_59ea751929.jpg?v=0

nazi_najih22

December 9th, 2008, 04:51 PM

Guys, need help on this...regarding cancelled Legazpi-bound flights by Zest Air.

On November 25, 2008, I was advised over the phone that the flights bound for Legazpi City were already cancelled. Unfortunately, I have an outstanding booking for two (2) with the airline on December 22, 2008. In view of the cancellation, our payments would be refunded but I disagree with this. As we all know, airfares are time-sensitive and becomes very costly as the flight date approaches.

If I did not make the booking with Zest Air last October 21, 2008, I would have paid only Cebu Pacific's rate of P1,249, the next cheapest at that time compared to Zest Air's promo rate of P686 per pax. As of this writing, Cebu Pacific's rate is already P3,676.

The airline's customer relations office did not make any comment on my complaint and demand that they should shoulder all the expenses (in terms of booking with other airlines) incidental to the cancellation of the flights. Nagsinungaling pa sila sa isang e-mail at sinabing fully-booked na sa ibang airlines para lang ma-justify ang pag-refund sa mga ticket. But I have proven this wrong, as I can access and inquire also available flights with the other airlines. Also worse is, no advice or an official statement of the management has been posted on their website.

Not at all times, we can afford the airfares but even if I am rich, I would still raise the issue as this is unjust and unfair for the passengers. This concerns not only this particular flight but also flights to be cancelled in the future and I hope this way of handling it would not be the practice.

Do you find my complaint valid?

Thanks! :)

arianespace

December 9th, 2008, 06:06 PM

^^
Does Asian Spirit/Zest Air operate Baguio now? I think they are the sole airline to operate such route as of this moment (or is it still?)

Here is the link for the news (http://news.google.co.uk/news/url?sa=t&ct=uk/0-0&fp=493e82f120c62f7f&ei=rjM-SYKpOKaowAHd9fSKCg&url=http%3A//www.mb.com.ph/PROV20081115140923.html&cid=0&usg=AFQjCNHdPLnoFbhp1jkFpdjyaPw158RMqg)

And the reason why is this (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2008/06/09/health.sector.joins.call.vs.loakan.airport.closure.html).
...Airline companies refuse to schedule flights in the city because only a few passengers reserve flights to Baguio.

...But this is not the case, Domogan said. He stressed there are many who prefer traveling by air when coming to Baguio. However, because flights are often cancelled and passengers were inconvenienced, these resulted to their resistance in reserving flights to the city...

I made similar declaration to this problem in the Davao airport thread where a new airline propose introduction of Mindanao wide air service. You can be up in Baguio for 4 hours so why bother the plane when you spend the same time navigating to the airports and spend some more waiting time there?

Indeed, Baguio is open for an average of 6 hours a day, most of it in the morning because by noon afterward its get clobbered with clouds. San Fernando Airport would not be a good option because you spend the same time navigating up than opting to travel by land instead. And they have the same problem when bad weather comes.

Unless you use the jets which can climb higher but have to dive later just to perform normal approach, its route would not be feasible other than propeller. But then again, they can't climb higher. So in effect, the best way is to suspend it which is basically a bad idea for business because majority of the time its bad weather up there. Bad weather includes cloud cover.

.... but I haven't seen any improvements so far for Kalibo and Caticlan (especially MPH/Caticlan) given the increasing amount of passenger volume and air traffic.

Most of the improvements in Caticlan can't be seen because they are navigational aids. If you go to the control tower on the opposite side of the runway, you will see it there. Same thing with Kalibo airport. They just installed an ILS facility and other systems that go with it. The terminal building is not part of the package as it was handled by a different office of DOTC. Remember, an airport is different from the terminal. Its like NAIA is the terminal and MIAA is the airport.

Question...if Caticlan would have an ILS system, then would there be a chance of having flights to Boracay well over the night? Another thing that scares me during landing at Boracay is that hill approaching the runway upon descent.

The answer is NO. They have to extend the runway to the sea or flatten the hill and fill the swamp and ponds first before they can install the ILS which require a minimum of 1,500 meters runway. Although technically a 1,000 meter is feasible but it would not be economically viable. Lets wait for our country to get rich!

Guys, need help on this...regarding cancelled Legazpi-bound flights by Zest Air.

Not at all times, we can afford the airfares but even if I am rich, I would still raise the issue as this is unjust and unfair for the passengers. This concerns not only this particular flight but also flights to be cancelled in the future and I hope this way of handling it would not be the practice.

Do you find my complaint valid?:)

The way I see it NO. Rich people will always find that terms absurd. You pay for the services you get. The terms of your ticket is posted at the back. Take time to read the conditions before making a booking and part with your precious money.

I don't want to be rude but only stupid people do that. Why stupid? Because you booked for a flight that doesn't exist yet. Haven't you noticed why they are so cheap? To make a fool of those who might be swayed. Although I must admit that had the flights push through you could have been so lucky. But that is just the way it is. You gamble your money for future service that doesnt come. So you now need to pay dearly for that. By shouldering a bigger sum. I could easily booked that amount in September through Cebu Pacific. At least they already have planes flying at that time. At least the consolation you get is a refund. You could have charge them interest for that for using your money.

Airline practices on canceled flight especially on LCC is either rebooking or transfer to other airline. The third option is refund which usually takes at most 6 months without interest. The fact on transfer is that you pay the balance price less the money you paid to them. So assuming you pay P500 for your ticket and the price of one way fare is P3,500, on the other airline you need to pay additional 3,000. Unless you are in a hurry, the best way really is to rebook it.

I was hoping that my previous post ring a bell to those who plan to travel the Zest way. But I guess not everyone had the opportunity to read it.:ohno:

arianespace

December 9th, 2008, 06:33 PM

Air passenger traffic may decline next year with fewer Filipinos sent overseas

THE INCREASE in the number of Filipinos working abroad this year may shield the local aviation industry from the ills of a US-led global economic downturn, at least for now.

But it is unlikely to escape the effects of the slowdown next year, when fewer Filipinos are expected to get deployed overseas, regulators said yesterday.

"This year is still good [since]... the deployment of Filipino workers abroad is still a sizable chunk of our traffic," Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo L. Arcilla said in an interview.

"The downturn has only hit business and leisure traffic, although we also see the possibility of an adverse effect [from fewer deployments]," he added.

Mr. Arcilla noted that if deployment goes down as a result of the slowing global economy, air travel would most likely follow suit. "We might be feeling the effects next year since overall load factors are declining," he pointed out.

Data from flag carrier Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) corporate communications division showed that on the average, a little over three-quarters of its flights had been occupied in April to September, from 80% a year earlier.

Rough estimates from PAL showed that around 80% of its passengers were Filipinos, tourists and migrant workers. The company could not provide specific figures.

The dominant carrier, which carried about seven million passengers for the fiscal year ending in March 2008, said it might have to lower its targets this year.

"We are reviewing our projections given that there is a worldwide financial crisis," PAL President Jaime J. Bautista said in an interview yesterday.

The airline earlier said it was targeting to carry around eight million passengers this year or 10% more than last year, with growth driven by the expansion of its routes.

PAL said it had lost around $159.6 million in July to September as a result of a 90% hike in crude prices, more than the $11.8 million in losses it had suffered a year earlier.

Meanwhile, figures from the marketing office of budget airline Cebu Pacific showed that 80% of its flights had been occupied in November, the same as a year earlier.

The Gokongwei-owned airline, which flew 5.5 million passengers last year, plans to increase its passenger base to seven million by yearend. Cebu Pacific officials were unavailable for comment.

Mr. Arcilla said airlines that hedged their fuel purchases might have suffered losses with the continued slide in fuel prices

As of Nov. 28, jet fuel, which is more expensive than regular gasoline, stood at $72.2 per barrel, more than a third lower than the price the year ago.

Data from the International Air Travel Association showed that worldwide air travel had declined by 1.3% in November, with Asia Pacific carriers, which make up almost a third of world traffic, falling by 6.9%.

Latest figures from the CAB showed that both domestic and international air travel in the Philippines had gone up by 9% in the first half. The regulator has yet to release data for the third quarter.

Mr. Arcilla noted that while a slowdown was possible, "we cannot discount the possibility of a rebound next year." — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW121008/content.php?id=043)

benchjade

December 9th, 2008, 07:13 PM

kiretoce

December 10th, 2008, 01:31 AM

^^ :yes: Yup. Once daily roundtrip from MNL.

filino

December 10th, 2008, 01:36 AM

question lang, tuloy ba ang flight sched ng Zest Air sa Surigao this december 20?

filino

December 10th, 2008, 01:40 AM

^^

In addition to what Sky Harbor said, these are the differences.

International Airports:
Airports with border control facility used for International flights

Principal Airports:
Airports used for domestic scheduled flights (or domestic airports served by carriers certified under AO No. 121)

.......... Class 1: Airports used for Jet services (Jet aircraft including B737, A320, DC9 or greater, which has equal to or more than 100-seat capacity)

.......... Class 2: Airports used for Prop services (Prop aircraft or jet aircraft smaller than those indicated in Class 1, which has equal to or more than 19-seat capacity)

.......... Class 3: Community Airports used for General Aviation and Prop services, (Prop aircraft which has less than 19 seat capacity)

While Ozamiz airport is served by a passenger jet, a 737-200 of Air Philippines, it is still listed as Class 3 airport because of facility and flight safety deficiencies,from qualified personnel, emergency services, to flight restrictions. As you may know the land area where the terminal is as well as the building itself is owned by Philippine Airlines. Thats why the government cannot improve it. The best solution would be for the government to buy the terminal for the airport rather than constructing new one since its cheaper.

Pagadian Airport on the other hand complied with the minimum safety requirements. Its just closed for runway improvements. While Surigao airport needs to have at least 1,800 runway to be certified as class 1 airport. FYI :)

what is the specific lenght of surigao runway? i thought it was already extended.

habagatcentral1

December 10th, 2008, 07:21 AM

Wala lang...

Many of the Pinoys thought that international flight means big planes such as A330-340, B747 and other wide-bodied jet aeroplanes...but they do not know that a narrow bodied jet plane such as B737 or A320/319 are able to do international flights as well...

kiretoce

December 10th, 2008, 08:28 AM

^^ Yes, they can be utilized for shorthaul/mediumhaul international flights (puddle jumpers), therefore they are popularly employed in interregional flights within a continent. Also, depending on flight frequencies and passenger load factors, they can also be used directly on city-to-city shuttle runs, as opposed to the hub-and-spoke operations of longhaul flights.

arianespace

December 10th, 2008, 09:19 AM

^^
In contrast, Japanese Airlines used the 747 regularly on its major domestic run all the time.

The Cebuano Exultor

December 10th, 2008, 09:45 AM

arianespace

December 10th, 2008, 10:20 AM

^^
what is the specific length of Surigao runway? i thought it was already extended.

Yes it was. It now stands at 1720 but its official figure stands the same based on 2006 figures. Perhaps another 80 meters will do the trick and until then it should be re-calibrated hopefully by 2009 as calibration is done every 3 years. Check also if the airport is undergoing any runway extension project. Otherwise it will always have safety issues. If there are then the airport is heading to class 1.

http://images.joseminglana.multiply.com/image/11/photos/57/600x600/20/inaugurational-flight-129.jpg?et=DJwSn91zyFGbDaH0JpCDfg&nmid=105761135

SURIGAO AIRPORT
ICAO: RPMS
IATA: SUG
Runway Information (2006)
Runway 18/36
Dimension: 5577 x 98 ft / 1699.9 x 29.9 m

Runway 18

Runway 36
Longitude: 125.478217 / E 125° 28' 41.58" 125.480439 / E 125° 28' 49.58"
Latitude: 9.765208 / N 09° 45' 54.75" 9.749925 / N 09° 44' 59.73"
Alignment: 172.0 352.0
Slope: Unknown Unknown
Touchdown Zone Elev.: Unknown Unknown
Lighting System 1: PAPI - Precision Approach Path Indicator PAPI - Precision Approach Path Indicator

question lang, tuloy ba ang flight sched ng Zest Air sa Surigao this december 20?

Keep your fingers cross! But it seems PAL Express has taken their schedule away from them. As I was saying before, Zest management really screwed up Asian Spirit flight operations big time. I mean operational delays cost millions especially during peak seasons. I hope they can mount the flights as it was delayed 3 months already.

arianespace

December 10th, 2008, 10:34 AM

^^ Hmmm...

I guess this is because Japan's major airports have, relatively, fewer runways than those in the U.S., which limits the take-off/landing capacities of their airports. And so, with so much domestic passenger traffic, 747s are the logical planes to use.

NAH! They just have plenty of passengers that using multiple narrow bodied jets is not economically viable. Its a strained on airport infrastructure too. Thats why Japanese airport are more efficient than their American counterparts particularly flying to Haneda. 1 Heavy slot is equivalent to 3 narrowbodies. By flying 1 742/3 you free 2 other slots for other destinations for a given time. Thats what we call airport management. Maximization of limited parking slots. Its the same reason why Cebu Pacific can't go the Narita run unless they upgrade their plane. I think its the only place where operating a narrow body is more expensive than having a big one.:)

Sky Harbor

December 10th, 2008, 03:56 PM

Keep your fingers cross! But it seems PAL Express has taken their schedule away from them. As I was saying before, Zest management really screwed up Asian Spirit flight operations big time. I mean operational delays cost millions especially during peak seasons. I hope they can mount the flights as it was delayed 3 months already.

In implying the words "screwed up", what Zest basically did was scrap all other destinations (ILO, BCD, SUG, ZAM, TAC, LGP, OMC, independent MNL-KLO and CEB-DVO) and keep CEB and DVO on schedule. The timetable indicates that 2x daily MNL-CEB and MNL-DVO flights are still on schedule. On the other hand, while the scrapped destinations are still listed on Zest's booking engine, no flights can be booked at all (they say that no flights are available).

While I'm happy Zest Airways returned to Marinduque, the way their massive expansion was supposed to play out did so very horribly. :(

Sky Harbor

December 10th, 2008, 03:59 PM

Does Asian Spirit/Zest Air operate Baguio now? I think they are the sole airline to operate such route as of this moment (or is it still?)

No more Asian Spirit flying over Baguio skies (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/11/12/news/no.more.asian.spirit.flying.over.baguio.skies.html)

THE new management of Asian Spirit, the only airline operating in Baguio, has decided to stop flights in Baguio.

Loakan airport officer-in-charge Mary Sulyn Sagorsor said Asian Spirit stopped operating on July 30, although the management notified them that they are supposed to officially stop operations on October 30.

Asian Spirit is now called Zest Airways.

Those in the tourism industry fear that the decision to stop deployment of flights might cause a dent in the city's tourism industry.

Delay in the entry of another airline to take over the operations of Asian Spirit would mean losses for Baguio City, in terms of income, Tourism Regional Director Purificacion Molintas said.

One tourist spends an average of P2,500 per day.

Sagorsor denied that Asian Spirit operations in Baguio were very minimal, causing the new investor to discontinue services.

According to her, the airline is earning but the absence of smaller aircrafts that can cater to the demand for more flights pressed management to give up.

Another airline, Seair, agreed to operate here but they require a General Sales office in the city.

A General Sales Agent (GSA) is required to come up with a minimum number of reservations every day. At least 10 seats have to be paid by the GSA, Sagorsor said.

Those in the tourism industry have been clamoring for regular scheduled flights to Baguio, but this has not been met because Asian Spirit reportedly could not get enough reservations.

The frequent cancellation of trips, especially when it is foggy, is also among the factors cited.

Claims that Asian Spirit is earning, however, failed to convince the council.

Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez, chairperson of the committee on tourism, said a GSA is not needed if the airline is indeed earning.

Councilors Nicasio Palaganas and Fred Bagbagen, on the other hand, said Asian Spirit cannot just abandon its franchise.

But in the bid to sustain the operation of an airline, Molintas suggested that the City Council request airline companies to include Baguio as a destination.

Air Philippines and Philippine Airlines (PAL) turned down earlier requests to operate here, citing the absence of smaller aircrafts that can navigate the narrower and shorter Loakan strip.

But with PAL's recent offer of an express flight using smaller aircrafts, Molintas said the city could try again.

Travel time from Manila to Baguio is between six and seven hours by bus and 45 to 50 minutes by plane.

"Six hours is international travel time. It has to be cut short that's why we need airlines," Molintas said in a later interview.

Although aware that Victory Liner is now offering a deluxe service where travel time is shortened to about three and a half to four hours, she said businessmen who often have a series of meetings require even shorter travel times. And this has to be provided by Baguio, for it to be competitive as a tourist and convention destination.

Convinced, the council approved the motion of Rondez, who suggested that the City Tourism Office and the Department of Tourism (DOT) prepare the terms and conditions for the creation of a GSA, including the possibility of the local government to subsidize the operation of an airline as well as to offer tax holidays. (RO)

----

Baguio airport loses last commercial carrier (http://www.flickr.com/photos/saintchristopherlucky/3031896085/)

By DEXTER A. SEE

BAGUIO CITY – The Loakan airport here is now considered technically closed because the lone commercial airline company servicing the Baguio-Manila-Baguio route has stopped its operations.

Authorities said Asian Spirit, the only airline utilizing the local airport in this mountain resort city, stopped its operations due to a reported change in management, leaving the city with no commercial flights to ferry tourists who want to travel by air.

Mary Sulyn Sagorsor, the airport’s officer-in-charge, said Asian Spirit is now called Zest Airways but its management has not yet decided whether or not to continue servicing the Baguio-Manila-Baguio route.

Sagorsor said Loakan airport will still be open to chartered flights and military planes until such time that other commercial carriers consider servicing the abandoned route.

Local tourism industry stakeholders fear the decision to stop Asian Spirit’s operations will cause a big setback in the city’s booming tourism industry which is giving life to local businesses.

Purifacasion Molintas, regional director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Cordilleras, said the absence of flights to the city would mean heavy losses for both the private and government sectors in terms of income, tourism and business operations.

Molintas said each tourist spends an average of P2,500 per day. Tourists start flocking to the city starting November until May because of the conducive weather condition that is ideal as an escape from the tremendous humidity in the lowlands.

Sagorsor denied that Asian Spirit stopped its operations in the city because it was a losing venture. She claimed the airline was actually earning but the lack of smaller aircrafts that can cater to the demand of more flights prompted management to give up the route.

Another airline, Sea Air, has reportedly agreed to service the Baguio-Manila-Baguio route but it requires a general sales office in the city which is still not available as of presstime.

Under existing airline policies, at least ten seats must be paid by the general sales agent but the actual condition in the city could not meet such requirement. Still, stakeholders are clamoring for a regular flight here to ensure the continuous influx of tourists to spice up the local economy of the Cordillera as a whole.

nazi_najih22

December 10th, 2008, 04:13 PM

^^

The way I see it NO. Rich people will always find that terms absurd. You pay for the services you get. The terms of your ticket is posted at the back. Take time to read the conditions before making a booking and part with your precious money.

I don't want to be rude but only stupid people do that. Why stupid? Because you booked for a flight that doesn't exist yet. Haven't you noticed why they are so cheap? To make a fool of those who might be swayed. Although I must admit that had the flights push through you could have been so lucky. But that is just the way it is. You gamble your money for future service that doesnt come. So you now need to pay dearly for that. By shouldering a bigger sum. I could easily booked that amount in September through Cebu Pacific. At least they already have planes flying at that time. At least the consolation you get is a refund. You could have charge them interest for that for using your money.

Airline practices on canceled flight especially on LCC is either rebooking or transfer to other airline. The third option is refund which usually takes at most 6 months without interest. The fact on transfer is that you pay the balance price less the money you paid to them. So assuming you pay P500 for your ticket and the price of one way fare is P3,500, on the other airline you need to pay additional 3,000. Unless you are in a hurry, the best way really is to rebook it.

I was hoping that my previous post ring a bell to those who plan to travel the Zest way. But I guess not everyone had the opportunity to read it.:ohno:

We were transferred to Cebu Pac at no additional cost. I was firm on my demand that they are obliged to shoulder the incidental expenses of their failure. Persistence works.:)

filino

December 11th, 2008, 04:18 AM

^^

Yes it was. It now stands at 1720 but its official figure stands the same based on 2006 figures. Perhaps another 80 meters will do the trick and until then it should be re-calibrated hopefully by 2009 as calibration is done every 3 years. Check also if the airport is undergoing any runway extension project. Otherwise it will always have safety issues. If there are then the airport is heading to class 1.

http://images.joseminglana.multiply.com/image/11/photos/57/600x600/20/inaugurational-flight-129.jpg?et=DJwSn91zyFGbDaH0JpCDfg&nmid=105761135

SURIGAO AIRPORT
ICAO: RPMS
IATA: SUG
Runway Information (2006)
Runway 18/36
Dimension: 5577 x 98 ft / 1699.9 x 29.9 m

Runway 18

Runway 36
Longitude: 125.478217 / E 125° 28' 41.58" 125.480439 / E 125° 28' 49.58"
Latitude: 9.765208 / N 09° 45' 54.75" 9.749925 / N 09° 44' 59.73"
Alignment: 172.0 352.0
Slope: Unknown Unknown
Touchdown Zone Elev.: Unknown Unknown
Lighting System 1: PAPI - Precision Approach Path Indicator PAPI - Precision Approach Path Indicator

Keep your fingers cross! But it seems PAL Express has taken their schedule away from them. As I was saying before, Zest management really screwed up Asian Spirit flight operations big time. I mean operational delays cost millions especially during peak seasons. I hope they can mount the flights as it was delayed 3 months already.

is that 1720 runway lenght is still not capable handling jets?

pau_p1

December 11th, 2008, 05:10 AM

ohh.. so Zest Air is Asian Spirit.. hmmm... kala ko bagong airline company un...

kiretoce

December 11th, 2008, 05:17 AM

^^ :lol: Man, you've really been out of the loop, Paul. How's "semi-retirement" treating you these days? ;)

sloanesquare

December 11th, 2008, 07:02 AM

I once wrote that the future of Metro manila as a business centre will depend on how much air traffic we can receive from primarily HK and Singapore.
I said that with the hotels at Marriott Newport and the Fort,the proximity of T3 , business people could fly in , have meetings and then fly out on the same day.

Only then would Manila be part of the very envying HK, SNG BKK economic scene.,

I suggested at least 18-20 daily flights from MNL to HK and 18-20 from HK to MNL and make it like the London-Paris eurostar service or the NY-Washington DC shuttle frequency.

With the new Dragon Air, has someone made a count on how many flights now service MNL-HK daily?

Solblanc

December 11th, 2008, 04:41 PM

^^

It's getting there.

PR - 5x daily
CX/KA - 6x daily
5J - 4x daily

That doesn't include flights to Hong Kong from Clark, as well as flights to Macau from Manila and Clark.

arianespace

December 11th, 2008, 04:55 PM

is that 1720 runway lenght is still not capable handling jets?

Technically speaking, IT CAN. The right question is, can it hold everything the 737 could carry? The answer to that would be NO. If Air Philippines decides to replace the PAL Express service to Manila, they will suffer the same weight restrictions imposed on other airports with the same classification. Bottom line there would be economic factors to be decided by the airline itself.

Here are the reasons why?

