December decline leaves McCarran with 7.7 percent fewer passengers in 2008

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/7/8/0/0724087.jpg


By Richard N. Velotta (http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jan/30/december-decline-leaves-mccarran-77-percent-fewer-/)

Fri, Jan 30, 2009 (2 a.m.)

Last year ended on a sour note — another double-digit percentage decline — for passenger traffic at McCarran International Airport.

In December 3.2 million passengers arrived and departed from the airport, a 14.1 percent decline from December 2007, bringing the annual total of passengers to 44.1 million, 7.7 percent fewer than in 2007.

The five busiest carriers at McCarran had declines for the month, the worst being US Airways’ 31.2 percent drop to 468,890 passengers and United Airlines, which was down 14 percent to 186,037.

Southwest Airlines, the airport’s busiest carrier, had a 5.4 percent decline to 1.2 million passengers for the month.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air showed a 6 percent downturn to 153,630 passengers for December. The airline managed to squeeze out a fractional increase in passengers for the year with a total of 1.7 million.

Capacity cuts by many airlines to match the sluggish tourism economy resulted in most of the 27 domestic and international carriers that have flights at McCarran flying fewer passengers than they did last year.

Some airlines that restored previously canceled flights or added flights or increased capacity fared the best. Airlines that had more passengers to Las Vegas in 2008 than in 2007 include AirTran, JetBlue, Virgin America, Hawaiian, Aeromexico, Aviacsa, Philippine Airlines, Thomas Cook and Westjet in addition to Allegiant.

Despite the decline in passenger numbers at McCarran, it didn’t surrender its status as the sixth busiest United States airport, according to statistics released by the Federal Aviation Administration last week.

McCarran edged out Washington’s Dulles International Airport for the sixth position, the FAA said. The top five ahead of McCarran are Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International, Denver International and Los Angeles International.

The only change was Denver International leapfrogging Los Angeles for the fourth position since 2007. Denver moved up primarily because of major growth by Southwest Airlines, which more than doubled its presence there.

Southwest, meanwhile, issued its fourth quarter and 2008 financial results last week. Although the Dallas-based airline reported its 36th consecutive year of profitability, it showed a net loss for the fourth quarter.

The company reported a loss of $56 million, 8 cents a share, on record quarterly revenue of $2.73 billion. That compared with net income of $111 million, 15 cents a share, on revenue of $2.49 billion for the same quarter in 2007.

Southwest attributed the loss to a 4.5 percent decline in revenue passengers, in part, because of capacity cuts, and a loss in the company’s fuel hedging program. The recent dramatic decrease in fuel costs forced Southwest to take a special charge of $117 million for its fuel hedge portfolio in the quarter.

The company also said it has noticed “softness in post-January bookings” after a fairly healthy holiday travel season that extended into January.

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/7/8/0/0724087.jpg

I wish this bird fly again all over the world as it was before....

I like the color and the style of this livery....... It really reflect the beauty of our country...

Did you know that manila got the most beautifull sunset in the whole world. This is the manila plus. The sun in the tail reminds me of the Sun in Phils...

RP, UAE expands coefficients with more flight frequencies
Lenie Lectura-Business Mirror (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5401:rp-uae-expand-flight-frequencies&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58)

http://biztravelguru.com/photos/airline__aircraft_photos/images/649/original.aspx

THE Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed on Thursday to expand their flight frequencies, an official of the Philippine air panel said.
...

Excited about this. :banana: I hope Emirates will soon publish the flight that will use the A380!

Qatar Inks Philippine Deal

The governments of the Philippines and Qatar have signed an agreement allowing additional flights and cargo capacity between both countries.

The deal allows for an increase in weekly flights between Manila and Doha from five to eight; between Cebu City and Doha to 14 from three, and between the Clark Special Economic Zone and Doha from three to 14.

5th Freedom rights will allow Qatar Airways to fly via Clark to Australia and for Philippine airlines to fly via Doha to the UK.