According to the Civil Aviation Of the Philippines Masterplan, Surigao Airport (RPMS) was categorized as a Code 3C airport similar to Ozamiz. A 3C airport is one where its runway lenght runs from 1,200 meters to 1, 799 meters. It has a runway width of 30 meters. The biggest critical aircraft it can handle is the Embraer 170/175 jet capable of carrying up to 80 people or a fully loaded BAE 146 similar to the one used by Asian Spirit. The approach speed listed is between 121-140 knots. By the way, the biggest airport in Visayas and Mindanao is General Santos with Code 4E/F classification followed by Cebu and Davao with 4E. Airports in Mindanao with 4D classification is found in Zamboanga, while the airports of Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Cotabato and Dipolog are classified as 4C airports. The rest are 3C and below.

The US FAA listed the 737 as a C-III (Code 3C ICAO equivalent) capable aircraft. It means that the 737 is capable of landing and takeoff at Surigao, Pagadian and Ozamiz Airport. However, It is not adequate to meet the operational efficiency requirements of the 737, as the desired Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) for which the runway is intended is particularly insufficient as if it were to carry a full load that is typically at 2,100 meters.

While the Take-off charts for the 737 go down to runway lengths of just 1,200 m, it cant get much payload at that length (at most 10,000 kg in good weather, or roughly about 60 pax.), but as the length increases you will get increasing payload that at 1,800 m, the airline can load 7,000 kg. more, that is 20 additional passengers with 25 kg. baggage each inclusive of return fuel allowance. So the end result would be a weight restricted flight as I mentioned in the previous post. So therefore if Air Philippines carry more than 80 passengers they have to carry less cargo and fuel to compensate the weight but which should not in all circumstances exceed 99 pax.

The adoption of a Code 4C aircraft, such as the Boeing 737, on a 3C airport has to comply the following site restrictions pertaining to weight, approach and runway dimensions such that a runway is required to be of specified width and be surrounded by a runway strip of a specified dimension, have Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) at each end and to have a series of Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS), primarily based on a specified baseline at either end of the runway. That means additional clear area usually 300 meters from the end of the paved runway similar to Tuguegarao Airport..

Other aspect worth considering is the strenght of the runway. The technical term is called Pavement Classification Number (PCN) in relation to Aircraft Classification Number (ACN). Just because the runway is concrete does not mean that its stronger to carry the load of the 737 or better yer has more tolerance on landing impact than an asphalt runway. If the runway is not design for 4C critical aircraft it will always crack. Havent you notice why some concrete runways are covered with asphalt overlay and why some asphalted runways wear more? A classic example of this is the unusual runway wear of Zamboanga International Airport. While it is designed to handle the weight of a 747 it is not designed to carry the load equivalent to a fully loaded 747 that is carried on the Antonov 125 plane which land on it on a regular basis.

For more details on how ACN/PCN works with respect to runway strength, example given is that of Zamboanga airport (http://www.zamboanga.net/airportinsert.htm). Go to runway characteristics and then to strength and surface runway. There you will see a PCN 32 R/B/W/T classification (http://www.pavers.nl/acn_pcn_classnumb2.html). For regular heavy use it should have A instead of B rating but the government was not expecting that kind of aircraft until the balikatan exercises of 2003 onwards. Asphalts disintegrated into bricks of stones and potholed runways developed which were dangerous to other smaller jets. Its currently being resurfaced to A grade.

You see, not just because the airport has 1,800 meters of runway meant that it can already handle a 737 or a 320. In fact, 1,200m will do but also suffers a weight penalty problem similar to BAE 146 flights to Caticlan. Also, you will need to consider whether those runway is capable of serving those weight in the long run. The government often do it by overlaying the concrete with asphalt to strengthen its load.

In the end, operations really depend on the airline whether they would like to risk operations with the level of restrictions made available to the 737 and still fly with reasonable rate of return.

I hope you will find everything helpful.:cheers:

AIRPORTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

http://caap.gov.ph/images/airportclass-upd.jpg

International Airports:
Airports with border control facility used for International flights

Principal Airports:
Airports used for domestic scheduled flights (or domestic airports served by carriers certified under AO No. 121)

.......... Class 1: Airports used for Jet services (Jet aircraft including B737, A320, DC9 or greater, which has equal to or more than 100-seat capacity)

.......... Class 2: Airports used for Prop services (Prop aircraft or jet aircraft smaller than those indicated in Class 1, which has equal to or more than 19-seat capacity)

.......... Class 3: Community Airports used for General Aviation and Prop services, (Prop aircraft which has less than 19 seat capacity)

In 1986, there were 230 airports in the Philippines. In 2006, 172 remained.
Source:Philippine Statistical Yearbook (http://www.nscb.gov.ph/publication/general/gen_psy.asp), 2006

Juan Pilgrim

December 11th, 2008, 08:36 PM

Airport city
Taguig patterns Laguna lakeshore dev’t to Dubai

By IRMA ISIP

The city of Taguig is planning a massive P3 billion reclamation project along Laguna Lake to put up a third airport patterned after Jebel Ali Airport City in Dubai.

Mayor Sigfrido Tinga said that Taguig has entered into joint venture with the Laguna Lake Development Authority to reclaim 3,000 hectares along the shorelines of the 90,000 hectare Laguna de Bay.

The center of the development is an airport, the third to be developed after Manila and Clark.

Armando O. Samia, executive vice president of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) which is the financial advisor of the development said a core area of 250 to 300 hectares or about the size of Makati central business district representing the first phase of the mega project has been offered yesterday in an investors’ briefing to the country’s property giants namely the SM Development Corp., Robinsons Land Corp., Filinvest Land Inc., Eaton Properties, Megaworld Corp., R-II Builders, Landco, Federal Land, Greenfield Development, Sta. Lucia among others.

Tinga said this core area will be a low-density mixed use non-exclusive commercial development with 15 to 20 percent to be devoted to medium-rise socialized housing. This would be the relocation site for some 20,000 to 25,000 squatter families of Taguig City.

He said this is consistent with the vision for Lakeshore project to have "inclusionary zoning," a type of residential development that requires the inclusion of afford-

able housing units in all urban development.

"This will be different from Fort Bonifacio which would be the last high end development in the Philippines," he said.

Samia said an indicative timetable has set the bidding for the core area to property developers by second quarter of 2009.

Tinga said a masterplan envisions the aerotropolis like Jebel Ali in Dubai where the long-term development is anchored on an airport. It will also have industrial development.

"As we move the airport to Clark, we need an airport that will serve Metro Manila and Calabarzon. No international airline will use the (current) airport as a hub because the runway is short and there is no back up," Tinga said.

To be located on the southern side of the development, the airport is strategic as it is 15 to 20 minutes away from Fort Bonifacio which is on the west side.

Tinga said the airport will take 10 to 15 years to finish and will be the last phase of the development.

"A strategic planning will be done taking into account NAIA and Clark (airport)," he said.

For the commercial development, Samia said the JV can engage the private sector developers in either term leases, or also joint venture activities and outright ownership, depending on the offer.

Tinga said the Laguna Lake, while beset with problems ranging from squatting to pollution has opportunities.

"We have to turn the problem into an opportunity. Until and unless we do something serious to fix it. Metro Manila is rapidly urbanizing as a mega city. There is a dearth of land but people keep coming in," he said.

Tinga said Taguig’s population grows 4.5 percent a year and has a the highest urban migration rate because of Fort Bonifacio. It also has the largest area for development left.

However, informal settlers now begin to trickle on the Laguna Lake shoreline on the side of Taguig after after Pasig and Cainta where some 100,000 squatter families live.

"The best anti-squatting tool is the right development," Tinga said.

LLDA general manager Edgardo Manda said the 3,000 lakeshore project represents just 3 percent of the 90,000-hectare Laguna Lake.

He said developments such as this would not only help create economic activity but would address environment issues as well.

Manda dubbed the lake as the largest septic tank.

"We need to assert the authority of the government to put order in the lake and develop it as a source of potable water which is by 2015. The only way to preserve the shoreland squatting is to put up economically efficient water structure," Manda said.

Laguna Lake has been beset with problems like sedimentation and is a virtual organic wasteland. Pollution from rotting bamboo fishpens put up by illegal fishers contributes to the woes of the lake.

River tributaries have also dried up because of human habitation.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/dec12/index.htm

filino

December 12th, 2008, 02:35 AM

Technically speaking, IT CAN. The right question is, can it hold everything the 737 could carry? The answer to that would be NO. If Air Philippines decides to replace the PAL Express service to Manila, they will suffer the same weight restrictions imposed on other airports with the same classification. Bottom line there would be economic factors to be decided by the airline itself.

Here are the reasons why?

According to the Civil Aviation Of the Philippines Masterplan, Surigao Airport (RPMS) was categorized as a Code 3C airport similar to Ozamiz. A 3C airport is one where its runway lenght runs from 1,200 meters to 1, 799 meters. It has a runway width of 30 meters. The biggest critical aircraft it can handle is the Embraer 170/175 jet capable of carrying up to 80 people or a fully loaded BAE 146 similar to the one used by Asian Spirit. The approach speed listed is between 121-140 knots. By the way, the biggest airport in Visayas and Mindanao is General Santos with Code 4E/F classification followed by Cebu and Davao with 4E. Airports in Mindanao with 4D classification is found in Zamboanga, while the airports of Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Cotabato and Dipolog are classified as 4C airports. The rest are 3C and below.

The US FAA listed the 737 as a C-III (Code 3C ICAO equivalent) capable aircraft. It means that the 737 is capable of landing and takeoff at Surigao, Pagadian and Ozamiz Airport. However, It is not adequate to meet the operational efficiency requirements of the 737, as the desired Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) for which the runway is intended is particularly insufficient as if it were to carry a full load that is typically at 2,100 meters.

While the Take-off charts for the 737 go down to runway lengths of just 1,200 m, it cant get much payload at that length (at most 10,000 kg in good weather, or roughly about 60 pax.), but as the length increases you will get increasing payload that at 1,800 m, the airline can load 7,000 kg. more, that is 20 additional passengers with 25 kg. baggage each inclusive of return fuel allowance. So the end result would be a weight restricted flight as I mentioned in the previous post. So therefore if Air Philippines carry more than 80 passengers they have to carry less cargo and fuel to compensate the weight but which should not in all circumstances exceed 99 pax.

The adoption of a Code 4C aircraft, such as the Boeing 737, on a 3C airport has to comply the following site restrictions pertaining to weight, approach and runway dimensions such that a runway is required to be of specified width and be surrounded by a runway strip of a specified dimension, have Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) at each end and to have a series of Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS), primarily based on a specified baseline at either end of the runway. That means additional clear area usually 300 meters from the end of the paved runway similar to Tuguegarao Airport..

Other aspect worth considering is the strenght of the runway. The technical term is called Pavement Classification Number (PCN) in relation to Aircraft Classification Number (ACN). Just because the runway is concrete does not mean that its stronger to carry the load of the 737 or better yer has more tolerance on landing impact than an asphalt runway. If the runway is not design for 4C critical aircraft it will always crack. Havent you notice why some concrete runways are covered with asphalt overlay and why some asphalted runways wear more? A classic example of this is the unusual runway wear of Zamboanga International Airport. While it is designed to handle the weight of a 747 it is not designed to carry the load equivalent to a fully loaded 747 that is carried on the Antonov 125 plane which land on it on a regular basis.

For more details on how ACN/PCN works with respect to runway strength, example given is that of Zamboanga airport (http://www.zamboanga.net/airportinsert.htm). Go to runway characteristics and then to strength and surface runway. There you will see a PCN 32 R/B/W/T classification (http://www.pavers.nl/acn_pcn_classnumb2.html). For regular heavy use it should have A instead of B rating but the government was not expecting that kind of aircraft until the balikatan exercises of 2003 onwards. Asphalts disintegrated into bricks of stones and potholed runways developed which were dangerous to other smaller jets. Its currently being resurfaced to A grade.

You see, not just because the airport has 1,800 meters of runway meant that it can already handle a 737 or a 320. In fact, 1,200m will do but also suffers a weight penalty problem similar to BAE 146 flights to Caticlan. Also, you will need to consider whether those runway is capable of serving those weight in the long run. The government often do it by overlaying the concrete with asphalt to strengthen its load.

In the end, operations really depend on the airline whether they would like to risk operations with the level of restrictions made available to the 737 and still fly with reasonable rate of return.

I hope you will find everything helpful.:cheers:

AIRPORTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

http://caap.gov.ph/images/airportclass-upd.jpg

International Airports:
Airports with border control facility used for International flights

Principal Airports:
Airports used for domestic scheduled flights (or domestic airports served by carriers certified under AO No. 121)

.......... Class 1: Airports used for Jet services (Jet aircraft including B737, A320, DC9 or greater, which has equal to or more than 100-seat capacity)

.......... Class 2: Airports used for Prop services (Prop aircraft or jet aircraft smaller than those indicated in Class 1, which has equal to or more than 19-seat capacity)

.......... Class 3: Community Airports used for General Aviation and Prop services, (Prop aircraft which has less than 19 seat capacity)

In 1986, there were 230 airports in the Philippines. In 2006, 172 remained.
Source:Philippine Statistical Yearbook (http://www.nscb.gov.ph/publication/general/gen_psy.asp), 2006

thank you so much.

sloanesquare

December 12th, 2008, 04:19 AM

^^

It's getting there.

PR - 5x daily
CX/KA - 6x daily
5J - 4x daily

That doesn't include flights to Hong Kong from Clark, as well as flights to Macau from Manila and Clark.

OK THE NEXT THING THAT would be in the customers interest would be if all these 4 airlines could agree to take each others passengers so that if I were to finsh business early and I was ready to return to MNL by 3pm and there was a vacancy on the 5J flight at 330pm, 5J would accept my PAL ticket originally scheduled for 6pm.

and the airlines would take care of refunding themselves internally...i am sure over the big picture none of these airlines could say that they would be financially disadvantaged and the winner is the customer.

calbayognon

December 12th, 2008, 06:27 AM

MNL-HKG-MNL NUMBER OF FLIGHTS

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES -5X A DAY
CEBU PACIFIC-4X A DAY
CATHAY PACIFIC-6X A DAY
HONGKONG EXPRESS- ONCE A DAY
DRAGON AIR- 4X A WEEK

MNL-SIN-MNL

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES-4X A DAY
CEBU PACIFIC-2X A DAY
JETSTAR- ONCE A DAY
SINGAPORE AIRLINES-3X A DAY

MNL-BKK-MNL

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES-2X A DAY
CEBU PACIFIC-ONCE A DAY
THAI-2X A DAY
KUWAIT AIRWAYS-ONCE A DAY (KUWAIT CITY VIA BKK)

sloanesquare

December 12th, 2008, 08:20 AM

thanks..CLEARLY SINCE WE ARE not part of the mainland (WHICH IS GREAT) mnl needs to be linked to these 3 cities definitely HK by 20 flights per day and SING 15 and BKK possibly 10..then we wouldnt be so isolated and business people could no longer use the excuse of being inaccessible...after all we have already the nearest CBD located airport with the hotels at Newport City offering first class meeting areas
anyone know the answer to my question in #915 on airline sharing ?

chevy_boy

December 12th, 2008, 06:49 PM

kiretoce

December 12th, 2008, 10:48 PM

RP-Russia sign preliminary air pact (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/12/11/08/rp-russia-sign-preliminary-air-pact)

Negotiators for the air service agreement between Philippines and Russia ended preliminary talks Thursday night. They are expected to set another meeting next year to finalize an air deal.

Carmelo L. Arcilla, executive director of the Philippines' Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said the two panels have not concluded frequencies yet, although both are willing to expand the routes.

"Our chairperson Transport Usec. (Doroteo) Reyes and his counterpart initialled the agreement first. The preliminary agreement will then be reviewed by the Russian government. That is the process they follow and we are willing to accommodate them," Arcilla said, adding the two countries may set the next air talks next year.

There used to be only one flight a week plying the Manila-Moscow route, but was discontinued due to poor demand.

The current talks on the two countries' bilateral agreement are along the line of adding two more points in the Philippines, aside from Manila. The airports in Clark and Cebu are likely to benefit if this pushes through.

On the part of Russia, the talk is geared towards adding one more point of entry, aside from Moscow.

"The good this is that Moscow can be one of the two roving points, so we can have Clark-Moscow flights," Arcilla said.

Currently, Russia is not the top source of tourists to the Philippines. But with the economic boom in Russia, but the volume of Russian tourists, especially to Cebu, is expected to increase.

Just like most economies, however, Russia's is affected by the global slump, which has led to lower values of minerals and oil, one of Russia's main revenue drivers.

CAB data showed that in the first six months of 2008, the total number of travelers who entered and left the Philippines by flying was 9.13 percent more compared to the same period last year.

International Air Transport Association, on the other hand, projected that total world travel will only grow by 2 percent in 2008 and will decline by 3 percent in 2009.

Aviation experts in the Philippines, however, said low air travel demand should not stop the Philippines from continuing to negotiate air talks with other countries since air agreements pave the way for commercial demand to eventually make waves within the highly regulated global aviation industry.

Bilateral air agreements define the limits of, among others, how many and how frequent the airlines of two countries' can mount flights for specific routes between them.

The Philippines, despite its pristine beaches and English speaking populace, has been a laggard in global tourism partly due to its passive participation in air talks in several years.

It was only in 2008 when the Philippine air panel has stepped up its efforts to clinch air agreements. So far, there have been almost ten agreements signed. The latest was with Japan in November.

terrapinoy

December 12th, 2008, 11:55 PM

benchjade

December 12th, 2008, 11:56 PM

^^thats good news!

kiretoce

December 13th, 2008, 04:18 AM

I wonder when the newly painted DL 747s (ex NW 747s) will serve the MNL routes? This is the first of 16 to be redone in DL colors. Source. (http://blog.delta.com/2008/12/12/breaking-news-delta-unveils-a-new-747-400-livery/)

http://blog.delta.com/wp-content/uploads/delta-7471.jpg

Wow! Cool beans! :cheer:

NW's merger with DL is actually good for me here in MCO, it's one of the major carriers that serves Orlando (because we used to be a "focus city"), makes for easier and seamless transfers and connections to the Philippines, and because I'm also a frequent flier with them. :okay:

boom_box

December 13th, 2008, 05:55 AM

wow... so it means... all the NW 744 will be repainted into Delta Livery...?
good news for plane spotters.. hehe

anyway.. it's also a good news that Russia is opening a route to our country... then we could see some Aeroflot birds landing in NAIA or CIA perhaps... =)

chillendawg

December 14th, 2008, 07:39 AM

Why do airlines still charges FUEL SURCHARGE when there's no more surcharge, gas is cheap?:bash:

kiretoce

December 14th, 2008, 09:09 AM

Why do airlines still charges FUEL SURCHARGE when there's no more surcharge, gas is cheap?:bash:

Aviation fuel is different from the gas we pump into our vehicles. Also, airlines still has to recoup lost earnings.

arianespace

December 14th, 2008, 01:59 PM

http://www.google.com/hostednews/img/afp_logo.gif?hl=en
Qantas fined 20 million dollars for price fixing

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0gBj0WN3yH7zZ/610x.jpg

SYDNEY (AFP) — Australia's national airline Qantas was Thursday fined 20 million dollars (13.1 million US) after admitting it engaged in price fixing linked to international cargo fuel surcharges.

An Australian federal court in Sydney also fined British Airways five million dollars after it admitted an illegal arrangement in the airfreight market over the same time period with Germany's Lufthansa.

Qantas had in October agreed to pay the penalty to settle the case brought against it by the country's competition watchdog.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) had brought the claim against Qantas and British Airways, which began merger talks earlier this year, seeking penalties over fuel surcharges on cargo from 2002 to 2006.

The penalties sent a strong message to cartels, said ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel.

"Cartels -- particularly those that are engaged in by large businesses with broad application over a period of time -- have a significant effect on consumers," he said.

"They are an unseen fraud on the community that must be uncovered and punished."

Qantas admitted striking "understandings" with other airlines over the cargo fuel surcharges, but said earlier that the price fixing did not relate to its passenger services.

The Australian flag carrier had undertaken an exhaustive probe of the incidents after being made aware of the conduct, Samuel said.

Both Qantas and British Airways have been restrained from engaging in similar conduct for three years and ordered to pay 200,000 dollars each towards the legal costs of the ACCC.

Qantas' former chief executive Geoff Dixon in October apologised "unreservedly for the conduct of the employees involved" in the price fixing incident.

Foreign regulators have recently brought a number of cases against airlines in relation to cartel conduct involving air freight.

In November 2007 Qantas apologised for engaging in price-fixing activity on cargo in the United States and agreed to pay a 61 million US dollar fine after an investigation by the US Justice Department.

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

In the Philippines and other less developed countries, price fixing is inevitable. Its clearly seen as fraud to the unsuspecting consumers as they will always guise it at a fixed cost when in reality aviation gas is a variable commodity. Meaning, its price indexes fluctuate everyday that a reasonable average or median is used to gauge how much the airline should pay. This is normally done in a monthly basis.

But since we are in an unregulated industry the government can only monitor the surcharges even if it is beyond the normal or average gas prices. Its the same thing happening in the gas market. Sometimes we complained why it took so long for Petron or Caltex to lower their prices when the world market prices has gone down already while price increases are felt the moment oil commodity goes up a notch. That is business greed.

Airlines practice hedging and the advantages of it has save airlines money during the unprecedented rise in gas prices. The downside of it is when gas prices falls down beyond the level of their projection. Instead of them paying the loss, we shoulder it for them.

Airlines practice different hedging strategy, so no fuel charges are the same.

My cents of thoughts, Philippine Airlines charges the least in fuel surcharges while Cebu Pacific charges the most. They may have the lowest fare there is but I tell you its not gonna work when you add everything, and particularly when you book a flight at least 3 days before departure. That is why I choose PAL because they make more sense and charge you least when you need a flight the following day. Note that if you plan to travel 3 months after, Cebu Pacific is the best option to buy while a months notice to buying a ticket on the date of departure belongs to PAL, subject of course to seat availability. I don't have figures with Zest yet so maybe next year I can make a comparison.

chillendawg

December 14th, 2008, 09:32 PM

Aviation fuel is different from the gas we pump into our vehicles. Also, airlines still has to recoup lost earnings.

OK fine, not gas, but OIL is cheap! it all comes from OIL correct? what lost earning are you talking about? isn't those surcharges when oil was high to compensate for the difference? now that OIL is cheap, there's shouldn't be anymore surcharges. That recoup, in my opinion is only an excuse to maximize profit and cheat people. :bash:

MatudNilaBaby

December 14th, 2008, 10:14 PM

OK fine, not gas, but OIL is cheap! it all comes from OIL correct? what lost earning are you talking about? isn't those surcharges when oil was high to compensate for the difference? now that OIL is cheap, there's shouldn't be anymore surcharges. That recoup, in my opinion is only an excuse to maximize profit and cheat people. :bash:

im sure those surcharges will decrease or go away if the oil have a low and stable price, and allows them to recoup their losses in the previous months. removing the surcharge can be a boost to the ailing airline industry. this move will also entice and encourage more people to fly because the airfare is getting more affordable thus an economy booster.

ponso

December 15th, 2008, 12:10 AM

OK fine, not gas, but OIL is cheap! it all comes from OIL correct? what lost earning are you talking about? isn't those surcharges when oil was high to compensate for the difference? now that OIL is cheap, there's shouldn't be anymore surcharges. That recoup, in my opinion is only an excuse to maximize profit and cheat people. :bash:

Or some airlines have hedged the price of oil higher than the current market price; hence, airlines charge passengers to recoup their own hedging losses.

chillendawg

December 15th, 2008, 01:58 AM

im sure those surcharges will decrease or go away if the oil have a low and stable price, and allows them to recoup their losses in the previous months. removing the surcharge can be a boost to the ailing airline industry. this move will also entice and encourage more people to fly because the airfare is getting more affordable thus an economy booster.