The accord also allows passenger aircraft flying between Manila and Doha to carry up to 200 tonnes of freight a week. Freighter services between the two cities will be able to uplift 400 tonnes a week.- Air Cargo World (http://www.aircargoworld.com/regions/asia_0209.htm#a).

Thats an awesome news!

CEB's 21st brand new Airbus A320
arrives from Toulouse

Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ largest domestic airline and leading carrier to the ASEAN region takes delivery of a brand new Airbus A320 aircraft from Toulouse, France today. This is the second brand new A320 that arrived this 2009, the first of which was delivered last January 29. The additional two aircraft will be used to service additional frequencies to Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, and other domestic routes from CEB’s Manila hub. CEB currently has the youngest fleet in the country, comprised of 11 Airbus A320, 10 Airbus A319, and six ATR 72-500 aircraft.

From Past to Current :

http://i43.tinypic.com/2uy264z.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/2cc8dz.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/2ymaqg4.jpg

*Pics taken from Reunion of US Based ex PAL flight attendants and cabin crew held in San Francisco, CA

Can you spot me? Ahh those glory days flying the Mabuhay skies.:lol:

^wow. very nice. thanks for sharing! And the female ex-flight attendants are still pretty after all those years

Qatar Inks Philippine Deal

The governments of the Philippines and Qatar have signed an agreement allowing additional flights and cargo capacity between both countries.

The deal allows for an increase in weekly flights between Manila and Doha from five to eight; between Cebu City and Doha to 14 from three, and between the Clark Special Economic Zone and Doha from three to 14.

5th Freedom rights will allow Qatar Airways to fly via Clark to Australia and for Philippine airlines to fly via Doha to the UK.

The accord also allows passenger aircraft flying between Manila and Doha to carry up to 200 tonnes of freight a week. Freighter services between the two cities will be able to uplift 400 tonnes a week.- Air Cargo World (http://www.aircargoworld.com/regions/asia_0209.htm#a).

yes! they may return to Heathrow!

From Past to Current :

http://i43.tinypic.com/2uy264z.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/2cc8dz.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/2ymaqg4.jpg

*Pics taken from Reunion of US Based ex PAL flight attendants and cabin crew held in San Francisco, CA

Can you spot me? Ahh those glory days flying the Mabuhay skies.:lol:

Wow! Amazing that they can still fit in their former uniforms. :lol:

:jk: Just kidding, Aiko. I'm sure you look very "lovely" in those uniforms. :nocrook: Peace to you, Shalom! :colgate:

yes! they may return to Heathrow!

Or, back to London-Gatwick (LGW); since that's where PR flew to before they cut their European services.

ganito yung inabutan ko nuon... :lol:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/412278609_ea7ae9b50d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2058/1941378060_a1539d8228.jpg

^^ Are you dating yourself here by mentioning that? ;)

http://i40.tinypic.com/2cc8dz.jpg


the one in gray looks like Gloria hehehehe... :nuts::nuts::nuts:

^^ Are you dating yourself here by mentioning that? ;)


Hehehe, you got to love those minis in the 70s. :banana:













... but ! arrgghh... they are wearing shorts underneath those skirts...:bash:

I forgot what they call those shorts. Can't remember anything anymore... I need some memory pills #10 :lol:

I think all those former PAL uniform still looks good and can still make a come back, somehow....

I think the only pal uniform I can really remember from way back was this one lady in red, the 4th one from the left or he 3rd one from the right next to that lady in blue offwhite hat with white ribbon wrapped around it.
]http://i40.tinypic.com/2cc8dz.jpg

... but ! arrgghh... they are wearing shorts underneath those skirts...:bash:

I forgot what they call those shorts. Can't remember anything anymore... I need some memory pills #10 :lol:

You mean skorts? They're shorts that are meant to look like skirts.

You mean skorts? They're shorts that are meant to look like skirts.

There's another term for those shorts under a skirt in Pinas... dem', can't think anymore...



Maalala ko yan pag punta ko sa toilet... :lol:

cullots or something? I think that's how the women call it, I may have misspelled it, surprise surprise..LOL
Unless you were refering to your mother's bloomers.. one we call pantylola LMAOOOO
Hey bitoy, how come I dont see that pics you posted., the skorts thingy... Is it okay to call you manong bitoy???

^^ Close. Just one "L" and another "T" with an "E" at the end. It's "CULOTTES." :colgate:

heck, I don't know. I don't use it and not intending to use one, don't want something to peek out of it when I sat down on my couch or since I like laying down on the floor/carpet, that would not be a pretty sight to see LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO

heck, I don't know. I don't use it and not intending to use one, don't want something to peek out of it when I sat down on my couch or since I like laying down on the floor/carpet, that would not be a pretty sight to see LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO

Damn! You just gave me a disturbing visual....and it ain't pretty. :lol:

cullots or something? I think that's how the women call it, I may have misspelled it, surprise surprise..LOL
Unless you were refering to your mother's bloomers.. one we call pantylola LMAOOOO
Hey bitoy, how come I dont see that pics you posted., the skorts thingy... Is it okay to call you manong bitoy???

The Photos are in Flickr, sometimes the photo URL doesn't get viewed because of some ek ek filters on the web.

Hahaha! or you can call me Manong Pogi is fine.... :lol:

^^ Close. One "L" and "TE" at the end. It's "CULOTTES." :colgate:

Buwahaha, I need to buy a BOWEL to remember that ---!

Kulots, Cullots or Culottes..... :lol:

The Photos are in Flickr, sometimes the photo URL doesn't get viewed because of some ek ek filters on the web.

Hahaha! or you can call me Manong Pogi is fine.... :lol:



Buwahaha, I need to buy a BOWEL to remember that ---!

Kulots, Cullots or Culottes..... :lol:

I guess I just have to wait til that damn filter runs out ffs!


Manong pogi?? Ummmm?? manong pogi the second, there is only one pogi in ssc, kimber, i'm calling him bro/tol pogi one, you'dbe manong pogi two, and I will be that last of the mohican LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Bloomers

They're all basically the same. Whether they're called skorts, culottes, bloomers, breeches, pantaloons, pedal pushers, clam diggers, capris, or highwaters.

I think bloomers are more of an underpants, you don't let it exposed outside, unlike cullotes, capri, and highwaters ( i'm not sure what a pedal pusher is) women wear it like an actual garbment.

I want to see an airline that lets the female FAs wear hotpants or koochie cutters. :naughty: ( :lol: )

^^^ Fly hooter's airlines, if is still around.....

^^ They tanked. Ceased operations in 2006. :(

^^ They were forced to stop operation by the FAA for a certain violation.

"No Life Preservers Onboard" ~ only the cabin crew has them....naturally or built in.



:lol:

ganito yung inabutan ko nuon... :lol:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/412278609_ea7ae9b50d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2058/1941378060_a1539d8228.jpg

ay ang cute naman very nice.....:lol::lol::lol:

http://i40.tinypic.com/2cc8dz.jpg


the one in gray looks like Gloria hehehehe... :nuts::nuts::nuts:

Oh my mom's uniform! The 3rd uniform from right - T'boli inspired uniforms.


Some info about PR's FA Fashion

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0021.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0011.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0015.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0016.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0018.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0014.jpg


http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2953/00000468zu6.jpg

But the way PAL has stuck this long to this late '80s designed livery, leads me to think that there is no plan for a change in design anytime soon.

However, I think that a complete redisgn for their cabin crew (flight attendants, pilots) is long overdue. The current uniform design has been used for almost 20 years now. New designs for cabin crew uniforms should have colors to coordinate with the cabin interiors of PAL's new and recently refurbished planes.

Also, senior flight attendants - those above 45 yo and overweight have to go. By experience flying PAL's lucrative trans Pacific routes, these senior flight attendants almost always are the norm rather than the exception. Known for their snooty attitudes (they disappear from view after each meal service!), I think they are giving PAL a bad rap. They sholud give way to the more friendly and with the right attidue younger junior flight attendants. Most here will agree they bring a sense or refreshing , vibrant aura when you fly the PAL friendly skies.