Stable or not, surcharges are there to protect their profit or loss, so what recoup are they talking about. If they are so quick to place a fuel surcharge when there's a hike in price of oil then an adjustment should also be done when there is a decrease in price. It doesn't make sense, if you ask me it's a self destruct as to what they are doing by not responding to change.

Tuloy nag cut sila nang mga flights assuming na walang sasakay kasi mahal ang gasolina..eh bumaba..ayan too late to add more flights kasi they wont be able to fill all the seat up in such a short turn around. Now they are forced to up the price because of high demand for seat kasi kulang sila nang flights..hahhahaa

filino

December 15th, 2008, 02:58 AM

kiretoce

December 15th, 2008, 02:59 AM

Carriers contract their aviation fuel prices months in advance from the oil producers. So the fuel that they are now using was purchased earlier at a much higher price. That's why you don't see the price of airfares reflecting the current drop in oil prices.

chillendawg

December 15th, 2008, 04:49 AM

^^ so they say..what is really the truth? up until now they are still charging for the first checked in luggage. charges here charges there...hay..the world has gone mad~:ohno:

kiretoce

December 15th, 2008, 05:14 AM

^^ You don't seem to understand that the airline industry still hasn't lifted itself from the slump that its been in, notably in the post 9-11 era of aviation. They are still operating at a loss everytime they fly (the reason they are only in business is because they're in bankruptcy protection by the government from their creditors, and that the demise of the industry will be catastrophic to the nation as a whole, or the world for that matter), hence they charge the passenger for any and every item or service there is that used to be complimentary, they need to recoup the money somewhere, and unfortunately for the flying public these fees are imposed on checked baggages, onboard meals, exit row seats, etc. We have to face it, gone are the days wherein flying was a pleasant and comfortable experience.

Pao_hotiee_20

December 15th, 2008, 05:57 AM

Technically speaking, IT CAN. The right question is, can it hold everything the 737 could carry? The answer to that would be NO. If Air Philippines decides to replace the PAL Express service to Manila, they will suffer the same weight restrictions imposed on other airports with the same classification. Bottom line there would be economic factors to be decided by the airline itself.

Here are the reasons why?

According to the Civil Aviation Of the Philippines Masterplan, Surigao Airport (RPMS) was categorized as a Code 3C airport similar to Ozamiz. A 3C airport is one where its runway lenght runs from 1,200 meters to 1, 799 meters. It has a runway width of 30 meters. The biggest critical aircraft it can handle is the Embraer 170/175 jet capable of carrying up to 80 people or a fully loaded BAE 146 similar to the one used by Asian Spirit. The approach speed listed is between 121-140 knots. By the way, the biggest airport in Visayas and Mindanao is General Santos with Code 4E/F classification followed by Cebu and Davao with 4E. Airports in Mindanao with 4D classification is found in Zamboanga, while the airports of Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Cotabato and Dipolog are classified as 4C airports. The rest are 3C and below.

The US FAA listed the 737 as a C-III (Code 3C ICAO equivalent) capable aircraft. It means that the 737 is capable of landing and takeoff at Surigao, Pagadian and Ozamiz Airport. However, It is not adequate to meet the operational efficiency requirements of the 737, as the desired Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) for which the runway is intended is particularly insufficient as if it were to carry a full load that is typically at 2,100 meters.

While the Take-off charts for the 737 go down to runway lengths of just 1,200 m, it cant get much payload at that length (at most 10,000 kg in good weather, or roughly about 60 pax.), but as the length increases you will get increasing payload that at 1,800 m, the airline can load 7,000 kg. more, that is 20 additional passengers with 25 kg. baggage each inclusive of return fuel allowance. So the end result would be a weight restricted flight as I mentioned in the previous post. So therefore if Air Philippines carry more than 80 passengers they have to carry less cargo and fuel to compensate the weight but which should not in all circumstances exceed 99 pax.

The adoption of a Code 4C aircraft, such as the Boeing 737, on a 3C airport has to comply the following site restrictions pertaining to weight, approach and runway dimensions such that a runway is required to be of specified width and be surrounded by a runway strip of a specified dimension, have Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) at each end and to have a series of Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS), primarily based on a specified baseline at either end of the runway. That means additional clear area usually 300 meters from the end of the paved runway similar to Tuguegarao Airport..

Other aspect worth considering is the strenght of the runway. The technical term is called Pavement Classification Number (PCN) in relation to Aircraft Classification Number (ACN). Just because the runway is concrete does not mean that its stronger to carry the load of the 737 or better yer has more tolerance on landing impact than an asphalt runway. If the runway is not design for 4C critical aircraft it will always crack. Havent you notice why some concrete runways are covered with asphalt overlay and why some asphalted runways wear more? A classic example of this is the unusual runway wear of Zamboanga International Airport. While it is designed to handle the weight of a 747 it is not designed to carry the load equivalent to a fully loaded 747 that is carried on the Antonov 125 plane which land on it on a regular basis.

For more details on how ACN/PCN works with respect to runway strength, example given is that of Zamboanga airport. Go to runway characteristics and then to strength and surface runway. There you will see a PCN 32 R/B/W/T classification. For regular heavy use it should have A instead of B rating but the government was not expecting that kind of aircraft until the balikatan exercises of 2003 onwards. Asphalts disintegrated into bricks of stones and potholed runways developed which were dangerous to other smaller jets. Its currently being resurfaced to A grade.

You see, not just because the airport has 1,800 meters of runway meant that it can already handle a 737 or a 320. In fact, 1,200m will do but also suffers a weight penalty problem similar to BAE 146 flights to Caticlan. Also, you will need to consider whether those runway is capable of serving those weight in the long run. The government often do it by overlaying the concrete with asphalt to strengthen its load.

In the end, operations really depend on the airline whether they would like to risk operations with the level of restrictions made available to the 737 and still fly with reasonable rate of return.

I hope you will find everything helpful.

AIRPORTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

International Airports:
Airports with border control facility used for International flights

Principal Airports:
Airports used for domestic scheduled flights (or domestic airports served by carriers certified under AO No. 121)

.......... Class 1: Airports used for Jet services (Jet aircraft including B737, A320, DC9 or greater, which has equal to or more than 100-seat capacity)

.......... Class 2: Airports used for Prop services (Prop aircraft or jet aircraft smaller than those indicated in Class 1, which has equal to or more than 19-seat capacity)

.......... Class 3: Community Airports used for General Aviation and Prop services, (Prop aircraft which has less than 19 seat capacity)

In 1986, there were 230 airports in the Philippines. In 2006, 172 remained.
Source:Philippine Statistical Yearbook, 2006

chillendawg

December 15th, 2008, 07:30 AM

WawaY[625]

December 15th, 2008, 09:26 AM

Technically speaking, IT CAN. The right question is, can it hold everything the 737 could carry? The answer to that would be NO. If Air Philippines decides to replace the PAL Express service to Manila, they will suffer the same weight restrictions imposed on other airports with the same classification. Bottom line there would be economic factors to be decided by the airline itself.

Here are the reasons why?

According to the Civil Aviation Of the Philippines Masterplan, Surigao Airport (RPMS) was categorized as a Code 3C airport similar to Ozamiz. A 3C airport is one where its runway lenght runs from 1,200 meters to 1, 799 meters. It has a runway width of 30 meters. The biggest critical aircraft it can handle is the Embraer 170/175 jet capable of carrying up to 80 people or a fully loaded BAE 146 similar to the one used by Asian Spirit. The approach speed listed is between 121-140 knots. By the way, the biggest airport in Visayas and Mindanao is General Santos with Code 4E/F classification followed by Cebu and Davao with 4E. Airports in Mindanao with 4D classification is found in Zamboanga, while the airports of Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Cotabato and Dipolog are classified as 4C airports. The rest are 3C and below.

The US FAA listed the 737 as a C-III (Code 3C ICAO equivalent) capable aircraft. It means that the 737 is capable of landing and takeoff at Surigao, Pagadian and Ozamiz Airport. However, It is not adequate to meet the operational efficiency requirements of the 737, as the desired Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) for which the runway is intended is particularly insufficient as if it were to carry a full load that is typically at 2,100 meters.

While the Take-off charts for the 737 go down to runway lengths of just 1,200 m, it cant get much payload at that length (at most 10,000 kg in good weather, or roughly about 60 pax.), but as the length increases you will get increasing payload that at 1,800 m, the airline can load 7,000 kg. more, that is 20 additional passengers with 25 kg. baggage each inclusive of return fuel allowance. So the end result would be a weight restricted flight as I mentioned in the previous post. So therefore if Air Philippines carry more than 80 passengers they have to carry less cargo and fuel to compensate the weight but which should not in all circumstances exceed 99 pax.

The adoption of a Code 4C aircraft, such as the Boeing 737, on a 3C airport has to comply the following site restrictions pertaining to weight, approach and runway dimensions such that a runway is required to be of specified width and be surrounded by a runway strip of a specified dimension, have Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) at each end and to have a series of Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS), primarily based on a specified baseline at either end of the runway. That means additional clear area usually 300 meters from the end of the paved runway similar to Tuguegarao Airport..

Other aspect worth considering is the strenght of the runway. The technical term is called Pavement Classification Number (PCN) in relation to Aircraft Classification Number (ACN). Just because the runway is concrete does not mean that its stronger to carry the load of the 737 or better yer has more tolerance on landing impact than an asphalt runway. If the runway is not design for 4C critical aircraft it will always crack. Havent you notice why some concrete runways are covered with asphalt overlay and why some asphalted runways wear more? A classic example of this is the unusual runway wear of Zamboanga International Airport. While it is designed to handle the weight of a 747 it is not designed to carry the load equivalent to a fully loaded 747 that is carried on the Antonov 125 plane which land on it on a regular basis.

For more details on how ACN/PCN works with respect to runway strength, example given is that of Zamboanga airport. Go to runway characteristics and then to strength and surface runway. There you will see a PCN 32 R/B/W/T classification. For regular heavy use it should have A instead of B rating but the government was not expecting that kind of aircraft until the balikatan exercises of 2003 onwards. Asphalts disintegrated into bricks of stones and potholed runways developed which were dangerous to other smaller jets. Its currently being resurfaced to A grade.

You see, not just because the airport has 1,800 meters of runway meant that it can already handle a 737 or a 320. In fact, 1,200m will do but also suffers a weight penalty problem similar to BAE 146 flights to Caticlan. Also, you will need to consider whether those runway is capable of serving those weight in the long run. The government often do it by overlaying the concrete with asphalt to strengthen its load.

In the end, operations really depend on the airline whether they would like to risk operations with the level of restrictions made available to the 737 and still fly with reasonable rate of return.

I hope you will find everything helpful.

AIRPORTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

International Airports:
Airports with border control facility used for International flights

Principal Airports:
Airports used for domestic scheduled flights (or domestic airports served by carriers certified under AO No. 121)

.......... Class 1: Airports used for Jet services (Jet aircraft including B737, A320, DC9 or greater, which has equal to or more than 100-seat capacity)

.......... Class 2: Airports used for Prop services (Prop aircraft or jet aircraft smaller than those indicated in Class 1, which has equal to or more than 19-seat capacity)

.......... Class 3: Community Airports used for General Aviation and Prop services, (Prop aircraft which has less than 19 seat capacity)

In 1986, there were 230 airports in the Philippines. In 2006, 172 remained.
Source:Philippine Statistical Yearbook, 2006

isnt this arianespace's post?

mwg12a

December 15th, 2008, 09:57 AM

Then explain why Southwest and Jetblue are not in the same boat as those you are talking about? Wouldn't you agree that it is not the fuel hike but rather poor management? Hello not all airlines a losing money, there are quite a few that are making money including Philippine Airlines.

Both are LCCs and yes, even these LCCs are affected. Read what arianspace posted about the truth for all surcharges.

AmbutLang

December 15th, 2008, 10:43 AM

^^ so they say..what is really the truth? up until now they are still charging for the first checked in luggage. charges here charges there...hay..the world has gone mad~:ohno:

AS what I heard Korean never back down their luggage weight from 70 to 50 pounds and as the rest of the Philippines bound carriers did. Hopefully they will bring them back to 70 pounds two luggages free/pass. since the oil prices is low at 2004 prices.

xzibit31

December 15th, 2008, 11:06 AM

;29407066']isnt this arianespace's post?

yes it is......hmmm...i smell something....:lol:

Montecito_kid

December 16th, 2008, 05:02 AM

I wonder when the newly painted DL 747s (ex NW 747s) will serve the MNL routes? This is the first of 16 to be redone in DL colors. Source. (http://blog.delta.com/2008/12/12/breaking-news-delta-unveils-a-new-747-400-livery/)

http://blog.delta.com/wp-content/uploads/delta-7471.jpg

The first repainted 747 in DL colors will be in Manila the following days:

19DEC: MSP-NRT-MNL
21DEC: MNL-NRT-DTW

She will be arriving MNL on the 20th at 10:50PM and will depart at 7:45AM on the 21st. Heads up Manila spotters.

benchjade

December 16th, 2008, 10:09 AM

^^sa NAIA 3 ba?

kiretoce

December 16th, 2008, 10:10 AM

^^ Nope. T1 still.

mwg12a

December 16th, 2008, 10:19 AM

^^^^ I hope they reconfigured the interior to atleast have a more comfortable seat and longer legroom. I've got the feeling that they did not, but hell, one can just wish... I am a frequent flier with them so I guess I'm entitled to dream on ...LMAO

terrapinoy

December 16th, 2008, 02:32 PM

^^ I read from a.net that they might get the DL leather seats at some point, but probably in the same configuration. Sana may AVOD naman.

@montecito_kid - Salamat!

OK, to PH_Man and all the airplane spotters out there, a photo of the first DL 747 in MNL would be appreciated. :)

mwg12a

December 16th, 2008, 04:57 PM

^^^ That's probably just for first and business class. I was hoping for the economy class. I'm very "kuripot" when it comes to airfare. I don't ask for too much either.

terrapinoy

December 16th, 2008, 05:08 PM

^^ Same here. As long as it gets me to Manila. :lol: I remember the cheapest tickets I paid in 2006 was $700 from IAD to MNL on United/Cathay. The seats were horrible on United, but in HKG we transfered to Cathay and wow, what a difference. Still waiting for the cheap fares to come back. >(

mwg12a

December 16th, 2008, 05:17 PM

Damn that's cheap, never had it that cheap before but then again I'm in the middle of nowhere land LOL. I've never tried UA to the Philippines before, not even CX, my wifey have, she said food was awesome!

There is only one time that I've been in NWA flight to Manila where there are PTVs in every seat, even in economy class, I wonder what happened to it? Or is it because I paid that time and the couple or maybe 3 last Manila visit i had was just from mileage?

oninBadz

December 16th, 2008, 11:40 PM

does any of our local airlines have plans to fly to balo-i airport sooner?PAL Express was due to service this city last sept.27 but until now nothing more has been heard of.does
anybody have an idea or info?

FlashCollider

December 17th, 2008, 12:35 AM

where is balo-i?

habagatcentral1

December 17th, 2008, 02:05 AM

^^ Lanao del Norte. Balo-i Airport serves Iligan City and Marawi City.

kiretoce

December 17th, 2008, 04:41 AM

OK, to PH_Man and all the airplane spotters out there, a photo of the first DL 747 in MNL would be appreciated. :)

There should be a prize for the first forumer to post a photo of the newly painted NW birds in DL colors in MNL. :okay: The prize, of course, courtesy of terrapinoy. ;)

:lol: :jk: :nocrook:

raffy_east

December 17th, 2008, 09:42 AM

New Zest Air planes arrive at Clark airport

CLARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - Airport officials here welcomed four new aircraft of Zest Air that will be part of international and domestic flights that will originate here.

“This is and the impending flights of Zest Air...(are) in accordance with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s vision of making the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport the country’s premier international airport," said Victor Jose I. Luciano, Clark International Airport Corporation president and CEO.

Zest Air president and CEO Alfredo Yao led the presentation of the aircraft at the Asian Aerospace Hangar in the 2,500 hectare Clark Civil Aviation Complex.

“We support Zest Air for them to be able to mount domestic and international flights out of DMIA," Luciano said.

Zest Air, formerly Asian Spirit, acquired three M-60 airplanes with a seating capacity of 56 and one Airbus A320 with a capacity of 162 that arrived at the civil aviation complex via the DMIA.

Yao said the airline will be mounting domestic flights to Cebu and Davao from Manila starting December 20 and plans are underway to mount regional international flights out of DMIA to serve the Asian region.

Yao said another Airbus A320 aircraft is set to arrive by January 3 to beef-up their Asian flights from Clark.

He said the December 20 domestic operations include four flights per day between Manila, Cebu and Davao.

He said they had also ordered two more Airbus A320s which are expected to arrive middle of next year.

Yao revealed that the airline also plans to mount flights to Hong Kong, Incheon in South Korea, Macau, Xiamen and Shanghai in China, and Bangkok in Thailand out of DMIA.

“Clark will be the premier international airport that is why we decided to mount flights from the DMIA. We see a lot of potential for the airport and this is a welcome development for the airline industry in the country," said. - GMANews.TV

ianers_ianized

December 17th, 2008, 09:47 AM

MNL-HKG-MNL NUMBER OF FLIGHTS

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES -5X A DAY
CEBU PACIFIC-4X A DAY
CATHAY PACIFIC-6X A DAY
HONGKONG EXPRESS- ONCE A DAY
DRAGON AIR- 4X A WEEK
[QUOTE]

They just started last Dec 15/16.

Dragonair Celebrates Launch of New Service to Manila
16 December 2008

(HONG KONG) Dragonair today celebrated the launch of its new scheduled service to Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, with a ceremony held in the city.

The route launch marks Dragonair’s entry into the important Philippine market, offering a wider choice of options for passengers travelling between Hong Kong and Manila. This is the ninth new destination launched by Dragonair in the last two years.

“The addition of the Manila route underscores Dragonair’s long-term commitment to growing its network throughout Asia and, despite the current financial crisis, we remain confident in the long-term prospects for the travel industry in the region,” said Dragonair General Manager International Affairs Maggie Yeung, who officiated at the ceremony to mark the launch of the Manila route.

“Traffic flow and demand between Manila and Hong Kong continues to grow and we strongly believe that the Manila service will benefit Dragonair’s development in the long run.”

On behalf of Dragonair, Ms Yeung thanked all of those involved in helping to make the route launch a success. To mark the beginning of the new service, passengers on the first flights to and from Manila received a Dragonair key chain as a souvenir.

Dragonair’s schedule to and from Manila is as follows:

Flight Route Departs Arrives Days
KA913 HKGMNL 20:00 22:00 Mon/Wed/Thu/Fri/Sun
KA912 MNLHKG 10:50 12:55 Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sat

source: www.dragonair.com

[QUOTE=terrapinoy;29315336]I wonder when the newly painted DL 747s (ex NW 747s) will serve the MNL routes? This is the first of 16 to be redone in DL colors. Source. (http://blog.delta.com/2008/12/12/breaking-news-delta-unveils-a-new-747-400-livery/)

http://blog.delta.com/wp-content/uploads/delta-7471.jpg
Wow, DL has already taken NW... sad to see NW brand erase in the industry. DL livery looks good on B747. I wonder what will happen with the GSAs of NW and DL here in Manila, they are separate GSAs... any infos?

oninBadz

December 17th, 2008, 03:13 PM

terrapinoy

December 17th, 2008, 03:20 PM

There should be a prize for the first forumer to post a photo of the newly painted NW birds in DL colors in MNL. :okay: The prize, of course, courtesy of terrapinoy. ;)

:lol: :jk: :nocrook:

OK Kimber, I'll provide the prize as long as you deliver it in person in MNL. :banana: While we're at it we should have a parade around the two T3 rotundas in honor of your homecoming. ;)

:lol: :jk: :nocrook:

boom_box

December 17th, 2008, 03:23 PM

oninBadz

December 17th, 2008, 07:25 PM

:bash:yah,you're definitely right on that...those people are just too foolish to think that they can conquer everything of mindanao...i thought they have good intentions of mindanao's future,instead they have totally ruined a rare chance for Iliganons to have some convenient flights in and out of Iligan...so no news then from PAL Express to operate in Iligan????:ohno:

kiretoce

December 18th, 2008, 06:12 AM

OK Kimber, I'll provide the prize as long as you deliver it in person in MNL. :banana: While we're at it we should have a parade around the two T3 rotundas in honor of your homecoming. ;)

:lol: :jk: :nocrook:

A hero's welcome? I'm liking the idea. Talk some more.... ;)

:lol: :jk: :nocrook:

arianespace

December 18th, 2008, 08:16 AM

sloanesquare

December 18th, 2008, 11:28 AM

Why do airlines still charges FUEL SURCHARGE when there's no more surcharge, gas is cheap?:bash:

BA and Virgin have cut fuel surcharges across their networks, with long-haul flights benefitting by as much as £70 per return ticket.

BA said the move (which comes into effect on December 18) reflects "the reduction in the price of oil and the airline’s fuel hedging policy for 2009/10", while Virgin said it was cutting surcharges following "London and Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Beijing Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Mauritius, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Hong Kong.

"ZukiChirO"

December 18th, 2008, 11:45 AM

my plan naba ang PAL to resume or start new flight's sa Europe this 2009?...

ianers_ianized

December 18th, 2008, 12:18 PM

it is such a sacrifice going to another city just to fly to MNL or CBU.i think it's a great thing if they fully reactivate this RPMI/Balo-i Airport to commercial flights.even if they have this upcoming Laguindingan Airport soon but I would still prefer flying from Iligan,just a money wise thing.does anybody know if PAL Express is pushing this flight to
reality?

blame it to the MILF attacks last September... if those pathetic rebels didn't make coward attacks.. i guess PAL would resume their operations here in Iligan... Its just so tiring to make 2 hour land trip to CDO or Ozamiz...

I think it was last Sept when I heard their flt should have started (someone posted an article here)but it is because of the attacks said by boom_box, could be the reason why they backed out... i think they saw it as risky to bring pax their as well as tourists.

BA and Virgin have cut fuel surcharges across their networks, with long-haul flights benefitting by as much as £70 per return ticket.

BA said the move (which comes into effect on December 18) reflects "the reduction in the price of oil and the airline’s fuel hedging policy for 2009/10", while Virgin said it was cutting surcharges following "London and Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Beijing Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Mauritius, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Hong Kong.

Sna VS would fly here if BA has no plans resuming the MNL flt.

sf_airwarrior

December 19th, 2008, 12:09 AM

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

Or so we thought its just a dream but its definitely coming sooner than you think. Be my guest to guess! :cheers:

2012
Opps.. I spilled the beans!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! :drunk:

The business circuits are abuzz with talk that yes, as Arianespace has spilled, Asia's first airline, Philippine Airlines is finalizing an aircraft
(most likely a lease according to sources) for at least 2 A380 mega jumbo jets with delivery starting in the second half of 2012. The same source adds, top Philippine Airlines executives are currently abroad suppossedly to finalize the deal (?).

I hope my source is right - so let's cross our fingers to a final deal and yes an official announcement from both PAL and the Airbus/AircraftLeasing company soon.