A suggestion then to PAL In Flight Management - impose a mandatory retirement age (say must retire at 45 or younger!) and a stract weight restriction watch for their flight attendants.

I don't like this livery esp the logo... it presents a negative image even you don't consult a feng shui expert. Plus why we are so into changing the logo of PR. I lile way it is. Unique and very symbolic. Maybe change the livery but then again the whitee body is more "eco-friendly". We should consider "going green" valueble too.

But I agree those US flight attendants of PR majority of them are not just snooty but they are also choosy to whom they are going to be friendly with mostly with foreigners. Some of them think that since they're senior they have the right to be snooty to passengers.

ganito yung inabutan ko nuon... :lol:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/412278609_ea7ae9b50d.jpg



ibalik nila ang uniform na yan, panghatak ng pasahero.:)

mas maganda sana if PAL would repaint some of their planes into their old liveries, tulad ng lufthansa sa kanilang a320s
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/6/6/9/0987966.jpg
and flight attendants will wear their former attires.

hi, does anyone tried to book pals econolight? cant seems to book online. sinadya kayang pinahirap ang pagbook? hehe

lufthansa from manila to frankfurt mga manang F.A. tulad ng northwest hehehe

hi, does anyone tried to book pals econolight? cant seems to book online. sinadya kayang pinahirap ang pagbook? hehe

i booked econolight 2weeks ago. everything was fine.

i booked econolight 2weeks ago. everything was fine.

I tried last night still not working.....hopefully they know about this problem.

PAL should just keep this FA uniform instead, it looks very filipino...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0014.jpg

Or This...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0016.jpg

i have a question.... can a plane get its registration from another plane? kasi i found a picture of a PAL A300 that overshot MNL runway in 1987.
http://forum.philskies.net/download/file.php?id=650
photo from PFSG

then, a PAL A300 in new colors also had the same registration
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/3/6/9/0210963.jpg
from Airliners.net

ibig bang sabihin hindi na write off ung plane na iyon at nagamit ulit? galing ah

[QUOTE=mwg12a;31630134]PAL should just keep this FA uniform instead, it looks very filipino...

WoooW this FA uni is really an authentic phil. The skirt is fine. but the uper one just need small retach. hope they revive this one.

mas maganda sana if PAL would repaint some of their planes into their old liveries, tulad ng lufthansa sa kanilang a320s
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/6/6/9/0987966.jpg
and flight attendants will wear their former attires.

That will only work if the aircraft is also a vintage from aviation's early days.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2058/2327108062_d4a46023a4.jpg

Would've been an awesome "complete" shot if it wasn't for that pesky Air Philippines tail sticking out like a sore thumb. :lol:

^^they're sisters naman, right?

^^ Yes, they are. But I was referencing the shot, it would've been completely a PR photo had it not been for 2P photobombing it. :lol:

i have a question.... can a plane get its registration from another plane? kasi i found a picture of a PAL A300 that overshot MNL runway in 1987.
http://forum.philskies.net/download/file.php?id=650
photo from PFSG

then, a PAL A300 in new colors also had the same registration
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/3/6/9/0210963.jpg
from Airliners.net

ibig bang sabihin hindi na write off ung plane na iyon at nagamit ulit? galing ah
I think so...

i have a question.... can a plane get its registration from another plane? kasi i found a picture of a PAL A300 that overshot MNL runway in 1987.
http://forum.philskies.net/download/file.php?id=650
photo from PFSG

then, a PAL A300 in new colors also had the same registration
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/3/6/9/0210963.jpg
from Airliners.net

ibig bang sabihin hindi na write off ung plane na iyon at nagamit ulit? galing ah

my guess would be the plane wasnt written off. it was just repaired and flew again. IMHO.