As the original poster of the "A 380 for PAL Wishful Thinking" thread, I'd like to add it wasnt bad at all to wish and think because if all these buzz is right, then wishes indeed do come true.

BTW, had the opportunity this month to experience the new refurfished Mabuhay Class cabin - Recaro Seats, IFE and service. MNL-SFO flight. Will post pics and general comments here next time.

Happy Holidays!

sf_airwarrior

December 19th, 2008, 12:21 AM

my plan naba ang PAL to resume or start new flight's sa Europe this 2009?...

They are not saying if a resumption of PAL service to Europe will happen in 2009. PAL though has said that there are plans to resume service to Europe sometime in the future with London, Frankfurt, Rome ,Zurich, Paris and Rome as most likely destinations.

However, my hunch is that if US FAA's downgrade on Philippine aviation would not be lifted in early 2009 as PAL and Philippine aviation and government official expect, PAL might consider and early return to Europe to utilize the 2 brand new Boeing 777 300 ER aircraft that they expect to have in late 2009 and early 2010. The new 777s are planned for an all out US route expansion to cities like San Diego, Chicago, New York and Seattle.

Leads me to ask, what are the chances the the FAA downgrade will be lifted in the first quarter of 2009? Is the Philippine aviation people ready for a re evaluation by then? Any updates?

[dx]

December 19th, 2008, 07:56 AM

PAL launches P1.8-B renovation of B747-400 (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/PAL_launches_P1_8-B_renovation_of_B747-400.shtml)
By Lynda B. Valencia

MANILA, Dec. 18 (PNA) – Kudos for those flying from Manila and the west coast of the United States. The popular jumbo jets, the Boeing 747-400 of Philippine Airlines (PAL) will now have a new look.

Jaime J. Bautisa, PAL president and CEO, said the flag-carrier of the country, has launched a P1.8 billion renovation of the aircraft’s cabin, together with the reconfiguration from a tri-class to bi-class layout.

Bautista said the work also includes the installation of state-of-the-art in-flight 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.

Since 1993, PAL’s B747-400, which was the largest and most advanced model of the B747 family, has flown millions of tourists, balikbayans, business people and other passengers in comfort across the Pacific.

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

By the second half of the 2009, all four units will be sporting the new look.

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, 10 more in Mabuhay Class. It has “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.

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

Meanwhile, Fiesta Class remains at 383 seats. It features the undulating wave-pattern design in a blue, aqua and terracotta palette.

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

The entire passenger cabin in equipped with the i5000 in-flight 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.

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

flymordecai

December 19th, 2008, 11:29 AM

The business circuits are abuzz with talk that yes, as Arianespace has spilled, Asia's first airline, Philippine Airlines is finalizing an aircraft
(most likely a lease according to sources) for at least 2 A380 mega jumbo jets with delivery starting in the second half of 2012. The same source adds, top Philippine Airlines executives are currently abroad suppossedly to finalize the deal (?).

I hope my source is right - so let's cross our fingers to a final deal and yes an official announcement from both PAL and the Airbus/AircraftLeasing company soon.

As the original poster of the "A 380 for PAL Wishful Thinking" thread, I'd like to add it wasnt bad at all to wish and think because if all these buzz is right, then wishes indeed do come true.

BTW, had the opportunity this month to experience the new refurfished Mabuhay Class cabin - Recaro Seats, IFE and service. MNL-SFO flight. Will post pics and general comments here next time.

Happy Holidays!

:applause:

seven13

December 19th, 2008, 01:16 PM

The same source adds, top Philippine Airlines executives are currently abroad suppossedly to finalize the deal (?).

May possibility na isa sa agenda nila yun, to finalize the/a deal but one thing is for sure kaya sila andun kase:

PAL nagdagdag ng ika-18 Airbus
Ni Gus Villanueva, Journal
December 19, 2008 Friday

TOULOSE, France -- Muling pinatunayan ng Philippine Airlines ang pagiging pangunahing airline company sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng kanilang ika-18 Airbus 320.

Nakatakdang pasinayaan ang naturang eroplano ngayong alas-3 ng hapon sa Airbus delivery center dito na dadaluhan ng mga matataas na opisyal ng PAL sa pangunguna ng pangulo nitong si Jaime Bautista at ng ilang grupo ng newspaper editors mula sa Maynila.

Dalawang oras matapos ang pasinaya ay lilipad ang eroplano patungong Manila via Dubai at Bangkok.

“This is a big boost for us,” ani Bautista kahapon makaraang opisyal na i-turn-over ang naturang eroplano kay PAL chief ng Airbus Chief Operating Officer-Customers John Leahy.

Ang PAL ay mayroon nang apat na Airbus 319 na nakapaglulunan ng 140 pasahero at nasa ilalim ng pamilya ng Airbus 320.

Samantala, habang sina Bautista at iba pang PAL official na si Cesar Chiong (chief of Aircraft Purchasing) at Rolando Estabillo (VP-Corporate Communications) ang abala sa namamahala nito, natutuwa rin nilang ibinalita ang isa pang malaking hakbang ng PAL, ang pagbili ng Boeing 777 sa susunod na taon.

“This is really going to give a tremendous boost to our West Coast and Vancouver flights,” paliwanag ni Bautista.

Idinagdag pa ni Bautista na higit na natutuwa ang may-ari ng PAL na si Dr. Lucio Tan sa dagdag na 777 sa limang 747s ng kumpanya.

Masusing pinag-iispian na rin ng PAL ang pagbili ng bagong eroplano ng Airbus – ang A380 -- sa hinaharap.

abnkat

December 19th, 2008, 01:22 PM

PAL said it wants to focus on the US market first. As for the moment they don't want to take any risk by competing with the Gulf carriers which are dominating the Phils- Europe routes.

arianespace

December 19th, 2008, 01:24 PM

http://www.aviationexplorer.com/airbus-a350-900-xwb.jpg

Sorry Boeing fans. There will be no dreamliner on the fleet!

2014
Opps.. I spilled the beans again! Bad me
They gonna kick my butt out of this...:gaah:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!:drunk:

Sky Harbor

December 19th, 2008, 02:38 PM

I wonder: with PAL acquiring the A380 and A350, what's the possibility that PAL will transition to an all-Airbus fleet? Wasn't PAL a strong Boeing customer in the past?

arianespace

December 19th, 2008, 02:54 PM

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

May possibility na isa sa agenda nila yun, to finalize the/a deal but one thing is for sure kaya sila andun kase:

Oh my God! Its leaking everywhere. I can now have reasons to celebrate knowing that others knew too. :lol:

They also failed to mention the bank they went to, the same bank that bankrolled the 340 and the 330. Have you noticed why the heavies are re-registered to PI registrations. Because its 80% paid. It will all belong to PAL by 2012. And by the way, PAL already owned 1 747, the one fitted with recaro seats and by next year they will own 3 more. Other than that they finalized the option orders for 5 more 320's. That is 4 + 9 + 5 = 18 orders. Currently, 2 more are reflected in the airbus book as the other 3 will be delivered in 2010 and 2011.

Its gonna be exciting in 2009. The airbus marketing department will travel to the Philippines for unknown reason. Possibly frolic in the sands of Boracay or dive in El Nido, Palawan. I just don't know why they gonna go there. You tell me.

Hey I'm still keeping my mouth shut as to details! :)

my plan naba ang PAL to resume or start new flight's sa Europe this 2009?...

Nope. Not even 3 years from now. Anyway, having spilled the beans already, there will be no Europe until the XWB comes.

As for the moment they don't want to take any risk by competing with the Gulf carriers which are dominating the Phils- Europe routes.

As to other code-share partners in the gulf region, yes. But to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait 2014 is the date. But who knows, there might be few surprises that come along.

Leads me to ask, what are the chances the the FAA downgrade will be lifted in the first quarter of 2009? Is the Philippine aviation people ready for a re evaluation by then? Any updates?

0% but if we talk 2009 as a whole 60% of being re-categorize. The remaining 40% depends upon the governments action plan. As of the moment CAAP is in the process of training qualified aircraft inspectors set to leave for the US by February. They will return by August in time for the re-assessment. Inspection will be done by EASA in January and FAA on September. It was originally scheduled last October but DOTC begged to defer citing logistics and monetary reasons among others.

Forget the FAA bruhaha. I talked recently to one rep doing the rounds on other safety concerns and as far as his concern, PAL can mount the 777 to the west coast even with category 2 rating since according to him its a brand new and US certified aircraft. It would have been a different matter if it comes from other source. The only difference is the more stringent safety check. Simply put it, the government is singing a different tune with respect to its obligation by putting PAL to spend the cost of additional inspection of their aircraft in the states since it cant perform its duties here.:ohno:

arianespace

December 19th, 2008, 03:30 PM

^^
I wonder: with PAL acquiring the A380 and A350, what's the possibility that PAL will transition to an all-Airbus fleet? Wasn't PAL a strong Boeing customer in the past?

I don't think so. They still have the triple 7 and bent on adding two more aside from the 6 orders. They are not discounting the 787 either. What makes Airbus attractive is the cost. Its just that 777w has better economics for them than its present counterpart.

Had it not for the 1998 collapse, PAL would have 12 airbus 320, 8 Airbus 330, 4 Airbus 340 and 8 Boeing 747. From there (1996) the ratio of A against B was in the formers favor already. After that PAL managed to buy only 4 320's while the rest of the Boeing 737's are operating leases from Ireland which were intended as fillers for the 320. Other 330 operating leases were canceled and some 342's were returned during receivership. After rehab 737 were eventually replaced by the 320 while retaining only 8 330 and 4 340's.

While Airbus was flexible on payment terms during the rehabilitation, Boeing stands hardball. So to sum it up, Boeing has a more expensive terms than Airbus, and second PAL can have more planes with Airbus than having Boeing for its planes. Thats why it never got the 737 and 767. Call that cordial relationship.

In fact, the only Boeing relationship they had started with the 747 and thats it. While PAL has plenty of history with Airbus beginning with the Airbus 300b4 to the 320 to the 330/340 planes. From that perspective business decisions aren't not that difficult.

In retrospect, here is the newsclip way back in 1995
Boeing, Airbus Split Big Philippine Order

By Polly Lane

Seattle Times Business Reporter (http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19951227&slug=2159736): Seattle Times News Services

Philippine Airlines said today it plans to order eight Boeing 747-400s worth about $1.2 billion. But it also will buy 24 jetliners from Boeing rival Airbus Industrie of Europe.

The Airbus order will be for four four-engine A340-300s, eight twin-engine A330-300s and 12 smaller A320s that compete with Boeing 737s, all worth about $1.8 billion.

McDonnell Douglas also had been in the running for the order in early negotiations but was dropped, sources said.

The Philippine order is one of several expected from Asian carriers in the next few weeks. Boeing and Airbus have been competing fiercely to get the orders from carriers serving the fastest-growing market in the world.

While the PAL order announced today gave the edge to Airbus, Boeing appears to be maintaining its market leadership in the area.

From Historical point of view PAL ordered more planes from Airbus than Boeing.

Recent PAL orders for 6 Boeing 777-300 ER cost the company $ 1. 5 billion including the 2 operating leases. It is expected that Airbus orders will top the $ 2 Billion mark or a total of $ 3.5 billion. But this time, PAL has plenty of collaterals to guarantee it, 4 B744 for the 4 777w and 12 frames for the future airbus orders.

PAL got everything they ordered from Airbus while they got only 4 from Boeing. Although they paid only about $ 700 million for the 747 as they took only four of them, but since it committed for 8 744 they have to take another 4 otherwise they lose the deposit which just 33% of cost of each aircraft. These are called pre-delivery deposits. Since the deposit is huge, they are financed by Banks, in this case US Eximbank. When PAL filed Chapter 11 Boeing refused to negotiate terms. They eventually reached settlement 8 years later by ordering the 777 instead. Since they have almost $ 200 million deposit, PAL added only $ 133 million dollars.

When Chapter 11 was filed in 1998 they have more than $ 3 billion dollars in debt with no money to spare. As of September 2008, they owed about $ 800 million dollars and plenty of cash to spare. They will have extra $ 40 million dollars next year after all the 747 are paid. Another $ 90 million is available in 2012. By 2013 they will have savings of around $ 210 million and plenty of collaterals. In 10 years time that savings will balloon to $ 700 million dollars. Thats the reason why Banks are lining up to give them credit because of their increasing liquidity.

Another $2 billion dollars aircraft orders would still be in the capacity of PAL to pay.

numiX

December 19th, 2008, 03:45 PM

wow cool...an a380 for PAL. But i suppose there will be an airport facility to handle the jumbo by then. Will it be in Clark or the adjacent lot in Centennial? And i heard Cebu Pac dropped the option to buy bigger aircraft because of market condition. SIGH.. ingit naman ako sa PAL.:O)

arianespace

December 19th, 2008, 05:50 PM

^^
http://www.philskies.net/library/peter/380-10.JPG
Big Brother? :soon:

http://www.philskies.net/library/peter/380-30.jpg
Gate 11, NAIA terminal 1

Route proving was not an empty run when no operator intends to service it. Definitely the plane was here for a reason the same as to its presence in other world airports. While Jakarta airport is way bigger than NAIA yet they never flew there. In the ASIAN Region, the A380 only flew to 5 airports, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok which airlines have pending orders. The Philippines was the only place it went without an airline making an order and yet It flew to Manila and Clark too!

As I have said in the previous thread, NAIA terminal 1 is capable in handling the A380. In fact Emirates will fly the 2 class A380 by late next year according to my friend who happens to works at the 18th floor of Pacific Star building in Makati. For PAL, Terminal 2 will be expanded all the way to Nayong Pilipino with 5 to 6 more additional gates as PAL is bent on operating its domestic and international operations all in one roof. The project is slated to start around 2010.

For Clark supporters, sorry its not gonna happen in the next 10 years.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! :drunk:

jogavilz

December 19th, 2008, 06:32 PM

was that during last year's a380 test? i didn't know that they tested the jetways with the a380.

seven13

December 19th, 2008, 07:31 PM

^^how many doors did they use??

boom_box

December 19th, 2008, 08:06 PM

obviously.. they use two jetways = two doors...

arianespace

December 20th, 2008, 01:20 AM

PAL takes delivery of new Airbus A320 aircraft
By Doreen G. Yu (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=425305&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
December 20, 2008

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/1921/bus5nu2.jpg
Jaime Bautista, PAL president and CEO, receives the certificate of ownership of a new Airbus A320 from John Leahy, COO of Airbus, at Toulouse, France yesterday.

TOULOUSE, France — Philippine Airlines (PAL) took delivery here yesterday of a new generation A320 plane, completing its two-year fleet modernization program.

The 156-seat short-range aircraft was turned over to PAL president and chief executive officer Jaime Bautista by John Leahy, chief operating officer of Airbus, at the aircraft manufacturer’s facility in Blagnac, just outside Toulouse. The delivery completed PAL’s $840-million order of 15 aircraft from Airbus over three years.

“This is a milestone for Philippine Airlines,” Bautista said. “We now have one of the youngest and most modern single-aisle fleets in the world.”

Bautista told The STAR that PAL is exercising its option for two more A320s for delivery in 2010, with a further option of three more planes for delivery in 2011.

PAL’s fleet of 22 Airbus aircraft of the A320 versatile family gives the airline greater efficiency and flexibility in terms of maintenance, route and crew assignment.

We now have the advantage of operating a uniform fleet, with one aircraft type, one engine type and one bi-class (Mabuhay or business and Fiesta or economy) cabin layout,” Bautista added.

The delivery concludes the main part of the fleet modernization program that began in October 2006. The program, valued at over $840 million, includes 11 units of the 156-seat A320 and four of the smaller 134-seat A319.

Cesar Chiong, PAL senior assistant vice president, told The STAR that PAL was able to secure very favorable financing terms from Credit Lyonnais for the $76-million aircraft, taking advantage of the current drop in interest rates for a 2.3-percent rate over 12 years.

PAL is also upgrading its medium- and long-range fleet with the acquisition of six Boeing 777 aircraft for delivery over three years, starting with two in the fourth quarter of 2009. PAL currently has 17 wide-body aircraft — five Boeing 747s, four Airbus A340s and eight A330s, which are used for medium- and long-haul intercontinental sectors.

This is the fifth A320 delivered to PAL this year, bringing to 33 the total number of Airbus aircraft in the 46-plane PAL fleet. The new A320 will be used for intra-Asia and domestic routes.

A month-long inspection by engineers from PAL preceded the turnover, with the final boroscope inspection of the engine over a 24-hour period concluded just over a day before the plane took off from the Airbus facility here at 5 p.m. (midnight Manila time) to Manila, with technical stops in Dubai and Bangkok. The flight, identified as PR008, was piloted by Captain Arne Mangubat and Captain Roland Narciso, with two first officers and two flight attendants. Its first passengers included Bautista, Chiong, and other PAL executives and engineers, and a Philippine media delegation.

The flight is expected to arrive in Manila at 7 p.m. today.

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

Cesar is in charge of aircraft procurement. He is the one who chooses whether they have to go to A or B or both.
Other corporate details are confidential informations which should not be disclosed here. :)

habagatcentral1

December 20th, 2008, 01:43 AM

Question...
It seems rare to see an aviatrix in the Philippine commercial aviation, do we have them?

seven13

December 20th, 2008, 04:21 AM

obviously.. they use two jetways = two doors...

Didn't see clearly how many jetways they used. And I'm not familiar with NAIA 1.

boom_box

December 20th, 2008, 06:36 AM

Question...
It seems rare to see an aviatrix in the Philippine commercial aviation, do we have them?

its really rare but we do have the first Filipina and first women fully factory qualified Airbus Instructor (APIC)...

http://www.mnnetherlands.com/mn/articles/023_uthestoryofucaptcatherine.php

abnkat

December 20th, 2008, 10:04 AM

Does anyone took picture of the new PR A320?
registration is RP-C8615 scheduled to arrive today, but don't know exact time, route will be TLS-DXB-MNL

mwg12a

December 20th, 2008, 11:08 AM

I think PAL is making a good move as far as the procurement of an A380 jetliner/s. It would help boost the north american routes. Hopefully, with the volume of hauling passengers all at once would atleast help in PAL's offering cheaper airfare to it's patrons.

a s i a n a

December 20th, 2008, 12:35 PM

When PAL filed Chapter 11 Boeing refused to negotiate terms. They eventually reached settlement 8 years later by ordering the 777 instead. Since they have almost $ 200 million deposit, PAL added only $ 133 million dollars.

When Chapter 11 was filed in 1998 they have more than $ 3 billion dollars in debt with no money to spare. As of September 2008, they owed about $ 800 million dollars and plenty of cash to spare. They will have extra $ 40 million dollars next year after all the 747 are paid. Another $ 90 million is available in 2012. By 2013 they will have savings of around $ 210 million and plenty of collaterals. In 10 years time that savings will balloon to $ 700 million dollars. Thats the reason why Banks are lining up to give them credit because of their increasing liquidity.

Another $2 billion dollars aircraft orders would still be in the capacity of PAL to pay.

PAL filing Chapter 11? Was PAL an American airline way back in 1998? Do you mean receivership?

It seems this PR A380 rumor is moving forward into something that's real. This is exciting anways.

Ariane, can you give us the details of the A380 procurement? How many A380s are to be ordered?

"ZukiChirO"

December 20th, 2008, 12:42 PM

sure naba na i dadowngrade from category 2 to 1 this year 2009?...

IsaganiZenze

December 20th, 2008, 01:41 PM

it would be 'upgraded' to category 1 :)

as for this coming year, i hope so.....i think PAL was downgraded to 2 in january, so hopefully by january 09 too that PAL will be upgraded back to 1 again.....

oboi

December 20th, 2008, 07:04 PM

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/oboi_1/delta.jpg
21 DEC 2008 - 12:32AM

I wonder when the newly painted DL 747s (ex NW 747s) will serve the MNL routes? This is the first of 16 to be redone in DL colors. Source. (http://blog.delta.com/2008/12/12/breaking-news-delta-unveils-a-new-747-400-livery/)

http://blog.delta.com/wp-content/uploads/delta-7471.jpg

The first repainted 747 in DL colors will be in Manila the following days:

19DEC: MSP-NRT-MNL
21DEC: MNL-NRT-DTW

She will be arriving MNL on the 20th at 10:50PM and will depart at 7:45AM on the 21st. Heads up Manila spotters.

Plane got delayed. :D

There should be a prize for the first forumer to post a photo of the newly painted NW birds in DL colors in MNL. :okay: The prize, of course, courtesy of terrapinoy. ;)

:lol: :jk: :nocrook:

OK Kimber, I'll provide the prize as long as you deliver it in person in MNL. :banana: While we're at it we should have a parade around the two T3 rotundas in honor of your homecoming. ;)

:lol: :jk: :nocrook:

So what's my prize? :colgate: :nocrook:

mwg12a

December 20th, 2008, 09:06 PM

Ang galing ni Oboi, first one to spot Delta docked at NAIA 1.

Holy crap!!! it's the 21st already (20th still here right now). 4 or 5 days more before christmas!!! It's almost unbelievable how time flies by so quickly, it's here right before you knew it. I've got to finish up with my christmas shopping.

Good Job oboi!!

oninBadz

December 20th, 2008, 10:51 PM

I think it was last Sept when I heard their flt should have started (someone posted an article here)but it is because of the attacks said by boom_box, could be the reason why they backed out... i think they saw it as risky to bring pax their as well as tourists.

i heard this latest update from a friend of mine,he's knows somebody from PAL Express,he said that PAL is pushing through it's flight to iligan then,in fact they're sending a team together with ATO this coming december 22 to finalize the inspection of the airport's runway if its capable of handling Bombardier Q400 aircraft.i hope they'll have positive results then....good luck to our very own balo-i/maria cristina airport....:banana:

terrapinoy

December 21st, 2008, 03:59 AM

So what's my prize? :colgate: :nocrook:

Thanks oboi! :tyty: Your winning entry is noted. Now Kimber will deliver upon his return. (along with the parade around the rotundas) :colgate: :nocrook:

kiretoce

December 21st, 2008, 08:14 AM

^^ Okay, FedEx the prize to me and I will personally hand-carry it there. ;)

arianespace

December 21st, 2008, 08:33 AM

^^
I hope you guys have the word of honor for it. If I were the one who offered it OBOI would have the price without much funfare! Just my thoughts.

oboi

December 21st, 2008, 08:34 AM

Or you can send it to MI or FL. :colgate: :jk:

kiretoce

December 21st, 2008, 08:35 AM

^^ FL is closer to me. ;)

arianespace

December 21st, 2008, 09:03 AM

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/06spbKl6dB5bo/610x.jpg
Chairman of India's Kingfisher Airlines Vijay Mallya (L) and Chief Operating Officer for customers at European-based Airbus Industrie John Leahy (R) pose for a photograph with a model of superjumbo Airbus A380 in Kingfisher livery during a press conference at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, 07 May 2007.

The image speaks for itself. I think its about time for you readers to figure that out. All I can say is John Leahy made an offer too good to refuse. :yes:

The information stops here. I don't want to spoil the surprise.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! :cheers1::drunk:

arianespace

December 21st, 2008, 09:11 AM

@ Asiana^^
PAL filing Chapter 11? Was PAL an American airline way back in 1998? Do you mean receivership?

I think these might interest you. Just follow the link (http://www.orrick.com/practices/bankruptcy/international.asp). Merry Christmas!

arianespace

December 21st, 2008, 09:25 AM

^^i heard this latest update from a friend of mine,he's knows somebody from PAL Express,he said that PAL is pushing through it's flight to iligan then,in fact they're sending a team together with ATO this coming december 22 to finalize the inspection of the airport's runway if its capable of handling Bombardier Q400 aircraft.i hope they'll have positive results then....good luck to our very own balo-i/maria cristina airport....:banana:

I guess your dream will take a little bit longer. Blame that to your fanatic friends down south. Did you know that the approach for Maria Cristina is very dangerous for civilian aircraft? Unless of course you want suicide which you never know until it strikes you. The thing is, the airspace above it is not yet cleared for RPG attacks. As of this date Soutcom still classify the path where your Q4 will follow for landing as critical especially those coming from the mountainside. Try to read my previous post in this thread. I'm sure you will find them helpful as to your inquiry.

kiretoce

December 21st, 2008, 10:07 AM

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/oboi_1/delta.jpg
21 DEC 2008 - 12:32AM

Aww....all of the sudden I felt a twinge of nostalgia. Not being able to see NW at MNL anymore, end of an era. :(

kiretoce

December 21st, 2008, 10:13 AM

Post away folks! :colgate:

Link to Thread 16 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=160060&page=558) in the Archives. :okay:

kiretoce

December 21st, 2008, 10:14 AM

New thread! (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=771688) :colgate:

:lock:

mygz14

December 21st, 2008, 01:10 PM

This project has been relatively silent. There aren't much news recently.

Solblanc

December 21st, 2008, 06:36 PM

Last I checked, there was some really exciting discussion on the a380. Let's get back to that :)

bitoy

December 21st, 2008, 09:12 PM

Portland International Airport LIVE CAM

http://www.kgw.com/live/livecams_external/pdx.jpg
Next REFRESH (http://www.kgw.com/livecams/popup_pdx.html) in 1 second

seven13

December 22nd, 2008, 12:06 PM

can someone confirm this: By next year, PAL would stop its HNL route??? Read this from other forum. Totoo ba ito????

mwg12a

December 22nd, 2008, 12:10 PM

ON that note. I wonder why PAL never really alotted a strictly Manila-Honolulu service before.

kiretoce

December 22nd, 2008, 01:23 PM

can someone confirm this: By next year, PAL would stop its HNL route??? Read this from other forum. Totoo ba ito????

If it were true, HA will make a killing on that one! :lol:

AmbutLang

December 22nd, 2008, 01:54 PM

can someone confirm this: By next year, PAL would stop its HNL route??? Read this from other forum. Totoo ba ito????

The first time I took an international flight from MNL - Hawaii - San Francisco by PAL DC10 way back then and transfer to TWA Lockheed1011 to JFK at tsaka naka americana pa, halos lahat pasajero naka suit. :nuts: :lol:

bartstrife99

December 22nd, 2008, 01:54 PM

na hospital kasi si Revilla Sr. kaya walang makapag follow up!

Waldenstrom

December 22nd, 2008, 02:30 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
Lovely shots! I foresee major changes in that area in the future.

For now, all that we can do is to wait. Be optimistic but not too much. :D There is still hope.

arianespace

December 22nd, 2008, 02:42 PM

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

Written by Lourdes M. Fernandez (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3645:largest-plane-maker-looks-east-in-crisis&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58)

TOULOUSE, France—It was 2 degrees outside, but there was nothing wintry in the mood inside a small room at the headquarters of Airbus SAS, the world’s biggest maker of commercial planes, as its COO signed off on yet another delivery—an A320—to a prized customer just before Friday noon.

John Leahy, chief operating officer of Airbus, was so pleased with this latest addition to a long-standing relationship with Philippine Airlines (PAL) that he kept ribbing PAL president Jaime Bautista about placing an order for an A380. Mr. Bautista, in turn, indicated that an A380, but for its cost ($320 million per), would be a worthwhile investment for an airline that had come close to extinction a decade ago and yet posted one of the most remarkable turnarounds in local business.

For now, an A380 is an aspiration still to be thoroughly deliberated on in Manila, perhaps with PAL’s no-nonsense chairman Lucio Tan; after all, even if an order were placed today, it could only be delivered in 2014.

That long queue for what Leahy and other Airbus officials describe as “firm” orders may be behind his bullish outlook in a season of economic winter around the globe.

Asked how confident he was of the Asia-Pacific market, given the downward adjustment in the forecast for A380 orders between February and May this year when he was interviewed at the Berlin Air Show, Leahy replied to a question from BusinessMirror: “Compared to the 747 (of rival Boeing), [we’ve still] got 80-90 percent of the market. In the large-planes category, things have understandably slowed down” owing to the record high fuel prices this year and the expected slowdown in travel as a result of global economic woes. In February this year, he had forecast 30 orders for the 525-seat superjumbo, according to a Bloomberg report, but that figure was down to 20, as airlines struggled to control spending while fuel prices soared towards midyear. The higher costs are seen to be compounded by anemic travel data as the global financial crunch, now morphed into an economic slowdown all around, kicks in next year.

A recent report of the International Air Transport Association (Iata) had said Asia Pacific airline losses might reach $1.1 billion in 2009, with 2009 described in wire reports by Iata director-general Giovanni Bisignani as “the toughest revenue environment”.

Still, Airbus’s Leahy said on the sidelines of the signing for the delivery of PAL’s A320 on Friday, “every A380 being built now is a firm order such that if PAL were to place an order for A380 today it would only get delivery of the plane in 2014. So I’m very hopeful about the future, [and] expect that, especially in Asia Pacific, the market will stay stronger than ever.”

The first three airlines that got their A380 deliveries were Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Qantas.

Leahy also cited China as an example, where a recession of 6-8 percent growth would already be such a dynamic figure for the rest of the world, given this season’s near-universal trend of falling growth.

Growth in the region may not be as fast as hoped for in the next one to two years, added Leahy, “but it will still be stronger” than elsewhere; hence, his confidence in the market.

The optimism is understandably shared by Mr. Bautista, a veteran of PAL’s bouts with crisis every few years. He described the 1998-1999 crisis of PAL as “near-death experience,” and attributed its survival to a single-minded determination to revive Asia’s oldest airline, anchored on Mr. Tan’s “go-back-to-basics” marching orders for everyone.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/images/stories/Daily_Images/12222008/top-pic02.jpg

Maximizing opportunity amid adversity

The delivery of the A320 at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse completed the major part of PAL’s single-aisle fleet modernization program. The story of the financing for that plane validates what Mr. Bautista once described as the airline’s ability to take advantage of opportunities even in times of great challenge. In this case, the airline was favored by unprecedentedly low interest rates, and got a 2.3 percent rate, for 12 years, to fund acquisition of the 156-seater, $77-million A320.

The final details for financing PAL’s 22nd A320 were forged just a day before with Calyon officials by a PAL team led by Senior Assistant Vice President for Finance Cesar Chiong.

The signing with Mr. Leahy, the blessing of the aircraft and the nitty-gritty of the delivery were led by Bautista, before the gleaming A320 made the 19-hour ferry flight back to Manila Saturday night.

“This is a milestone for PAL. We now have one of the youngest and most modern single-aisle jet fleets in the world—anchored on the fuel-efficient Airbus A320 family of aircraft.”

The deliberate modernization drawing from a single aircraft family makes sense, Bautista explained, because having “one aircraft type, one engine type and one bi-class cabin layout” allows the airline the flexibility to quickly redraw route plans and schedules to dispatch these planes in order to maximize market opportunities, something crucial to surviving in a slowdown.

The delivery concludes the principal part of the modernization program that started in October 2006, when President Arroyo led the unveiling of the first of PAL’s 15 firm orders and leased units of the A320 family of jets. The airline’s single-aisle fleet now has 22 aircraft: 11 brandnew A320s, four A319s and seven older A320s.

All the 15 new aircraft are in service—the last one was pressed into service right the next day after it arrived from France—flying domestic routes and short-range sectors to Asian destinations.

Overall, PAL now counts 47 aircraft. Besides the 22 single-aisle jets, PAL also operates 17 wide-body aircraft—five Boeing 747-400s, four Airbus A340-300s and eight Airbus A330-300s. These mainly fly to medium- to long-range intercontinental sectors.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/images/stories/Daily_Images/12222008/top-pic01.jpg

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

As I was saying uncle John Leahy made an offer to Lucio Tan through Tito Jaime Bautista which is too good to refuse. The offer is nowhere near the news. That is just how fact is as presently presented.

And to think I made similar pronouncement 6 months ago long before uncle John made it that if orders are made in 2009 delivery will be in 2014. Its what we call typical PR channel. Some sectors called it trade secrets which are not so clandestine at all. You must be wondering why a quote as early as 2012 is possible? Its like queuing for bank service or airline ticket at centennial terminal. When you come in you received a priority number for a desired service and you wait for your number to be called and you eagerly watched the screen as it slowly moved the number forward. Probably you made calculations already the time when its gonna be your turn. On a typical day some folks just can't wait the long queues because of other appointments that when their number is called they're not there and you suddenly got your turn in less than the time you thought it would be. Production line for aircraft orders work similar way. Imagine if all airlines defer the queue order, you suddenly end up in front even if you are the last. Thats how things work.

Tips on trade, when banks follow you around, I mean foreign investment banks, it means one thing, you make good business and sound investment too. And at 1.5-1.9% interest rate or a discounted list price, who could refuse such a treat. After all Boeing and Airbus does that quite very often.

And one last point, a chinese tycoon always remember those who made them succeed! The same reason why John Gokongwei still banks with China Bank.

mygz14

December 22nd, 2008, 02:48 PM

Lovely shots! I foresee major changes in that area in the future.

For now, all that we can do is to wait. Be optimistic but not too much. :D There is still hope.

I pray and hope for the best :)

arianespace

December 22nd, 2008, 02:54 PM

PAL kicks tires of Airbus 380
Manila Standard Today
Cocktales, Victor C. Agustin (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business5_dec22_2008)

NOT only did Jaime Bautista take a roundabout route to get to Toulouse, France last week to fetch Philippine Airlines’ newest Airbus 320, the PAL president even flew, gasp, Singapore Airlines.

Bautista’s Singapore-London flight, his first on the luxury airliner 380, was part of an elaborate courtship ritual by the European aircraft manufacturer keen to extend its 30-year partnership with Asia’s first airline, which is concluding its $840 million, fifteen A320-family fleet modernization program.

“I will send a first-class ticket to [PAL owner] Lucio Tan if he promises to buy the 380,” Airbus chief operating officer John Leahy told a bemused Bautista, moments after PAL signed the delivery papers for the wide-bodied plane.

Even before PAL took delivery of its latest Airbus, the 156-seater jet had already been booked solid for its first commercial flights yesterday, twice to Cagayan de Oro and twice to Iloilo out of Manila.

The record holiday traffic, and the rapid decline in fuel prices from its equally rapid ascent, gives Bautista confidence that PAL would break even or maybe post a modest profit for the third quarter, after having been buffeted by a $133-million loss in the first half of its fiscal year.

“There’s traffic, there are destinations, it’s just a question as to whether Airbus will give us a good price,” Bautista answered when asked if PAL was seriously considering acquiring the flagship 380.

Depending on the euro-dollar rate and the options, the 525-passenger superjumbo can easily cost $320 million upwards, a hefty jump from the $250-million price tag being quoted only four years ago.

According to the grapevine, a 380 or two have quietly become available on the market with an expansive Indian airline, Kingfisher, now seriously rethinking its options on the five A380s it had placed when the commodities surge was still a Jim Rogers’ dream.

Still, the earliest that a 380 could be delivered to the Philippine flag carrier, were it to place an order today, would be 2014.

In the meantime, PAL is taking delivery of two Boeing 777-300 Extended Range by the fourth quarter next year, in time for the holiday travel season.

That should provide PAL numbers-crunchers Cesar Chiong and Alvin Limqueco fresh fuel and passenger load parameters to crank up their financial calculators and compare the strong, and weak, points of the American airplane with those of the European competition.

But, that, as they say, is another story.

a s i a n a

December 23rd, 2008, 12:06 AM

arianespace, you're so full of teasers. Can you just tell us the whole point of this A380 bwahaha of PAL? (Sorry, you're posting the same old stories. What I wanted is something new from you -- the confirmation.)

ianers_ianized

December 23rd, 2008, 07:36 PM

hmmm PR might buy the a380 in the future w/ all these newsbut I hope they still evaluate see what Boeing will offer to them like the new B747s i think the 800 series.

Blackraven

December 24th, 2008, 05:48 AM

A380 is neat superjumbo. Should be interesting if PAL will buy it in the next decade but perhaps they might (perhaps).

What I am excited about though (bukod sa completion ng A320 purchase program) is ung pagbili nila ng Boeing 777 na eroplano (which is a revelation). Maganda talaga ung eroplano na iyan (I've ridden it sa Singapore Airlines more than five years ago at talagang maganda sya and SAFE :) ). Boy I can't wait. :D

Also, I hope PAL buys Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes as well (and not A350 XWB).

:lol:

le Reine

December 24th, 2008, 01:06 PM

OMG, I am excited! PAL on 380! Sounds good. hehehehe...

kiretoce

December 24th, 2008, 02:05 PM

For what it's worth, I still prefer the sleek, classic, and iconic look of the B747 compared to the whale-like A380. :colgate:

mygz14

December 24th, 2008, 03:47 PM

For what it's worth, I still prefer the sleek, classic, and iconic look of the B747 compared to the whale-like A380. :colgate:

Same here. Philippine Airlines and Boeing 747 are, for me, inseparable. But of course, we welcome changes :)

mwg12a

December 24th, 2008, 09:53 PM

I actually can't wait for Boeing's 747-800. That probably would look awesome.

boom_box

December 25th, 2008, 07:44 AM

I'd still prefer 747 and 777 lineup... considering 777 is the most safest plane and has no hull-loss incidents so far... only few malfunctions incidents

AmbutLang

December 25th, 2008, 08:23 AM

I'd still prefer 747 and 777 lineup... considering 777 is the most safest plane and has no hull-loss incidents so far... only few malfunctions incidents

I prefer 777 and the refurbished 747 of CX because the back seats are not intrusives as the person in front reclined.

Montecito_kid

December 25th, 2008, 09:01 AM

I'd still prefer 747 and 777 lineup... considering 777 is the most safest plane and has no hull-loss incidents so far... only few malfunctions incidents

Don't forget BA Flight 38. That is a write-off.

boom_box

December 25th, 2008, 09:17 AM

Don't forget BA Flight 38. That is a write-off.

oops, i forgot that one hehe.... yeah that one did a good job glide flying with empty fuel to heathrow this year...

sonnyville

December 25th, 2008, 12:41 PM

it may be, PAL might try to balance out it's fleet with airbus and boeing planes like LH. they're trying to utilize their aircrafts where it is deemed profitable and suitable for that type of particular equipment/aircraft. well that's what all airlines try to do, but LH is the only one that has ordred the a380 along with the boeing 748i. LH dumped all their 737s, phasing out the 744s, replacing them with a combination of a330s, 748is, a couple of a380s. i'm not sure if they will also be replacing the a343s, but the funny thing is, they haven't ordered the 777s. it may not be necessary for them to order such an aircraft since they have the a343s which can substitute for something that is almost equivalent to the 777s. or they will go with either the a350 or 787 some time in the future. the a343 isn't quite as efficient as a twin engine plane like the 777, the a330, or the 787, that can perform much better, save costs, and easy to maintain. but PAL seems to be following LH's example- doesn't really matter if it's boeing or airbus, so long as it performs well with the tasks assigned to it while saving and or cutting costs. some airlines, either due to political or pressure from their governments (ANA and JAL loyal to boeing), have remained loyal to a particular aircraft manufacturer to strengthen their ties with the US, have stuck to an almost all boeing fleet. but question comes to mind, is the 748i really going to attract many more buyers from the successful a380? or is it reduced to only a cargo/freighter aircraft as everyone have said?

PAL should consider the a380 on routes that are stable and profitable the MNL-LAX/LAX-MNL route, but it should also consider the possible replacements for the aging 744s and a343 it has. the 777 is not the direct replacement for the 744, and neither is the a380. the a380 is a class on its own. the only direct replacement for the 744s is the 748i. although the 777 can be the direct replacement for the a343s, they should consider the 787 as well. the 787 and 777 can replace the a330s and the a343s. this is why LH ordered the a380 and the 748i. as they phase out their 744s and try to get rid of their costly a343s, they realized that the only direct replacement for the 744 and a346/a345/a343 is the 748i, and routes that are profitable and stable, constantly require an aircraft as big as the 744, they ordered the a380 for those routes. they felt that the 748i should still compliment the a380. So PAL is looking at a possible a380/777/a343/a330 fleet on long haul or medium range flights.

arianespace

December 25th, 2008, 03:54 PM

REPOST (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=29611038&postcount=11125)

http://www.aviationexplorer.com/airbus-a350-900-xwb.jpg

I wonder: with PAL acquiring the A380 and A350, what's the possibility that PAL will transition to an all-Airbus fleet? Wasn't PAL a strong Boeing customer in the past?

I don't think so. They still have the triple 7 and bent on adding two more aside from the 6 orders. They are not discounting the 787 either. What makes Airbus attractive is the cost. Its just that 777w has better economics for them than its present counterpart.

Had it not for the 1998 collapse, PAL would have 12 airbus 320, 8 Airbus 330, 4 Airbus 340 and 8 Boeing 747. From there (1996) the ratio of A against B was in the formers favor already. After that PAL managed to buy only 4 320's while the rest of the Boeing 737's are operating leases from Ireland which were intended as fillers for the 320. Other 330 operating leases were canceled and some 342's were returned during receivership. After rehab 737 were eventually replaced by the 320 while retaining only 8 330 and 4 340's.

While Airbus was flexible on payment terms during the rehabilitation, Boeing stands hardball. So to sum it up, Boeing has a more expensive terms than Airbus, and second PAL can have more planes with Airbus than having Boeing for its planes. Thats why it never got the 737 and 767. Call that cordial relationship.

In fact, the only Boeing relationship they had started with the 747 and thats it. While PAL has plenty of history with Airbus beginning with the Airbus 300b4 to the 320 to the 330/340 planes. From that perspective business decisions aren't not that difficult.

From Historical point of view PAL ordered more planes from Airbus than Boeing.

Recent PAL orders for 6 Boeing 777-300 ER cost the company $ 1. 5 billion including the 2 operating leases. It is expected that Airbus orders will top the $ 2 Billion mark or a total of $ 3.5 billion. But this time, PAL has plenty of collaterals to guarantee it, 4 B744 for the 4 777w and 12 frames for the future airbus orders.

PAL got everything they ordered from Airbus while they got only 4 from Boeing. Although they paid only about $ 700 million for the 747 as they took only four of them, but since it committed for 8 744 they have to take another 4 otherwise they lose the deposit which just 33% of cost of each aircraft. These are called pre-delivery deposits. Since the deposit is huge, they are financed by Banks, in this case US Eximbank. When PAL filed Chapter 11 Boeing refused to negotiate terms. They eventually reached settlement 8 years later by ordering the 777 instead. Since they have almost $ 200 million deposit, PAL added only $ 133 million dollars.

When Chapter 11 was filed in 1998 they have more than $ 3 billion dollars in debt with no money to spare. As of September 2008, they owed about $ 800 million dollars and plenty of cash to spare. They will have extra $ 40 million dollars next year after all the 747 are paid. Another $ 90 million is available in 2012. By 2013 they will have savings of around $ 210 million and plenty of collaterals. In 10 years time that savings will balloon to $ 700 million dollars. Thats the reason why Banks are lining up to give them credit because of their increasing liquidity.

Another $2 billion dollars aircraft orders would still be in the capacity of PAL to pay.

shyaman

December 25th, 2008, 05:31 PM

jefflacs

December 25th, 2008, 05:42 PM

Is there something wrong with Cebu Pacific's online booking service?

After I selected my preferred flight and fare combination and press 'continue' to finalise my booking, nothing happens. It's a dead link!

Are you using firefox? try using net explorer, sa akin ang nangyari naman, it's directing me everywhere knyari fifinalize na yung payment mapupunta ako sa pagenter ng passenger name and birthday

sonnyville

December 25th, 2008, 08:36 PM

off topic.... but kagabe 24th dec. here in LAX, i went to pick up my mom in law. PR102 arrived around 6:17pm Los Angeles time, Manny Pacquiao arrived with several members of his family and team, in that same flight JayR Sillona was also on board with a young lady. la lang... first time ko makita in person mga celebs na yun. grabe... stampede mga pinoy sa TBIT. TBIT arrival echoed with applause for manny, made me really proud, pati mga mexicano ng hihintay were screaming his name out. sobrang full yung flight last night, last one for christmas 2008.

maligayang pasko at bagong taon sa inyong lahat dito sa skyscrapercity. ingat lagi!

chuck23

December 26th, 2008, 09:31 AM

^^ Zest Air dto sa Zambo la p man hangang ngaun supposed to be Dec 20 pa maiden flight nla d2.....kulang ata sla na plane....

shyaman

December 26th, 2008, 12:15 PM

Are you using firefox? try using net explorer, sa akin ang nangyari naman, it's directing me everywhere knyari fifinalize na yung payment mapupunta ako sa pagenter ng passenger name and birthday

I'm using internet explorer.
Cebu Paciifc's on line booking is useless then. :bash:

jefflacs

December 26th, 2008, 06:40 PM

I saw news earlier on bandila na hinde daw nakapagland mga aircraft sa zamboanga dahil walang air traffic controllers kaya napilitan sila magland without them guiding

federalist

December 26th, 2008, 06:41 PM

but before, okay on line nila. on line kasi ako dati para madali.

arianespace

December 26th, 2008, 10:26 PM

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/oboi_1/delta.jpg

Northwest Airlines, which is now officially wearing the colors of Delta will cut back its daily flight between Manila and Nagoya, with continuing service to Detroit, to five times a week beginning next month.

Currently, Northwest flies daily to the port city of Nagoya.The reduction coincides with the cancellation of Northwest’s direct service between Detroit and Osaka which is made effective this month. Inside information disclosed trickling OD market from F/P and J classes particularly to and fro Nagoya to US. Its Y class particularly going to and fro Manila is however fully booked that they upgraded some passengers to J class with connections to Detroit.

swahi

December 27th, 2008, 02:10 AM

Since a 777 is supposedly not in the same class as a B747 plane, airlines have been shifting from their old 747-400 to the 777 due to flying cost consideration (up to 20% better according to some articles). What if the 748's are available, which would be better, a brand new 777-ER or a brand new 747-800?

red_jasper

December 27th, 2008, 06:24 AM

I saw news earlier on bandila na hinde daw nakapagland mga aircraft sa zamboanga dahil walang air traffic controllers kaya napilitan sila magland without them guiding

^^

Tardy traffic controllers delay planes
By Julie Alipala
Mindanao Bureau (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20081227-180159/Tardy-traffic-controllers-delay-planes)
First Posted 04:18:00 12/27/2008

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A Philippine Air Lines flight and a Cebu Pacific plane from Manila had to stay in the air for several minutes Friday because of tardy air traffic controllers at the Zamboanga City International Airport here.

An official of the Air Transportation Office (ATO) said the planes later landed safely when air traffic controllers arrived after being late for about 40 minutes.