Would've been an awesome "complete" shot if it wasn't for that pesky Air Philippines tail sticking out like a sore thumb. :lol:

nice shot ganda ng livery ng PAL

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0022.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0008.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0017.jpg

Would've been an awesome "complete" shot if it wasn't for that pesky Air Philippines tail sticking out like a sore thumb. :lol:

:lol::lol:

a few weeks ago tried pal's website to book. Reached all the way to giving my credit card number. But it never confirmed the ticket. Emailed them but no reply received. Went on to buy another ticket rather than wait. Will have to check my card billing if it was double charged instead. But for me, this problem is isolated, though I am surprised that they never emailed a reply.

Not sure if my claim is right but to me it's easier just to go to PAL office and book a ticket, I don't think they still mastered the efficiency of online booking yet, perhaps, they don't have enough people to manage it. I am not sure about Cebu Pacific since I have never flown with them yet. I know when you fly NWA, NWA people can book your Cebu Pacific flights to any Philppine destinations. Atleast, the lady who attended me on phone last time offered to book Cebu Pacific to Cebu for me. I am not sure if it still good with all these changes and such.

UAE approves PAL's 5th Freedom except UK, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait flights

http://biztravelguru.com/photos/airline__aircraft_photos/images/649/original.aspx

31 January 2009
Abu Dhabi, UAE (http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20090131110146/UAE,%20Philippines%20sign%20MoU%20to%20Increase%20flights%20between%20the%20two%20countries): The United Arab Emirates represented by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) General Civil Aviation Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of Philippines on 29th January 2009 in Abu Dhabi, to increase flights between the two countries.

The MoU was signed by His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), General Civil Aviation Authority in the UAE and H.E Doroteo A. Reyes II, Undersecretary for Civil Aviation, Department of Transportation and Communications and Chairman, RP Air Negotiating Panel in Philippines. The signing ceremony was attended by H.E Mohamed Ibrahim Al Juwaid, the UAE ambassador to Philippines and H.E Libran N. Cabactulan, Philippines Ambassador to UAE Representatives in addition to representatives from Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Sharjah Civil Aviation Department.

The two delegations agreed to confirm the designation of Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, RAK Airways and to designate Fly Dubai as a new National Carrier from UAE Side.

http://www.zawya.com/pr/images/PhilippinesMoU_2009_01_31.jpg
His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)
and Doroteo A. Reyes II, Undersecretary for Civil Aviation, Department of Transportation and Communications
and Chairman, RP Air Negotiating Panel in Philippine.

According to the MoU both parties agreed a phased increase of (89) flights weekly passenger as following:

- Five (5) additional weekly frequencies for each side to/from Manila;

- Forty two (42) additional weekly frequencies for each side to/from Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (Clark);

- Twenty one (21) additional weekly frequencies for each side to/from Cebu International Airport; and

- Twenty one (21) additional weekly frequencies for each side to/from other airports in the Philippines.

The two parties agreed to allow the designated airlines of each side to operate up to 600 tons per week per direction to/from Cebu International Airport. And they agreed that the designated airlines of the UAE shall have the right to exercise full fifth freedom traffic rights only up to fourteen (14) weekly frequencies between any intermediate point(s) and Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (Clark) only, and any point(s) beyond, except Japan, the USA and Canada.

The designated airlines of the Philippines shall have the right to exercise full fifth freedom traffic rights only up to fourteen (14) weekly frequencies between any intermediate point(s) and any one point in the UAE only, and any point(s) beyond, except the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Both delegations agreed to hold consultations within one year from the date signing the said MoU.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0022.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0008.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/scan0017.jpg

Wow The FA's are beautiful sana they are the same ngayon, hindi matanda....

UAE approves PAL's 5th Freedom except UK, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait flights

http://biztravelguru.com/photos/airline__aircraft_photos/images/649/original.aspx

31 January 2009
Abu Dhabi, UAE (http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20090131110146/UAE,%20Philippines%20sign%20MoU%20to%20Increase%20flights%20between%20the%20two%20countries): The United Arab Emirates represented by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) General Civil Aviation Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of Philippines on 29th January 2009 in Abu Dhabi, to increase flights between the two countries.

The MoU was signed by His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), General Civil Aviation Authority in the UAE and H.E Doroteo A. Reyes II, Undersecretary for Civil Aviation, Department of Transportation and Communications and Chairman, RP Air Negotiating Panel in Philippines. The signing ceremony was attended by H.E Mohamed Ibrahim Al Juwaid, the UAE ambassador to Philippines and H.E Libran N. Cabactulan, Philippines Ambassador to UAE Representatives in addition to representatives from Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Sharjah Civil Aviation Department.

The two delegations agreed to confirm the designation of Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, RAK Airways and to designate Fly Dubai as a new National Carrier from UAE Side.

http://www.zawya.com/pr/images/PhilippinesMoU_2009_01_31.jpg
His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)
and Doroteo A. Reyes II, Undersecretary for Civil Aviation, Department of Transportation and Communications
and Chairman, RP Air Negotiating Panel in Philippine.

According to the MoU both parties agreed a phased increase of (89) flights weekly passenger as following:

- Five (5) additional weekly frequencies for each side to/from Manila;

- Forty two (42) additional weekly frequencies for each side to/from Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (Clark);

- Twenty one (21) additional weekly frequencies for each side to/from Cebu International Airport; and

- Twenty one (21) additional weekly frequencies for each side to/from other airports in the Philippines.

The two parties agreed to allow the designated airlines of each side to operate up to 600 tons per week per direction to/from Cebu International Airport. And they agreed that the designated airlines of the UAE shall have the right to exercise full fifth freedom traffic rights only up to fourteen (14) weekly frequencies between any intermediate point(s) and Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (Clark) only, and any point(s) beyond, except Japan, the USA and Canada.

The designated airlines of the Philippines shall have the right to exercise full fifth freedom traffic rights only up to fourteen (14) weekly frequencies between any intermediate point(s) and any one point in the UAE only, and any point(s) beyond, except the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Both delegations agreed to hold consultations within one year from the date signing the said MoU.

good news, question what other airport in the Philippines, is this Davao, Aklan, Puerto Princesa, Bacolod, Iloilo? just wonder.....:cheers::cheers:

a few weeks ago tried pal's website to book. Reached all the way to giving my credit card number. But it never confirmed the ticket. Emailed them but no reply received. Went on to buy another ticket rather than wait. Will have to check my card billing if it was double charged instead. But for me, this problem is isolated, though I am surprised that they never emailed a reply.

PAL hardly replies any email sent to them.

Their online booking is messed up big time this year. I experienced errors on two occasions. After reaching the part when you will have to provide your card details, do NOT repeat the process from the beginning. You will be charged multiple times. The best thing to do is to call their agent: 855-8888 if you are based locally. Check with them if your online booking went through.

I got charged 4 times while booking online. The next time it happened, I knew what to do. So I was charged once only. Still, the problem causes a lot of hassle to the supposedly convenient online booking.

wtf... the ONLY 5th freedom that's worth it from DXB is to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait! EK and EY can still technically use their CRK fifths in the far future when CRK is better developed, but for Philippine carriers, any point other than Saudi and Kuwait are useless! That's a pretty raw deal there. Haay.

PAL hardly replies any email sent to them.

Their online booking is messed up big time this year. I experienced errors on two occasions. After reaching the part when you will have to provide your card details, do NOT repeat the process from the beginning. You will be charged multiple times. The best thing to do is to call their agent: 855-8888 if you are based locally. Check with them if your online booking went through.

I got charged 4 times while booking online. The next time it happened, I knew what to do. So I was charged once only. Still, the problem causes a lot of hassle to the supposedly convenient online booking.

I have been booking my flights online for the past 4 years and I have not encountered any problem(knock on wood). but I do find the Cebu Pacific online system better than the other domestic airline.