Chito Atilano, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Airlines office here, said PR123, with 153 passengers aboard was supposed to land at 6:23 a.m.

He said the pilots, identified only as Capt. Tumalad and First Officer Manarang, tried to make contact with the traffic control tower as soon as they arrived here but nobody was around to take their calls.

Atilano said after a few minutes, the pilots again contacted the tower so they could land the plane but still, nobody was answering.

“The pilot and his copilot reported of attempting to land four times but no one was manning the control tower,” he said.

Atilano said the pilots knew that staying in the air for too long would be risky as they were already running out of fuel. The plane’s fuel for the Manila-Zamboanga flight was only about 1,350 kilograms.

Fifth try

He said the pilots decided to make a fifth and final attempt to land before deciding to divert to Cebu City. It was on the fifth try that the control tower responded, he said.

“Fortunately on the fifth attempt, someone responded from the tower that made the landing safe,” Atilano said.

He said the plane finally touched down at 6:51 a.m., after nearly half an hour of hovering over the airport.

Celso Bayabos, chief of the Air Transportation Office here, said a Cebu Pacific plane from Manila also had to stay on the air because it could not land without the PAL landing first.

Bayabos said the planes arrived here 20 minutes apart but until the first one has landed, the other one could not land.

He acknowledged that the problems started when the air traffic controllers failed to report on time.

“They were 40 minutes late,” he said, adding that they should have been manning the control tower before 6 a.m.

Asked what could have caused the tardiness, Bayabos said: “Probably they were still on Christmas mode.”

But he quickly added that “whatever they did on Christmas day, it should not get in the way of performing their jobs.”

“I have already filed the report to our national office for sanctions against these five personnel,” Bayabos said.

then... VV

CAAP relieves tardy air traffic controllers
abs-cbnNEWS.com (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/12/27/08/caap-relieves-tardy-air-traffic-controllers) | 12/27/2008 9:06 AM

A new air traffic control (ATC) team has been installed to the Zamboanga City International Airport after the relief of four air traffic personnel, who caused the delayed landing of at least two domestic flights on Friday morning.

Director General Ruben Ciron, chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), said he immediately relieved the ATC team's supervisor and three of his men for the almost one hour delayed landing of Philippine Airlines flight 123.

"They came late the two air traffic controllers, and because of what happened, I ordered the relief of their supervisor and three controllers," Ciron told radio dzMM in an interview.

The CAAP said Friday that PAL flight 123, which was carrying at least 140 passengers, hovered above the Zamboanga airport for at least 30 minutes because the duty air traffic controllers failed to come up the ATC tower on time.

Ciron said two air traffic controllers were supposed to report to the tower at 6 a.m. He said the PAL flight was scheduled to land 6:45 a.m., but it came 45 minutes earlier.

Reports on Friday said that the air traffic controllers were late for at least an hour, causing the delay.

Two more commercial flights of Cebu Pacific from Cebu and Manila almost suffered the same fate but the pilots opted to land despite not having clearance so flights could be on time.

Planes should ask for visual clearance from air traffic controllers before making the landing.

Ciron said the simple case of tardiness could have been fatal for the hundreds of passengers.

He assured the public that the erring air traffic controllers will be given "stiff punishment." He also promised to do everything he can to prevent a similar incident.

He said he had sent a team to Zamboanga City to further investigate the incident.

^^ not so good news :ohno:

AmbutLang

December 27th, 2008, 07:07 AM

^^

then... VV

^^ not so good news :ohno:

As I used to work in Mactan International way back then, the ATC and the ACC had a program which the employees exchange positions for orientation and familiarizations just in case of emergency situations with the conrresponding supervisors are in active overseeing their performances. Even the Radio Communication Center are also trained at ACC and at ATC. All these three communication departments have the same boss. This way, any one of them can fill in the positions of ATC or ACC to safely guide the planes to its destinations.
It is the supervisor faults of Zambo ATC that the schedule was mess up. He knows it was a holiday. He should have assigned some early overtime or asked the head office to have manned the facilities 24 hours 7 days, flight or no flight. :bash: :bash:
Mactan was 24/7 even the first flight at that time was 5:30AM and last departure was 10:30PM. Some times the military planes make a short notice on their landing past midnight.

"ZukiChirO"

December 27th, 2008, 08:32 AM

As I used to work in Mactan International way back then, the ATC and the ACC had a program which the employees exchange positions for orientation and familiarizations just in case of emergency situations with the conrresponding supervisors are in active overseeing their performances. Even the Radio Communication Center are also trained at ACC and at ATC. All these three communication departments have the same boss. This way, any one of them can fill in the positions of ATC or ACC to safely guide the planes to its destinations.
It is the supervisor faults of Zambo ATC that the schedule was mess up. He knows it was a holiday. He should have assigned some early overtime or asked the head office to have manned the facilities 24 hours 7 days, flight or no flight. :bash: :bash:
Mactan was 24/7 even the first flight at that time was 5:30AM and last departure was 10:30PM. Some times the military planes make a short notice on their landing past midnight.

Nasobrahan lng sa Christmas Party ata ung mga Duty sa Control Tower...sabi sa local news ng Zambo 3 flights daw ang na delayed dahil dyan ung PAL and dalawang Cebu Pacific:ohno:

IsaganiZenze

December 27th, 2008, 10:24 AM

this will not go well with the upcoming audit (which i am assuming will be soon)..... category 2 for another year?

which brings me to another questions is issuing of "categories" yearly?

arianespace

December 27th, 2008, 10:53 AM

^^

It is the supervisor faults of Zambo ATC that the schedule was mess up. He knows it was a holiday. He should have assigned some early overtime or asked the head office to have manned the facilities 24 hours 7 days, flight or no flight.

And we are wondering why we are still in category II. You see, downgrading has plenty of basis, including this acts.

The news doesn't explained the technical aspect of landing on jets.
Typical aeronautical procedure requires clearance to land as the airplane basically doesn't owned the runway. CAAP does. Before that happens they contact Zamboanga approach which is manned by another person before its given to Zamboanga control for landing procedure.

From the incident both airliners have positive contacts with approach, meaning there was somebody at the control but they were advised to perform visual for the reason that the person handling runway approach was coming late and since they were made to go on visuals certain procedure has to be followed, which means they have to follow required separation greater than 15 miles since Zamboanga doesn't have a rapid exit. That means one has to wait for its turn when 3 aircraft arrives almost simultaneously and the one which contacted approach first definitely has an edge of landing first. That's why Cebu Pacific from Cebu landed first doing the visual approach followed by its sister from Manila while PAL circles for its turn. Circling Zamboanga 5 times is not unusual but I think this is a bloated figure because the Hold area covers approximately 10 minutes in oval circle. What makes it interesting is that the landing was performed without somebody from the tower directing.

Celso Bayabos explanation was more like it.

arianespace

December 27th, 2008, 10:55 AM

RP govt urged to ensure survival of local airlines amid global crisis

Written by Claudeth Mocon (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3683:rp-govt-urged-to-ensure-survival-of-local-airlines-amid-global-crisis&catid=33:economy&Itemid=60)

ALL that is needed is government support for Philippine air carriers to survive the “worst crisis” in 50 years that global airlines will have to deal with next year.

Reacting to the recent report of International Air Transport Association (IATA), Consul Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies of the Philippines (Naitas), said the government should provide relief and not add burden to local carriers so they can stay afloat in an expected period of losses that might reach $1.1 billion in 2009 for airlines in the Asia-Pacific area.

IATA, which represents 93 percent of scheduled international flights, sees passenger traffic to fall by 3 percent and cargo by 5 percent next year.

“The outlook is bleak and the chronic industry crisis continues as we face the toughest revenue environment in 50 years,” IATA Director General Giovanni Bisignani was quoted by wire services as saying.

Joseph, honorary consul of Latvia to the Philippines, said government support is crucial because many foreign competitors in the Asia-Pacific area where Philippine carriers operate are owned by their own governments and are subsidized.

He said some foreign airlines receive cheap credit, tax rebates and fuel discounts in addition to outright subsidies from their governments, unlike Philippine carriers which are privately owned.

“There is no level playing field in the competition with foreign airlines, especially those owned by Asian and Middle Eastern companies,” Joseph said.

Because of the expected slowdown in leisure and business travel worldwide, foreign airlines are expected to poach on the balikbayan and overseas Filipino worker markets here, he said.

That is why, Joseph said, the adoption of open-skies policy, even on a regional basis only, is not wise at this time because this is tantamount to taking away revenues for Philippine airlines.

“Foreign governments are protecting and helping their own airlines and we should do the same for our own air carriers, if only for national security....It is now high time for our policymakers to help and protect our airlines because they are needed in times of dire need,” he said.

He recalled that the recent emergency flights of Filipinos from Thailand, when the Bangkok airport was closed by protesters, and the evacuation of Filipino workers from the Middle East during the Gulf War, were made by Philippine airlines, not by foreign carriers.

That is why the government must ensure the survival of local air carriers so it has somebody to turn to in case of emergencies, the Naitas founding chairman said.

He added foreign airlines are welcomed in airports not served by local airlines, if they are to play a developmental role in Philippine travel and tourism.

“But if the government hopes to have a local travel and tourism business that will rise after the worldwide economic slump, it must ensure first that its airlines do not collapse for lack of government support,” Joseph said.

arianespace

December 27th, 2008, 11:50 AM

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05IA5DQ1mp4F6/610x.jpg
Trans Asia Airways- Subic

Towards quality air transport service
By Lynda B. Valencia

MANILA, Dec. 27 (PNA) -– If travel by sea is the cheapest, by air is the fastest. Today, foreign travelers and cargo enter the Philippines by air through at least seven airports.

Now, more foreign airlines are flying in through the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga; Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA), as well as that in Kalibo, Aklan, among others.

As new routes open up, new airports and the upgrading of existing ones now take up commercial operation time of 24 hours/seven days a week. A total of 31 airports across the country are being upgraded into international standards to accommodate bigger aircraft and the increased number of passengers.

Last July 22, 2008, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 initiated its start-up operation that involved about eight domestic flights from Cebu Pacific (CEB), Pacific Air and were subsequently followed by other domestic flights from PAL Express and Air Philippines, the two (PAL Express and Air Philippines) make the largest operator at Terminal 3.

On Aug. 1, CEB started its international operations at NAIA 3, with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo among the principal passengers. It was actually the second time for her to fly into Terminal 3. Last June 30, she was among the first passengers to deplane at the facility when her PAL Boeing 747-400 arrived at 2:50 a.m. from San Francisco, the last stop on her state visit to the United States.

The DMIA Passenger Terminal I rehabilitation and expansion totaled Php151.8 million. It was completed on March 31 and was inaugurated by the President on April 4.

The project involved the expansion of pre-departure/arrival area and improvement of the building’s interior and exterior façade.

It currently operates 39 international flights per week with an average of 21,000 passengers per day departing and arriving at the passenger terminal.

The new Bacolod (Silay) Airport was completed to the tune of Php5.692 billion. It was opened for operations on Jan. 18.

The Busuanga Airport in Coron, Busuanga Island, Palawan was constructed using Php160 million Grant from Korean International Cooperation Agency and Php40 million national government funds.

The airport was completed on Oct. 31 and was inaugurated by the President on Nov. 17.

The total project cost of the Laguindingan Airport Development Project is Php5.386 billion. It involves the development of a new airport of international standard at Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

It commenced construction on Jan. 18 and is 13.33 percent complete as of Nov. 30, 2008.

There were 13 air services agreements (ASAs) completed in 2008, which resulted in increased capacity entitlements for passenger and cargo services, making available additional seat capacities for the country's airlines and greater access to domestic tourism destinations. The air agreements include:

The RP-Palau bilateral ASA, signed in 2003 and amended on April 2 at Malacanang, seeks to increase seat entitlements from 500 to 600 seats per week from points (destination) in RP to points in Palau.

The ASA also increases the seat entitlements from 200 to 400 seats per week each from the DMIA, Cebu and Davao to Palau.

RP-Macau -- The air talks which was held in Macao last April 24-25 resulted in the increase of entitlement from 850 to 3,500 seats per week on the Manila-Macao route and vice versa.

Separate seat entitlements were also agreed upon for the DMIA and SBIA for 6,300 seats per week and an additional 3,000 seats per week for points outside Manila and Clark.

For all cargo services, the designated airlines of RP and of Macao are entitled to up 300 tons per week in each direction. This entitlement will cater mostly to DMIA.

RP-Canada -– Held in Vancouver May 13-15, it resulted in the increase of passengers entitlement from four to seven flight frequencies per week.

For cargo capacity entitlements in the DMIA-SBIA-Vancouver route, a maxim of seven flights per week in each direction was signed. A separate cargo entitlement was also agreed upon for any points in RP other than the DMIA/SBIA of up to three flights per week.

RP-Cambodia -– The negotiations were held in Pasay City last June 19-20, and led to the initialing of an ASA to be effective upon approval of the governments of both parties. It is recalled that almost 40 years has passed since the initial air talks in 1967, where an ASA was only drafted.

The Philippine proposal for seat entitlements of 32 flights per week in each direction from points in RP to points in Cambodia is included in the record of discussion which the Cambodian delegation will submit to their government for approval.

In the meantime, it was agreed upon that the carriers from each government could already apply to their respective aviation authorities for approval by the other authority for passenger and cargo entitlements between points in DMIA, Cebu or Davao which RP carriers are very enthusiastic to apply with the Civil Aeronautical Board (CAB) for approval by Cambodian Aviation Authorities.

RP-Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) -– The negotiations were held in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga last June 25-26. For passenger services, the Manila-Hong Kong and vice versa flights will have 13,000 sets per week to a maximum of 15,000 seats per week; Clark-Hong Kong and vice versa, from 0 to a maximum of 2,500 seats per week; points in RP, except Manila, Clark and Cebu and vice versa, a maximum of 2,500 seats per week has been retained.

For cargo, points in RP (except Clark) -Hong Kong and vice versa, from 300 tons per week to a maximum of 400; Clark-Hong Kong and vice versa, from 0 to a maximum of 1,400 tons per week.

RP-Netherlands -– Held in Manila July 11-12 and the negotiations resulted for passenger services by frequencies-Manila-Amsterdam and vice versa, from four frequencies per week to a maximum of seven; Clark-Amsterdam and vice versa, from 0 to seven frequencies; points in RP (except Manila and Clark) to other points in Netherlands including Maastricht and vice versa, from 0 to seven frequencies.

For all cargo operations, Clark-Subic to points in Netherlands, from 0 to an average of 700 tons per week; points in RP (except Clark/Subic), points in Netherlands and vice versa, from 0 to an average if 250 tons.

RP-Thailand -– It was held in Bangkok from July 24-25 and resulted to passenger services-route 1 (point in RP to Bangkok/Chiang Mai, with 5th freedom travel right-FTR), from 2,850 seats to 3,250; route 2 (Manila-Bangkok, no 5th FTR), from 850 seats to 2,150; route 3 (points in RP except Manila and Clark to points in Thailand, no 5th FTR), from 850 seats to 2,110 seats/week; route 5 (a) (Clark-points in Thailand, no 5th FTR), from 0 to 8,700 seats.

For all cargo services/week –- route 4 (points to RP points in Thailand, no 5th FTR), 300 tons in mainland; route 5 (b) (Clark to points in Thailand, no 5th FTR), from 0 to 700 tons

RP-Iran –- Held in Manila, August 4-5 and resulted to: passenger services by frequencies/week-points in Iran-Manila and vice versa, a maximum of four frequencies without 5th FTR; points in Iran-Clark and vice versa, a maximum of seven frequencies; points in Iran-points in RP (except Manila and Clark), five frequencies.

All-cargo services: points in Iran-Clark, a maximum of 700 tons/week. This is an initial Air Transport Agreement (ATA) between RP and Iran resulting to entitlements of 16 frequencies and 700 tons of cargo.

In the course of the RP-Iran negotiation, informal verbal exchanges in respect to tourism and trade were put to the fore. It is seen that the following could be developed between RP and Iran: increase of services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) numbering about 851 and of tourists arrivals in RP which was 2,166 (2007), all of which the Department of Tourism (DOT) spearheaded; a bilateral negotiation on the supply of oil which the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) could initiate.

RP-Finland –- It was held in Helsinki last Sept. 29-30. The designated airline(s) of Finland may operate on Helsinki-Manila up to four weekly frequencies; points in Finland-Clark, seven weekly; points in Finland to other points in RP except Manila and Clark, up to seven frequencies.

On the other hand, the designated airline(s) of RP may operate on Manila-Helsinki route up to four frequencies; Clark to points in Finland, seven; other points in RP except Manila and Clark-to Finland, up to seven weekly frequencies.

The designated all cargo airline(s) of the two shall be entitled to operate all cargo services on the basis of 3rd, 4th and/or 5th FTR with capacity of 700 tons/week for points between Helsinki and a point in Finland and Clark or Subic.

RP-Kuwait –- The air talks were conducted in Clark Oct. 22-24 to follow-up on the provisions of the records of discussion during the visit in Malacanang by Sheik Nasser Al-Mohamed Al-Alhmed Al-Jabber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait.

No agreement was reached in respect to increase in passengers and cargo capabilities; the delegations discussed the acceptance of additional airline designation upon application which shall be approved by their respective aviation authorities; the delegates decided to review an agreement for additional flight frequencies.

RP-Malaysia –- Held in Clark on Oct. 29-30 and resulted in the following: For passenger services, Clark-points in Malaysia vice versa, 9,000 seats; Manila-Kuala Lumpur, 2,300 seats; Manila to Malaysia except Kuala Lumpur, 2,000 seats; RP (except Manila/Clark)-Malaysia, 5,000 seats.

All-cargo services-Manila-Malaysia, 250 tons/week; RP (except Clark/Manila)-Malaysia, 450 tons; Clark-Malaysia, 700 tons/week.

RP-Japan –- The negotiations were held Nov. 26-27 at the CAB. The designated airline(s) of either country will be allowed to operate up to 14 weekly rescheduled round trip frequencies between Manila and Osaka and/or Nagoya; six weekly frequencies between DMIA and Osaka and/or Nagoya; 10 weekly round trip frequencies between Manila and Fukuoka; 28 weekly frequencies between RP (except Manila-Tokyo)-Japan.

RP-Russia -– The air negotiation with Russia resulted in the signing of memorandum of understanding (MOU) providing for a new basic ASA and route annex. From an agreed route schedule in 1992 of one point in RP and one point in Russia, it was increased to three points in RP and three to Russia. It was held in Manila on Dec. 10-11.

RP-Yemen –- It was held in Manila on Dec. 16-17. No result yet.

Two ASEAN Multilateral Agreements on Air Services and Full Liberalization of Air Freight Services were signed by the ASEAN Transport Ministers at Malacanang last Nov. 6, during the 14th ASEAN Transport Ministers meeting. It was witnessed by the President.

The Multilateral Agreement on Air Services will facilitate air services and their related activities to complement the other transport liberalization efforts in ASEAN by removing restriction on a gradual basis, so as to achieve greater flexibility in the operation of air services in ASEAN.

The Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalization of Air Freight Services will facilitate air freight services, to complement the other transport facilitation and liberalization efforts in ASEAN by removing restriction on a greater basis. (PNA (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=6&rid=177783))

arianespace

December 27th, 2008, 12:06 PM

http://www.philskies.net/images/RATS/First%20PPL%20flights/07%2004%2014%20IFR%20flights%20w%20Carlo/Subic%20Fedex%20ramp%201.JPG

FedEx delays opening of Guangzhou hub
By Ian Putzger (http://www.cargonewsasia.com/secured/article.aspx?id=15&article=17768)

Toronto - The new intra-Asian hub for FedEx at Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport will not come on stream until some time in February next year. The integrator announced that the US$150 million facility would open in the first half of 2009, not before the end of this year, as originally planned. Until the Baiyun hub becomes operational, FedEx will continue to use its present regional hub in Subic Bay. The Philippine hub has only half the capacity of the new Baiyun set-up, which was designed to handle 24,000 packages in an hour. In the current economic climate, which has taken a heavy toll on air cargo volumes, FedEx should be comfortable with the capacity of Subic Bay.

Air freight throughput in Hong Kong has declined steeply in recent months. In October, traffic at Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl), the airport's pre-eminent handler with over 70 percent market share, was down 9.8 percent, due to a 13.6 percent drop in imports and 10.7 percent fall in exports with transhipments down two percent. Load factors and yields out of the Pearl River Delta have come under pressure, even though capacity grew less than previously expected.

Northwest Airlines pulled its freighters out of Guangzhou this past summer, which the US airline had developed as an alternative to Hong Kong. Shenzhen-based Jade Cargo Airlines finally managed to bring its flight crew numbers to a level that permitted full utilisation of its aircraft fleet but decided to lease one freighter to Singapore-based Jett8.

Cathay Pacific's new Hong Kong cargo terminal may open later than scheduled. Construction of the $619 million facility commenced in September with a view to opening for business in the second half of 2011. Stanley Hui, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong airport authority, warned in October that in the difficult environment and shrinking demand, "airlines are expected to scale back their operation or put on hold their expansion plans".

FedEx Asia-Pacific president David Cunningham stressed that the delay in the opening date of the hub was due to the complexities of the project itself and is not related to the current global economic conditions. "The new operations date will provide FedEx the necessary time to fully test all systems and processes and work with the Guangzhou authorities to put all necessary approvals in place,'' he said. The revised schedule would pose no service impact to FedEx customers as the current hub in Subic Bay would continue its operations, Cunningham said.

A FedEx spokesman said: "The Guangzhou hub has been one of the most sophisticated projects the corporation has engaged upon and it's just a matter of necessity to take more time to deal with the complexities.''
FedEx's regional hub will be equipped with its own ramp control tower - the first for an integrator in China. The facility has 16 high-speed sorting lines, seven conveyor belts and about 90 document sorting splits. The integrator has commenced operations testing for the Baiyun hub, including the Hong Kong-Guangzhou cross-border transportation processes, sort systems and flight operations.

Rival UPS began construction of its planned new intra-Asia hub at Shenzhen in late October. The new hub, which replaces Clark in the Philippines, is scheduled for opening in 2010.

filcan

December 27th, 2008, 03:49 PM

Plane landing delayed by tardy Xmas tower workers

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- An airplane was stuck circling a southern Philippine airport for several minutes before landing Friday because air traffic controllers apparently still in a Christmas holiday mood came in late for work, officials said.

The Philippine Airlines flight from Manila was unable to land at Zamboanga city's airport on schedule because there were no traffic controllers around to answer their request to approach the runway, said Reynaldo Alforte, the airport's assistant chief air traffic controller.

"There were two controllers who reported for work a few minutes late, causing delays," Alforte told The Associated Press.

Two other tower workers scheduled to be on duty were absent Friday, he said, adding that the case was under investigation.

Alforte said PAL Flight 123 approached the airport several minutes earlier than its scheduled 6:45 a.m. arrival, and the pilots had to hover around the airport waiting for a response to their calls on the radio. He said the plane finally landed at 6:48 a.m.

Other reports said the delay was even longer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Chito Atilano, officer-in-charge of PAL in Zamboanga, as saying the plane with 153 passengers was expected to land around 6:23 a.m. "but no one was directing traffic so the pilot could not land the aircraft."

PAL's Manila office, contacted Friday, said the plane landed safely at 6:51 a.m.