^^ I had the same problem @Ph Man. PAL's online booking is terrible. I was also charged twice on my credit card after encountering a "Error During Payment Flow Page". Tried several times to contact them through email and directly through their customer service line. Customer service replied that I should send them an email. :bash: Even an LCC like Allegiant Air has a better booking engine. :ohno:

Looks like PAL online booking system is having a hard time processing payments if you use a credit card issued outside of the Philippines. I tried to booking online but my credit cards were all rejected. I did not have any problem booking with Travelocity using the same credit cards.

Looks like PAL online booking system is having a hard time processing payments if you use a credit card issued outside of the Philippines. I tried to booking online but my credit cards were all rejected. I did not have any problem booking with Travelocity using the same credit cards.

HA!
just today... my Aunt (just came in from the US) just told us about the same thing... they could not get a PAL online booking using credit cards from the US.:ohno:

It was faster getting the ticket from a travel agency.:lol:

Delta to reduce Manila frequencies

http://www.deseretnews.com/photos/midres/5376882.jpg

Written by Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
Special to the BusinessMirror (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5539:delta-to-reduce-manila-frequencies&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58)

Monday, 03 February 2009

DELTA Air Lines Inc. will keep the Manila route it inherited from its merger with Northwest Airlines, but reduce its frequencies.

Maria Schnabel, external publicist of the Atlanta-based airline, said: “Delta/Northwest plans on maintaining the [Manila] service from both Narita and Nagoya [Japan].”

But flight frequencies between Manila and Nagoya will be reduced from seven to five times weekly starting on Tuesday. According to Hiroko Tanaka, manager for Pacific corporate communications of Northwest Airlines, the Manila-Nagoya flights are now available on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, while Nagoya-Manila flights are on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “The Narita-Manila flights remain daily,” she stressed.

Reductions are also imminent for Delta Air’s other Asian markets, Schnabel said, “to adjust to the new economic outlook and its effect on air travel. Other Asian markets will experience reductions in gauge or frequency.” The World Tourism Organization has projected international travel to grow between zero and 2 percent this year.

Continental Airlines and Hawaii Airlines are the other US carriers, which fly to Manila from Guam, and Honolulu, respectively.

Delta Air merged with Northwest in October 2008, with the former as the surviving entity. Complete integration of both carriers’ systems is seen lasting until the end of 2009. With the merger, Delta Air is now considered the largest carrier in the world.

About 6,000 jobs were cut after the merger last year, with Delta Air eyeing another 2,000 by the end of February. Delta Air announced last week that it would be decreasing its flight capacity to 8 percent this year by eliminating about 50 aircraft from its fleet. Travel demand is projected to slacken this year as the global economic crisis deepens.

Schnabel said the Manila office of Northwest, which Delta Air will takeover, is not expected to be affected by any ongoing staff cuts. “While full integration of Northwest into Delta will take time and will be completed through a thoughtful integration process over the next 12 to 24 months, Delta does not anticipate the need for involuntary furloughs of current Northwest employees in Manila as a result of the merger.” There are 200 employees in Northwest’s offices in Manila.

Pending the complete integration, Delta Air and Northwest will continue to operate as separate airline systems, with their own web sites, reservation systems and mileage membership clubs.

“During the integration period, Delta and Northwest will continue to operate their own branded aircraft until the integration process is complete,” said Tanaka.

For her part, Schnabel assures Northwest’s Philippine customers that “it’s business as usual, as we combine to create a premier global airline with a leading presence in the world’s major markets and a best-in-class loyalty program. We’re working hard to ensure that the merger is smooth, seamless and delivers even more benefits to [our passengers].”

She added: “Delta Air is very pleased with the current Manila-Narita and Manila-Nagoya flights. Besides Manila-Nagoya going to five times weekly, Manila customers should not expect major changes to the flight schedule or fleet in the short term.”

According to Delta Air’s web site, Northwest’s frequent flyer program called WorldPerks will continue to operate separately from Delta Air’s SkyMiles, but “will eventually be consolidated into one best-in-class loyalty program by the end of 2009.”