The Inquirer also quoted Zamboanga airport manager Celso Bayabos as saying that the traffic controllers came in late apparently because they were still in a Christmas mood and that he had filed a disciplinary report against them.

Alforte said the two tardy controllers explained they had difficulty getting a ride to work because public transportation was scarce on the day after Christmas. The Philippines, which is more than 80 percent Roman Catholic, has official holidays from Dec. 25 to Jan. 2.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Channel 7 Fox Miami (http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/world/MI107621/)

ericlucky290

December 27th, 2008, 04:40 PM

Parang wala ng news about Panglao Airport? Tutuloy pa ba ito before GMA steps down?

kiretoce

December 27th, 2008, 04:45 PM

^^ Not much reporting going on about that in this thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=479167).

brownislander

December 27th, 2008, 05:01 PM

Is this an airline based in Subic?

[QUOTE=arianespace;29916602]http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05IA5DQ1mp4F6/610x.jpg
Trans Asia Airlines- Subic

arianespace

December 27th, 2008, 07:46 PM

^^
I think that was Trans Asia Airways, an airline based in Taiwan. During direct typhoon hits, airlines based in Taipei send their aircraft to Subic and Clark to escape the wrath of the storm.

Last year, 19 planes were sent to Subic as typhoon Egay hits taiwan. See this link (http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/hl/hl106111.htm).

Fedex diverted 18 planes from Hong kong too making the airport overcrowded that day. As you can see the ATR are parked in the Taxiway as Fedex kept all its parking bay to itself.

Here is a trivia, from the operations of Fedex alone, The Subic Bay airport accommodates an average of 18 flights each day and charges $800 per “touch and go” of FedEx planes.

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/2/3/8/1455832.jpg

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/5/4/2/1429245.jpg

^^
Parang wala ng news about Panglao Airport? Tutuloy pa ba ito before GMA steps down?

So far, only 116 million pesos was released for Panglao airport Project.

P 100 million went to site acquisition. Its means land used to build the airport. On that amount compensation was paid to the landowners through a process called eminent domain.

P 8 million was allocated for feasibility and masterplan which was already done.

Another P 8 million will be released in 2010 for detailed engineering.

After detailed engineering, the project will be submitted by the Philippine government to foreign government lenders like JBIC, ADB etc. for funding sometime 2011, and if all is okay project is expected to commence sometime in late 2012 or early 2013.

AmbutLang

December 28th, 2008, 06:23 AM

@arianespace, do you know which airline that will eliminate the first class and some of the economy class and ofted for business class on some of the planes? The company said that first class is almost empty on their trips and business class are more in demand because of the sleeper seats. This was broadcast in local NYC evening news last week. I forgot the airline co.

palawan_buddy

December 28th, 2008, 07:54 AM

does anyone know anything about zest air? there seems to be a zest air office here but i dont think the airline services puerto princesa.

-TC-

December 28th, 2008, 08:05 AM

does anyone know anything about zest air? there seems to be a zest air office here but i dont think the airline services puerto princesa.

Alfredo Yao of Zesto recently bought Asian Spirit and renamed it ZestAir.

kiretoce

December 28th, 2008, 08:07 AM

"ZukiChirO"

December 28th, 2008, 08:14 AM

@palawan_buddy: According to their website (http://www.asianspirit.com/flight_schedules.htm), they service PPS every Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

MNL-PPS
Dep: 15:10
Arr: 16:50

PPS-MNL
Dep: 17:10
Arr: 18:50

kuya Kiretoce...what about in ZIA? may office narin cla dito but i didn't see Zest Plane yet

kiretoce

December 28th, 2008, 08:22 AM

"ZukiChirO"

December 28th, 2008, 08:27 AM

^^ It says on their website that they only have flights to the following destinations from Manila:

- Basco
- Busuanga
- Calbayog
- Catarman
- Cebu
- Davao
- Masbate
- Marinduque
- Puerto Princesa

It's not unusual to have a "ticketing" office in a city where an airline doesn't service. Maybe someday Zest Air will expand its route network to include Zamboanga City; and in your case, soon I hope.

ahh ok thanks sa Info...

but when i get past by the Zamboanga International Airport Zest Air has already a Tarpaulins inside nor outside in the airport it says about a new name of their plane and their following destination from Zamboanga to Cebu,Jolo and Tawi-tawi but theres no exact date kung kailan...:cheers:

Sky Harbor

December 28th, 2008, 10:59 AM

"ZukiChirO"

December 29th, 2008, 09:43 AM

Congressional franchise makes Seair optimistic

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.

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.

arianespace

December 29th, 2008, 07:31 PM

^^
@arianespace, do you know which airline that will eliminate the first class and some of the economy class and ofted for business class on some of the planes? The company said that first class is almost empty on their trips and business class are more in demand because of the sleeper seats. This was broadcast in local NYC evening news last week. I forgot the airline co.

I don't have any information on that or the plans of Delta for Northwest pacific operations. You may asked Kimber or other friends from A.net here. They might be familiar with future plans of US carriers. :)

arianespace

December 29th, 2008, 08:30 PM

^^
Talking about Zest Air, I am very sad on how things worked out for them. After all I have some friends still earning their living there. As I was saying before, unless good ole Fred revise his top management team, they might not see the light of 2010.

My unsolicited advice, follow Lance, kick the old ones out and bring fresh ideas from outside in. I may qualify for that post but that would be self serving proposition. Anyway I'm contented hearing the blues of its middle managers and some of its pilots without elaborating who. My hope is that Fred will at least open the communication line to them and hear their woes and what can be done about it. In management practice, Chinese called it Gung Ho effort. I call it direct line. Mind you, arrogance cost lives and lots of money too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!

arianespace

December 29th, 2008, 08:46 PM

U.S. AND FOREIGN AIRLINES: DANGEROUS LIAISONS?
U.S. airlines have ties with some questionable carriers
By Christina Del Valle, with Stan Crock and Jonathan Moore

http://www.interviewchatter.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/faa_logo.gif

Washington (http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1996/b3486107.arc.htm)- Few industries can match the airlines for global reach. Today, there are 340 non-domestic carriers flying in and out of America's cities. And major U.S. airlines are rapidly joining with foreign ones to serve an exploding market in international business travel. One problem: Few passengers realize that overseas airlines operating in the U.S. don't have to meet the strict safety standards that American carriers do. And the Federal Aviation Administration hasn't yet reviewed the civil aviation systems of almost half the 103 nations with carriers flying here.

A case in point: Taiwan's China Airlines Ltd. With 5.2 fatal accidents for every 1 million flights, 323 passengers have died on CAL flights since 1989 (based on 1982-1992 data, the latest available), according to the International Airline Passengers Assn. That puts it with Korean Air Lines, Thai Airways, Colombia's Avianca, and Air India as having among the worst safety records. All have accident rates at least 45 times as high as the world's safest carriers and six times the average rate of America's major carriers, according to IAPA. Yet all are allowed to operate in the U.S., even though they receive scant scrutiny from the FAA.

TIT FOR TAT.
Officials at CAL stress they are working with U.S. officials to improve the airline's pilot training. "We are not satisfied with our safety record in our country," concedes Lee Wan-lee, a spokesman for Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration. "I think our safety record will improve."

It's not that the FAA doesn't recognize a growing global regulatory problem. In 1991, the agency launched an aggressive review of foreign civil aviation safety programs. The agency does not assess foreign carriers directly, since it has little jurisdiction over them. Instead, in exchange for allowing another country's carriers to retain U.S. landing rights, countries must show American officials their systems either meet or are moving toward meeting minimum safety standards set by the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization. But since ICAO does not monitor airline safety, the FAA's program is the first time a consistent effort has been made to assess other nations' aviation safety. "Before this, an accident had to happen before the FAA took a look," says William D. Waldock, president of System Safety Inc., an aviation-safety consulting firm in Prescott, Ariz. Crows Barry L. Valentine, the FAA's assistant administrator for policy, planning, and international aviation: "This has been one of our success stories."

FAA inspections of foreign aviation authorities have led U.S. officials to bar airlines of Haiti and Surinam from U.S. airspace and to put restrictions on carriers from Guatemala, Turkey, and the Philippines. But the FAA effort has had its costs, too. "These negotiations can be extremely sensitive diplomatically," says Valentine. Contentious and time-consuming, FAA confrontations with countries such as Colombia and Venezuela have strained relations with the U.S.

A more troubling result: Five years after its program began, the FAA still hasn't gotten around to verifying the safety standards of 46 of the 103 countries with airlines operating in the U.S., including those of Russia and China. Taiwan is due for an FAA review in October. Agency officials decline to disclose their schedule for reviewing other countries' authorities.

Valentine asserts that the FAA intends to complete all its assessments by the end of the year. "It's a top priority," he says. But critics scoff that an agency that took five years to review 57 nations cannot manage in five months to complete the remaining 46. After all, the FAA--its funding frozen by Capitol Hill and still in the midst of wrenching internal turmoil--is being forced to focus its already stretched resources on improving domestic air safety. Much of the pressure stems from the May 11 crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in the Everglades. "It's difficult to say what the FAA's priorities will be," says Marty G. Salfen, senior vice-president at IAPA.

DEALS GALORE.
In the meantime, CAL and American Airlines Inc. are putting the final touches on a code-sharing agreement. The deal, typical of such arrangements, would make American and CAL appear as a single carrier to travel agents booking flights on computerized reservation systems. The agreement would also let CAL fly American passengers between Taipei and Los Angeles and San Francisco, with American connecting CAL passengers to some other U.S. cities. Continental Airlines Inc. announced a similar arrangement with CAL in January. Both "code shares" await U.S. approval. Consumer advocates complain that passengers can be confused by these alliances, unaware also that connecting flights abroad may be with a foreign airline. Even if they are aware, they may not know the safety record of the foreign carrier.

"Delta and American are turning over their good names and fortunes to some of the most dangerous airlines in the world," charges David S. Stempler, president of Washington's AirTrav Advisors, a passenger watchdog group. Stempler spearheaded the IAPA review of foreign airline performance, which yielded the numbers the FAA relies on when consumers call the agency for such information. Stempler notes that American's access to booming Asian markets is severely limited under terms of the existing U.S. air treaty with Japan, a key gateway. So, Stempler asserts, "American is doing whatever it can to get access to Asia."

American Airlines declined comment. But Continental says the Taiwan carrier has greatly improved its maintenance and pilot training and that CAL will use nearly new planes on the pending code-shared routes. "It's a totally different company than when those accidents occurred," says a Continental spokesman.

No question, the deals are proliferating. Delta Air Lines Inc., for example, has signed a joint venture with Korean Air, which also has had 5.2 fatal accidents per 1 million flights. United Airlines Inc. recently received approval from the Transportation Dept. to join forces with Thai Airways, which the IAPA says has a fatality rate of 6.1 fatal accidents per 1 million flights. American Airlines has teamed up with Poland's LOT to fly passengers from Chicago and New York to Warsaw starting in mid-September; the FAA has restricted the Polish airline to just a few U.S. cities because of questions about Poland's oversight of its air system.

KEEPING MUM.
While acknowledging that international travel is always a "major concern," FAA officials stress that air travel remains the safest form of transportation in the world, even under less stringent international standards. Says Jeffrey N. Shane, a lawyer representing CAL who is also a former assistant secretary for international aviation at the Transportation Dept.: "The statistical probabilities of anyone coming to grief" are far less on a plane than on any other mode of transport.

Still, the FAA won't disclose to consumers any details about the failings of overseas carriers, complains Ivan Michael Schaeffer, CEO of Woodside Travel Trust, a huge global business-travel management company. "The FAA requires that airlines' on-time performance is available to passengers," Schaeffer says. "Why not safety information on foreign carriers?"

Airline executives defend the new alliances, saying they will help weaker airlines achieve higher standards of safety, while providing fliers with greater access to foreign lands. "You don't sign a code-share agreement with an airline you don't believe is safe," insists United CEO Gerald Greenwald.

But neither the FAA nor the State Dept. offers even rudimentary safety data on specific foreign carriers for the traveling public, Schaeffer complains. That means many of the 19.4 million U.S. passengers flying overseas this year must base their decisions on little more than a hunch. And that could make for a rough ride.

arianespace

December 29th, 2008, 08:56 PM

RP int'l airports fly in new direction

By Tina Arceo-Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://business.inquirer.net/money/features/view/20081228-180363/RP-intl-airports-fly-in-new-direction)
First Posted 18:05:00 12/28/2008

MANILA, Philippines - Fortunately or unfortunately, tourists and business travelers get their first impression of a place they are visiting at the airport they land in.

This is one of the reasons why countries and cities take great pains and spend much money to put up state-of-the-art airports that double as show pieces of what they have to offer. Think Changi in Singapore, Chek Lap Kok in Hong Kong, Heathrow in London and John F. Kennedy in New York City.

But more than just putting on a great face, airports play a role in economic development because of the goods and people that pass through their portals.

The Manila International Airport Authority, which oversees all international airports in the Philippines, recognizes this important role, which is why it has come up with programs to ensure that it fulfills its vision to bring the main airports in the Philippines at par with the best in the world.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Miaa General Manager Alfonso Cusi explains how the Miaa plans to stay true to its mission.

Q: What do you think is the role of airports in national development?

A: The Ninoy Aquino International Airport undoubtedly continues to be the main international gateway of the country, as it has been for the past several decades. Last year, even with the emergence of new airports with international flight capabilities, the Naia complex, handled about 90 percent of all international traffic in the country. If we were to consider total passenger traffic in the country, that is, including domestic passenger movement, Naia accounted for about 75 percent.

Throughout the years, the Manila International Airport Authority has been managing the Naia complex, which is composed of Terminal 1, Terminal 2 or the Centennial Airport, and the Manila Domestic Passenger Terminal. This year, starting in June 2008, the long-awaited Terminal 3 was finally opened with its first commercial flight during the return flight of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after her state visit to the United States.

We would like to believe that Miaa had been successfully running the main gateway that is Naia through the past decades and gauging from its basic key result areas of passenger safety, security and convenience, Naia as an airport has somehow contributed satisfactorily in making the Naia a world class and efficient airport, giving its all-out effort in coping with the ever growing flight and passenger traffic.

Q: How busy are the main airports?

A: Naia handled around 21 million passengers in 2007. In 2007, we registered 54,643 international flights consisting of both incoming and outgoing flights. Our domestic flights are around 92,648 flights a year. With our runway system consisting of our primary runway 06-24 and our secondary runway 13-3, our runway capacity is fast approaching its maximum level, that is why we are undertaking appropriate technical studies so we can still enhance our capacity. At present, we can accommodate about 30 to 40 flights an hour with as many as 42 flights during peak hours.

Q: Over the past five years, what were the major accomplishments of Miaa as far as airport development is concerned?

A: The Naia, in its own humble way has been judiciously assessing ways and means by which it could be a better airport for its stakeholders. For the various international airlines, we have been on our toes in making sure that we are always compliant with all the appropriate international standards governing civil aviation, such as those of the International Civil Aviation Organization or Icao, the United States' Transportation Security Administration or TSA and the International Aviation Transport Association or the Iata.

By observing and abiding by the set international standards in civil aviation and airport management in terms of operational soundness, security provisions and safety standards, we are able to provide a healthy and effective venue for airlines to operate in.

We may not be able to enjoy the financial capacity to compete among the most modern airports in the world, nor can we guarantee that we can hold a candle in terms of the supremacy of our airport processes as this also is based on technology. But we have been able to identify that there is one area that we are sure and bullish to be able to compete in and that is in the area of human resources, or our people.

We have thus pursued our service excellence campaign using a unique branding strategy of making the airport be known and regarded as one of the most friendliest airports in the region. Naia as the smiling airport is being promoted with our creative campaign of “Naia, we go the extra Smile,” to catch the imagination not only of our external public but to create greater commitment within each and every individual in the airport.

Q: What are the priority projects going forward?

A: I would say that a new chapter of the corporate life of the Miaa came when a new executive order was signed by President Macapagal-Arroyo. Having been entrusted with the management and administration of the country's premier international gateway for almost the past three decades, Miaa had acquired and developed the expertise necessary for the proper and aggressive functioning of international airport terminals.

EO 341 was issued to modify and expand the powers and functions of the Miaa by authorizing and directing it to exercise administrative supervision and control over all international airports in the Philippines. This will make it possible to achieve the objectives of providing high standards of accommodation and service within the context of a financially viable operation.

The overall picture calls for revitalizing the country's airport hubs respective of their distinct purpose in the industry and redefine the limits of their development capabilities. With the Naia servicing 90 percent of all international passenger traffic and with the new Naia Terminal 3 opened, which dramatically raised terminal capacity of the Naia complex to almost 35 million passengers a year, it will be a most challenging and difficult road toward being able to rationalize the gateway development broad strokes for the Naia as well as the other international airports in the country, with the end in view of aggressively pursuing the bright prospects of a developing country with such vast potential in trade and tourism.

Q:. What would you say would be the major issues confronting the airports?

A: Basically, the global airport industry is a very exciting and ever changing industry. Airports have been the showcase all nations, regardless of whether they are developing or are developed countries. Miaa, entrusted with premier gateway administration and development, is certainly facing the challenge of addressing not only national or parochial concerns within the Naia complex, but needs to deal with the atmosphere of competitiveness in the mind of the global passenger.

This is so because, somehow, airports play a very crucial role in the way countries all over the world market or sell themselves.

Q. What are the major stumbling blocks to further development of airports?

A: One of the common constraints to development programs especially for those involving infrastructure development is the availability of long-term financing for capital expenditure. This is most especially true for the development of airports, which is truly characterized by a high level of capex. Hence, it is important that countries are able to project the long-term prospects not only of the country as a whole, but also the various regions within a particular nation. The development of airports is usually a natural consequence of a nation's development thrusts and the Philippines is not an exception. Hence, we are aligning our national plan for airport development with the overall plan for infrastructure development as well as the trade and tourism thrusts of the country.

Q: The airports have been downgraded because of safety, how is the Miaa responding to this pressing issue?

A: This is actually an issue that concerns more the former ATO, now the Caap, since the downgrade has been caused by the observation that we have had inadequacies in air safety concerns, air controllership training and support policies and laws in civil aviation. But just the same, the Miaa and the Naia community have been joining hands with the Caap in helping make possible the pertinent measures that will help us get into the same category as we were before.

Q:. Do you see more airlines coming to the Philippines? Why or why not?

A: Definitely. Firstly, there is the item on the tourism prospects of the country. The growth of airlines servicing a country's routes is usually anchored on the way a country is able to pursue its trade and tourism thrusts. Secondly, it's also a function of how airports are built and managed. We are confident that when airports are run professionally, there is no reason why there will be no growth in terms of passenger flights and passenger traffic as a whole. This is the very reason that we at the Miaa have a very crucial role in helping maintain a healthy mix of international airlines. This is the reason why the Miaa is also teaming up with all the government agencies operating at the Naia, such as the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, Department of Tourism, quarantine offices of the Department of Health and others. This is also the reason why we need to also closely work with all the private international and domestic airlines and the various service providers handling a wide array of airport services in cargo handling, security screening, housekeeping and many others.

Q: Do you see our airports in Metro Manila becoming truly world class?

A: Certainly. We have actually been saying that at the Naia we offer world-class service, world-class smiles.

swahi

December 30th, 2008, 04:08 PM

i think he needs to define what he means by world class

mwg12a

January 1st, 2009, 02:46 AM

RP int'l airports fly in new direction

A: Certainly. We have actually been saying that at the Naia we offer world-class service, world-class smiles.

The airport employees do have world class smiles especially in the arrival and baggage claim section from immigration counters and down. Why not? They even greet you "Merry Christma" in the months of June and September, FFS !!!:lol::nuts:

Seriously, world class can be anything positive anything, in this case, the terminal building which is T1. I think T2 and T3 can be compared to a world class structure. T1 can be world class depending on how the authorities can improve the facility via simple aesthetic works when they give a face lift, improve the employee's services, confidence and honesty. I think resolving some of the issues in speedy processing of all incoming and outgoing passengers would be another. Other hightech devices are easy, it can be installed easily if need be, that would get T1 almost atfar to most world class airports. The most important thing is that inspite of the congestion in T1, with an efficient service and quick processing would make T1 world class.

ianers_ianized

January 1st, 2009, 07:10 AM

For what it's worth, I still prefer the sleek, classic, and iconic look of the B747 compared to the whale-like A380. :colgate:

Mee too! A380 looks like a tadpole to me...

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/oboi_1/delta.jpg

Northwest Airlines, which is now officially wearing the colors of Delta will cut back its daily flight between Manila and Nagoya, with continuing service to Detroit, to five times a week beginning next month.

Currently, Northwest flies daily to the port city of Nagoya.The reduction coincides with the cancellation of Northwest’s direct service between Detroit and Osaka which is made effective this month. Inside information disclosed trickling OD market from F/P and J classes particularly to and fro Nagoya to US. Its Y class particularly going to and fro Manila is however fully booked that they upgraded some passengers to J class with connections to Detroit.

Goodbye, NW na tlga... I will miss the brand. The picture is a contrast... while Nw is reducing flts look at CX with 2 flts at the same in MNL andwe also know that CX is booming.

^^

So far, only 116 million pesos was released for Panglao airport Project.

P 100 million went to site acquisition. Its means land used to build the airport. On that amount compensation was paid to the landowners through a process called eminent domain.

P 8 million was allocated for feasibility and masterplan which was already done.

Another P 8 million will be released in 2010 for detailed engineering.

After detailed engineering, the project will be submitted by the Philippine government to foreign government lenders like JBIC, ADB etc. for funding sometime 2011, and if all is okay project is expected to commence sometime in late 2012 or early 2013.

Where there also newsaboutthe Guiuan Airport,the gateway to Calicoan? There's already an airstrip and private planes operate the route mainly catering to the resorts in Calicoan... are any fundings to make it a secondary airport.. like to be at least service by turboprops. Calicoan is a promising tourist haven.

golden_eagle

January 1st, 2009, 10:12 AM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3240/3154829763_63a5ea5f3b.jpg
A PAL plane at Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Jan. 1, 2009

Ph Man

January 2nd, 2009, 07:30 AM

cool shot! does it fly regularly to cebu in addition to the B744? or is it B744 or A340?

Solblanc

January 2nd, 2009, 12:32 PM

^^

PAL flies to Cebu multiple times in a day, and a lot of those frequencies state EQV on the schedules, which means that PAL sends whichever plane is free. It's safe to say that every single PAL plane has been to Cebu.

-TC-

January 2nd, 2009, 01:15 PM

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090102-181028/Paradise-to-Paradise-route-now-open

‘Paradise-to-Paradise’ route now open
By Allison Lopez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
01/02/2009

MANILA, Philippines—Tourists no longer have to take a circuitous route just to visit Puerto Princesa from Kota Kinabalu or vice versa. The two cities boast of three World Heritage sites.

For its first international route, Southeast Asian Airlines (Seair) flew a 32-seat plane to the capital of Sabah from Palawan.

“It used to be so near yet so far. So we welcome this, and we hope that this flight will provide more exchange between our people,” Tungku Zainal Adlin, Sabah Tourism Board chair, said at the route’s recent launch at the Kota Kinabalu airport.

The destinations have their strengths, according to Zainal. “Where in the world can you find Tubbataha Reef, the Underground River and Mount Kinabalu?” he said.

Palawan hub

The link removes the hassle of connecting flights to Manila or Cebu before getting to neighboring countries like Malaysia, which is less than an hour from Palawan on Seair’s Dornier 328 aircraft.

“We are looking at creating a hub in Palawan that will cut the necessity of passing through Manila or Cebu and make Palawan more attractive to tourists because of easy access,” said Patrick Tan, Seair vice president for commercial affairs.

The opening of the link between eastern Malaysia and Palawan came at a propitious time. The Puerto Princesa airport is undergoing renovation and is expected to improve its services for travelers early this year.

The choice of Kota Kinabalu for Seair’s first international destination was meant to promote the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) agreement, Seair president Avelino Zapanta said.

BIMP-EAGA was launched in March 1994 upon the proposal of then Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos to expand economic cooperation among poorer areas in the four countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It aims to increase trade, investment and tourism in the sub-region. Included in the growth area are Mindanao and Palawan.

The opening of the route marked the first time that a BIMP-EAGA carrier was flying between two points in the growth area.
“Easy access to the tourist destinations is one key to a successful tourism program ... Seair is beginning to do this with the introduction of services between Puerto Princesa and KK,” he said.

Dream come true

Transportation Undersecretary Dante Lantin said the long-awaited opening of the route was a “dream come true.”

“The promotion of tourism is an important part of the BIMP-EAGA because of the vision of having one economic community in the ASEAN by 2015,” Lantin said.

He said the Department of Tourism would promote must-see attractions not only in the Philippines but also in the ASEAN member-countries as part of the goal to create a stronger regional economy.

From Boracay to Palawan

Seair also linked Boracay and Puerto Princesa for the first time as part of its “Paradise-to-Paradise” route.

So visitors to Boracay’s powdery white-sand beach may choose to hie off directly to Palawan, which has its own share of world-renowned dive spots in El Nido and Coron.

Beach lovers then can make the most of their trip without the usual backtracking through Clark (Pampanga)-Caticlan-Puerto Princesa-Kota Kinabalu.

The under-served destinations, especially in Mindanao, are being tapped by the airline because of the growing number of businessmen and tourists, according to Zapanta.

“We have been strengthening our domestic destinations by introducing new ones with great tourism potential. These include Basco (Batanes), Baler (Aurora), Daet (Camarines Norte), Tablas (Romblon) and Borongan (Eastern Samar),” he said.

Depending on the demand, he said Seair may increase its once-a-week flights from Caticlan to Palawan, and Palawan to Kota Kinabalu, to twice a week.

What’s definite is the airline will expand its operations in Clark by opening flights to Singapore and Macau, followed by Hong Kong, Cebu and Davao.

But for now, a quicker gateway to Malaysia’s prime eco-tourist destination seems more than enough.

Southeast Asia’s highest peak

There’s much to do in Kota Kinabalu, which has a population of half a million. It has mostly mid-rise buildings instead of skyscrapers like Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, and billboards are kept to a minimum unlike in Metro Manila.

The Sabah Tourism Board, which is in charge of marketing Kota Kinabalu, sums up what the city offers—“eco-treasures from mountain high to ocean deep.”

Kinabalu Park, Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site, is popular among hikers who want to climb Mt. Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia. The park is also home to stunning flora and fauna and the Poring Hot Springs.

Activities like white-water rafting and seawalking—the closest thing to diving—also attract the more adventurous, while a trip to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park or a riverboat ride to spot the proboscis monkey, a creature endemic to Sabah, would appeal to the sight-seeing crowd.

As for food trips that Filipinos are fond of, Kota Kinabalu is no letdown with its fresh seafood, and the interesting mix of Chinese, Indian and Malaysian tastes in its cuisine.

Shopping for South Sea pearls and colorful handicraft is also something to look forward to at the so-called “Filipino market” (a tiangge-like area with a handful of Filipino vendors who immigrated to Malaysia).

Click on the link above for the complete article.

noli_kun

January 2nd, 2009, 02:38 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

Wow. I can see our humbly-built house as a little speck over there. :righton:

I can also see a new landscape that will sprout from this hook-shaped peninsula if the logistics hub planned in Sangley Point will materialize. I hope it would happen.

kiretoce

January 4th, 2009, 09:07 PM

Filipino flies world’s biggest jet (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW010509/content.php?id=042)

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW010509/flight.jpg
Nathaniel Jordan S. Calvo, the first and only Filipino A380 pilot in the world.

The Airbus A380, launched almost four years ago, is every inch a marketing tool as it is an advantage to airlines that own the world’s biggest commercial aircraft.

After all, only a handful of carriers have the 525-seater plane in their fleets given the Super jumbo jet’s premium $320-million price tag. The next biggest plane, the Boeing 747-400 from rival Boeing, costs $50 million to $100 million less.

Equally few and far between are the men than call themselves A380 pilots. But while no Philippine carrier can afford the jet, and no local airport can fully accommodate it, Filipinos can take pride in the fact that behind the wheel of one of the biggest man-made objects in the sky is one of their own.

"I guess you can say God smiled upon me and blessed me It’s the proverbial being at the right place at the right time," Nathaniel Jordan S. Calvo, the first and only Filipino A380 pilot in the world, said. "It’s like living a dream," he told BusinessWorld via e-mail.

The A380’s upper deck extends along almost the entire length of the fuselage, and its width is equivalent to that of a wide-body aircraft. This allows for a cabin with 50% more floor space than the Boeing 747-400 and provides seating for 525 people in a standard three-class configuration, or up to 853 passengers in an all-economy class configuration.

Nathaniel Jordan S. Calvo, the first and only Filipino A380 pilot in the world.

On Sept. 15, in the culmination of what he described as a "very intense and thorough training program," Mr. Calvo received his temporary license to fly the Super jumbo. For him, its was a dream come true.

"This is like the cherry on top of a cake. Not only do I get to fly the biggest and most modern airplane, but I am also very glad to have made some sort of history as being the first Filipino qualified to fly it," said Mr. Calvo, who works for Emirates Airline.

The 37-year-old Filipino-American pilot has childhood roots that are unmistakably Filipino. He studied at O.B. Montessori in Greenhills for his elementary education before moving to Manila Science for high school.

Upon graduation, Mr. Calvo took up mechanical engineering at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, before leaving for the US to continue his studies at Parks College of Saint Louis University. There, he earned a degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering.

After college, he entered the Flight Safety Academy in Florida, this time, not just to learn flying as a hobby, but as a trained professional. By 1995, less than five years after attending Saint Louis, Mr. Calvo was already flying as a professional.

"I can’t remember wanting to be anything else than a pilot," he said. With roots linked to a country that has more than eight million people, or roughly a tenth of its population working abroad to contribute more than $15 billion to the country’s economy yearly, Mr. Calvo is proud that he, along with other Filipino pilots, have risen above the usual profiling by foreigners.

"I am always proud to meet other Filipino pilots whenever I am flying around. It reaffirms my belief that we as Filipinos can always live up and even go beyond the typical stereotypes we usually face in other countries," he said.

While being able to fly the A380 is a feat in itself, he said knowing that jaws are dropping when people see the plane he flies is a bonus. "I like the fact than when flying, air traffic control designates our airplane type as Super jumbo to let air traffic know what a big airplane they are seeing on their radar screens," Mr. Calvo said.

Hearing other more experienced pilots over the radio say how big the A380 is, and calling it names like "a building with wings" does not fail to thrill him.

Happily married and raising his three-year-old son with his wife of eight years, Cecilia, Mr. Calvo does not have plans to have his wings clipped any time soon.

"For as long as God allows me to be a pilot" was how Mr. Calvo described his retirement plan. "Besides, when the day comes that I quit being a professional aviator, I still see myself flying around in my own little four-seater airplane," he added.

And his advice to other Filipinos working abroad? "Keep your head high and never let anyone put you down no matter what. Don’t be bothered by the type of work you may be in, as long as it’s honest living, you can and always should be proud."

ngprofflorida

January 5th, 2009, 06:28 AM

Int’l flight lands
at Silay airport
BY NIDA BUENAFE

A chartered international plane from Kazakhstan, equivalent in size to a BAC 111 aircraft, landed at the Bacolod-Silay Airport 10:58 p.m. on Jan. 2 loaded with foreign investors who are out to explore the medical tourism industry in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.

Air Transportation Office manager Antonio Alfonso Jr. said the twin-engine Russian-made airplane flew directly from Amaty, Kazakhstan and stopped over for refueling in Chengdu, China before flying to the Bacolod-Silay Airport.

He said there were eight passengers and eight crew members on board the aircraft and local customs, quarantine, and immigration personnel were at the airport to welcome the passengers and validate their travel documents.

Jesus Vargas, a Negrense businessman who coordinated the visit to Bacolod City of the guests from Kazakhstan, requested assistance from the office of Rep. Monico Puentevella, for the arrival of the guests at the new airport.

Puentevella, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, in turn asked Bureau of Immigration chairman Marcelino Libanan to act on Vargas’ requests.

Among those present at the airport to welcome the guests were Negros Occidental Immigration Officer Mita Arguelles and Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena.*

mwg12a

January 5th, 2009, 06:31 AM

Filipino flies world’s biggest jet (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW010509/content.php?id=042)

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW010509/flight.jpg

And his advice to other Filipinos working abroad? "Keep your head high and never let anyone put you down no matter what. Don’t be bothered by the type of work you may be in, as long as it’s honest living, you can and always should be proud."

I love this statement from this guy. Very humble and respectable. I hope many filipinos follow his path not just in the aviation field but any profession.

tigidig14

January 5th, 2009, 08:05 AM

thats nice to read, it should be put in good news

AmbutLang

January 5th, 2009, 10:11 AM

^^He achieved thru hard work and determination. Congratulation :applause:

boom_box

January 5th, 2009, 11:23 AM

Pictures courtesy of Mr. Oliver Dorado from PAL Davao Station:

IAE V2500 Engines... I haven't heard those engines roar... :)

http://www.philskies.net/forum/download/file.php?id=1157

http://www.philskies.net/forum/download/file.php?id=1156

http://www.philskies.net/forum/download/file.php?id=1155

http://www.philskies.net/forum/download/file.php?id=1164

The interiors are already striped according to Airliners.net forums...

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/4251942/

To quote: "Zest Airways's second A-320 is N582JB. A few Pinoy JetBlue mechanics were involved in its engine change. As with N581JB which already arrived Manila, 582's in-flight entertainment powered by LiveTV has been removed.

The aircraft was flown yesterday from Orlando,Florida to the Evergreen Air Center in Pinal, Arizona where she will be scraped, primed and painted prior to delivery in January."

boom_box

January 5th, 2009, 11:37 AM

RP-C1811 and its pilot..?

http://www.philskies.net/forum/download/file.php?id=1161

jogavilz

January 5th, 2009, 01:44 PM

all-economy class lang ba ang a320s ng zest air? is it safe to say na it is also a budget airline?

kiretoce

January 5th, 2009, 01:45 PM

RP-C1811 and its pilot..?

http://www.philskies.net/forum/download/file.php?id=1161

The poor thing, she's stuck to it with crazy glue. :lol:

arianespace

January 5th, 2009, 02:33 PM

arianespace

January 5th, 2009, 03:16 PM

In the air The President is not the boss!

Manila (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/jan/05/yehey/opinion/20090105opi3.html) - IT is common knowledge that President Gloria Arroyo is a tough, hands-on operator who by sheer force of personality (and conviction, of course!) always manages to get everyone around her to her way of thinking. And the long and seemingly tireless hours she puts into the job is legendary—as is her temper when anyone in her official family or presidential staff is found to be amiss in their duty.

But on a recent flight between Manila and Los Angeles, when she was en route to her state visit to Peru, President Arroyo discovered that she doesn’t always get her own way—as we too found out during a pre-Holiday Season soiree, were we happened to be seated at the dinner table with someone who had been on that flight as part of the crew.

Apparently when Presidents husband Mike Arroyo fell ill on board the aircraft a few hours out of Manila, the cockpit crew had to make a quick decision to reroute the flight to get Presidents husband on the ground so he could be dispatched speedily to hospital.

The pilot decided to turn back and head to Osaka Airport in Japan, which was within about three hours flying time. But President Arroyo insisted they fly on and land in Hawaii where her husband could receive the necessary treatment in the USA. And she could spend more time with him there while still keeping to her onward schedule.

But the Philippine Airlines pilot, being the commander-in-chief some 30,000 feet up in the air, overruled the Commander-in-Chief of the Philippines and decided to head for Osaka and land in Japan rather than the President’s preferred landing on American soil.

boom_box

January 5th, 2009, 03:30 PM

Pilot-In-Command (PIC) beats. Commander-In-Chief... haha

Chrisvenz

January 5th, 2009, 03:45 PM

^^ ouch naman

Chrisvenz

January 5th, 2009, 03:46 PM

sonnyville

January 6th, 2009, 03:48 AM

PAL to fly 777 morning flights to West Coast
http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/photorelease/q2/K64060_lg.jpg

Manila - After decades of conceding the morning market, the Philippine Airlines is now keen to take a bite of the long-uncontested territory of Northwest Airlines.

No less than PAL president Jaime Bautista has confirmed the flag carrier’s plan to launch a new daily non-stop service to the US West Coast that leaves Manila in the morning, just like the two Northwest flights.

The morning flight is expected to be launched by the fourth quarter, when PAL shall have taken delivery of the first of the two Boeing 777s, Bautista said.

But the new service, to complement the two evening flights to the West Coast that PAL now currently operates, would still have to depend on the US Federal Aviation Administration’s returning the Philippine civil aviation system to the so-called Category 1 status.

“We may be unable to use these new planes on our flights to the United States, and the cost advantage offered by the aircraft may only be realized by implementing our alternative plan for the deployment of the aircraft,” Bautista told PAL shareholders in late September.

Translation: If Uncle Sam continues the squeeze, PAL will deploy the 777 to the Middle East market. Victor C. Agustin (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business6_jan5_2009)

^^ err... that sucks. hopefully things get back on track. although, i don't think there will be a drastic change if PAL decides to go head on against NWA in the morning runs. slightly lang siguro, pero at least there's an option at hinde katulad ng NWA na it has to make stop(s) in Japan, at least direct flight naman ang PAL for the most part. i assume that if PAL does morning flights out of MNL, it will arrive in the late mornings or mid-day in LAX , like JAL, KE, OZ and other asian carriers. will they still keep the evening slot with a second daily flight, or all mornings na ba with a single aircraft on daily flight? ayos naman ang serbisyo ng PAL, and sure, even though some of the cabins are a bit outdated, it beats the NWA service. their FAs are always in a grouchy mood. and PAL is improving services naman, surprisingly far better than those of the US carriers. as usual, this move to have morning flights probably has to do with aircraft utilization also, as PAL expands. sayang lang na ganyan yung situation na di magamit yung mga 777s for the US when they arrive.

kagabe ng hatid ako sa LAX, saw 2 PAL aircrafts. the 343(PR113) and 744(PR103), i watched the 343 take off, and what people say is true, it's not as loud as the 744. i also saw the Qantas a380, it's pretty loud din on take off, contrary to what people say about it, siguro kung nakasakay ka sa loob or it's on cruise control it's not so loud. kala ko nga PAL because it was parked right next to the PR103, and honestly.... PAL's livery on that a380 does look a lot nicer compared to that qantas livery :) wahh... PR103 delayed ka 1+ hour kagabe, my parents missed their connecting flight to cebu. :ohno: buti na lang nakarating din sa pinas naman lang mga parents ko.. at buti na lang PAL. lol.

arianespace

January 6th, 2009, 04:54 AM

^^
That will be the second flight made by the 343 only made available in the morning. Thanks to merger and recession, morning slots were made available for them at LAX and SFO. Truly, in this trying times, there are losers as well as gainers. There will also be no sitting 744 in the morning as they will return to the west coast 4 hours later. The other 343 will do the YVR-SAN 2x PW too. So thats basically it for 2009.:)

Again, forget the FAA crap!

By the way, it does not mean that they are going to Detroit too!

kiretoce

January 6th, 2009, 05:32 AM

By the way, it does not mean that they are going to Detroit too!

Okay, now we're getting ahead of ourselves here. ;)

arianespace

January 6th, 2009, 06:17 AM

^^ I'm holding my horses..:horse:

bustero

January 6th, 2009, 08:35 AM

arianespace

January 6th, 2009, 08:29 PM

Seair on the lookout for strategic partners
Business Mirror
Written by Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4176:seair-on-the-lookout-for-strategic-partners-&catid=24:companies&Itemid=59)

http://businessmirror.com.ph/images/stories/Daily_Images/2009/January/01072009/comp-pic01.jpg
LEISURE carrier Southeast Asian Airlines Inc. (Seair) is seeking strategic partners to help push the carrier’s expansion, according to an airline official.

This developed as the carrier recorded a drop in the number of passengers last year, owing to stiffer competition in the Caticlan (Boracay) route.

Latest data from Seair showed that from January to November 2008, the airline carried 211,366 passengers, down 11.5 percent from the 238,804 recorded in the same period in 2007.

Avelino Zapanta, president of Seair, told the BusinessMirror the entry of major carriers Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific into the Caticlan market pulled away some passengers from Seair. “About 80 percent of our operations was in Caticlan, and that was where the two airlines entered carrying so much capacity. So they were able to capture some of our market.” Caticlan in Aklan, the gateway to the resort island of Boracay, had long been dominated by Seair and the former Asian Spirit (now Zest Airways).

Despite the intense rivalry in the local airline business, Nikos Gitsis, cofounder of Seair, said with its congressional franchise, the carrier hopes to “further strengthen and grow another 14 plus years by continuing innovative development in aviation and tourism to help push the economic growth of the Philippines.”

On December 27, 2008 the airline finally secured its congressional franchise to operate domestic and international routes from its base in Clarkfield, Pampanga.

Gabriel Claudio, presidential political adviser and head of the presidential legislative liaison office in Malacañang, said the congressional franchise, as embodied in Republic Act 9517, “lapsed into law on December 27 [2008.] By practice, franchise bills are just allowed to lapse into law.”

Reacting to the news, Gitsis said: “It [congressional franchise] is a great accomplishment of Mr. [Avelino] Zapanta and the management of Seair at the end of a very challenging year.” Gitsis and pilot Iren Dornier—grandson of Claude Dornier, the famous engineer and pioneering designer of military aircraft for Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II—own 40 percent of Seair, while the rest of the shares are held by a group of Filipinos led by marketing specialist Tomas Lopez Jr.

Zapanta added that Seair is anticipating growth in its passenger traffic this year because of the expansion in its routes and the arrival of its two brand new Airbus A320-200s leased from Tiger Airways, a budget carrier based in Singapore. “The arrival of the A320s will boost capacity offering and the number of passengers carried.” The two A320s, scheduled to arrive on March 1, are both 180-seater planes.

On November 28, the airline started flying to Kota Kinabalu. In April 2009, it will begin its runs to Singapore and Macau; in August 2009, to Bangkok and Hong Kong, as well as Cebu and Davao; and in September 2009, possibly Incheon (in South Korea), Kuala Lumpur and Kaohsiung (in China). All new flights will be out of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga, the carrier’s base of operations.

Under the terms of its congressional franchise and in accordance with provisions in the Philippine Constitution on public utilities, Seair is mandated to offer at least 30 percent of its outstanding capital stock to the public, “within five years from commencement of its operations.”

Asked whether the airline was confident it could pursue the initial public offering of its shares, Gitsis said: “Right now, no airline has been able to go public due to the extraordinary circumstances airlines have faced in the past two years, and the volatility in the markets exasperate the situation further. However, that said, we would be open to exploring the possibilities that could present themselves, including joint ventures or private placements as a first step.”

But he clarified that Seair owners are “not actively exploring a buyout, but are looking for strategic partners.”

Last year, Seair owners were being wooed by Filipino-Chinese businessman Alfredo M. Yao, after he bought out the owners of Asian Spirit. His plan was to merge both carriers, and use the management and marketing expertise of Seair’s key officers. The proposed buyout of Seair fell through in May, however, owing to a general disagreement on the price of the company shares.

Airline industry observers noted that with the congressional franchise, Seair can now command a higher price from any potential buyers.

Joaquin L. Po, an aviation industry analyst and former executive vice president of Asian Spirit, explained that a congressional franchise increases the share value of an airline among its potential buyers because technically, only public utilities with such a franchise are allowed to operate. “Licenses of public utilities without congressional franchises can just summarily canceled by the government. A congressional franchise affords an airline protection, and its license to operate can only be cancelled if it violates conditions of said franchise. So this gives a certain comfort level for any interested investors of that airline.”

Republic Act 9517, which grants Seair the “franchise to establish, operate and maintain domestic and international air transport services, with Clarkfield, Pampanga as its base,” was based on House Bill 3788 co-authored by Reps. Eleajandro Jesus Madrona, Ferjenel Biron, Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., et al, which was approved by the House of Representatives, and later, by the Senate.

The congressional franchise also gives the airline government tax incentives such as duty-free importation of capital equipment and income tax holidays. The congressional franchise has a term of 25 years. (With Mia Gonzalez)

arianespace

January 6th, 2009, 08:33 PM

Air talks set with Mideast and Europe
Business Mirror

Written by Lenie Lectura (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4210:air-talks-set-with-mideast-europe&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58)

THE Philippine air panel is arranging a number of meetings with representatives of various countries, mostly in the Middle East and Europe, within the year in the hope of sealing more air agreements.

First on the list is Qatar. The air panels from both countries are scheduled to meet on January 14 and 15 at the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) office.

“We already have an existing air agreement with Qatar, but [it] would want to have more flights to the Philippines. Qatar recently promised to provide jobs to Filipinos,” said CAB Deputy Executive Director Porvenir Porciuncula in a phone interview.

Philippine carriers, however, are not keen on acceding to Qatar’s request.

“While Qatar wants more access, our carriers do not want to even launch flights anywhere in the Middle East because of very stiff market competition. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific do not have immediate plans to mount flights there. Instead, they want to deploy their new planes in lucrative routes,” said Porciuncula.

There are 11 flight frequencies a week under the existing air services agreement (ASA) between Qatar and Manila.

“We have not received Qatar’s proposal yet so we do not know how many they would like to add,” added the CAB official.

Spirit of Manila is the only local airline mounting flights to the Middle East from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in the Clark Special Economic Zone.

“Right now, it is the only Philippine carrier granted rights to fly there. They will surely ask for entitlements,” said Porciuncula.

Passenger traffic at the DMIA was expected to grow to 2 million by end of 2008 from 533,000 in 2007.

After Qatar, the Philippine air panel has scheduled a meeting with its counterpart in the United Arab of Emirates by the end of the month, followed by a discussion with Kuwait in February and with Brunei in March.

“The impending air talks are mostly focused on Middle Eastern countries because these were the countries which have not been part of last year’s discussions. We want to reach the countries where we have no presence yet,” added Porciuncula.

The Philippine air panel is composed of officials from the Departments of Transportation and Communications, Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Trade and Industry, CAB and representatives from the airline companies.

After the Middle East, the panel will explore the holding of air talks with European countries in the second or third quarter of the year. The CAB is hoping it can successfully seal more ASAs this year compared with that of last year.

“Of course, we would want more agreements signed this year. Most [ASAs] are only amended but we also have plans to seal new agreements, particularly with Turkey, Libya and Peru this year,” added Porciuncula.

In 2007, the country’s air panel clinched agreements with Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Macau, Canada, Finland, Cambodia, Iran and the Netherlands.