Schnabel said the merger is expected to boost Delta’s edge over other US carriers operating in Asia. “Delta is committed to growing our number one position in Asia [among US carriers],” adding that the carrier “has an accelerated timetable to implement network changes in the Asia-Pacific region. Most gauge changes will take place between April and June.”

Philippine Airlines loses sight on Saipan

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/8/3/1/0283138.jpg
Hopes dim for Northern Marianas service

By Moneth Deposa (http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=87421)
Reporter

The possibility of Philippine Airlines extending air services to the Commonwealth are dim at present, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority.

MVA managing director Perry Tenorio said the CNMI has not received any communication from the Philippines' flag carrier regarding the revival of the flight service.

Although it may help CNMI tourist arrivals, Tenorio said the agency is not banking too much on the idea because the CNMI “lost” its potential market from the country when Manila opened its testing facilities for the National Council Licensure Examination for nurses last year.

Last year, PAL president and chief executive officer Jaime J. Bautista was quoted in a newspaper report that the airline company plans to have flights to Saipan, San Diego, Chicago, New York, and Seattle.

“MVA is not aware of any plan [of Philippine Airlines].and if that opportunity comes up, we need to evaluate fully well the impact on our tourism,” he said, noting the decline in arrivals from the Philippines, which usually sends hundreds of nurses to the island to take the NCLEX.

“Our goal [for the Philippine market] is like educational tourism for NCLEX.but since Manila opened its testing facilities we lost the only important component in keeping that market,” Tenorio said.

The CNMI recorded a 71-percent drop in arrivals from the Philippines after the nursing test was offered in Manila beginning August 2007. Before that, MVA posted 461 nurses who took the exam on Saipan the previous year.

Between August 2007 and July 2008, only 130 Filipino nurses took the exams at PearsonVue testing center in Garapan.

Nurses from the Philippines and other foreign countries need to take and pass the NCLEX to be eligible to practice in the U.S. and its territories, including Guam and the CNMI.

Between 2002 and 2008, the CNMI nursing board recorded 1,557 foreign nurses taking the exams on Saipan.

Barely a year after NCLEX was offered in the Philippines, the number of nurses who opted to take the test in Manila shot up to 20,410, resulting in the lower number of nurses taking the NCLEX on Saipan and in other areas like Hong Kong.

The drastic drop in the number of Saipan-bound nursing graduates from the Philippines was one of the major reasons cited by Continental Micronesia when it discontinued direct flights between Manila and Saipan effective July 16, 2008.

Philippines tourist arrivals soars as Asia-Pacific declines in 2008

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dXZbTH4UrglD/610x.jpg

Despite the current economic crisis that is affecting travel in Asia, the Philippines remains in a better position than its neighboring countries. Tourist arrivals for the first ten months of 2008 to the Philippines recorded an all time high of 2,607,118 visitors which is a 4 percent growth over the same period last year, while other countries are reporting a decrease in arrivals.

The Philippine Department of Tourism reported that tourist arrivals from new source markets such as Russia grew by 36.70 percent, India by 15.36 percent, and China by 9.95 percent. The influx of tourists from these new markets augmented the slowdown of growth rates from traditional source markets such as Japan, Taiwan and Korea which have been more negatively affected by the global economic downturn.

In the same way, tourists from the United Arab Emirates also showed 32.07 percent hike with the maiden participation of the Department of Tourism in two major international travel fairs for the Middle East market, namely: the Arabian Travel Mart and Health Care Travel Exhibition in Dubai. Likewise, the Department spearheaded the organization of the First Philippine Property Show, also in Dubai.

Quantum Hotels and Resorts, a leading condominium hotel and resort property management company in the region, projected that occupancy on managed Condo Hotels and Condo Resorts in the Philippines will moderately increase by 2 percent in 2009. Based on an average annual occupancy of 83 percent in 2008, the 2 percent target growth will provide an average occupancy of 85 percent for the group throughout 2009. More and more tourist segments are choosing these accommodations for their holidays, vacations and business trips to the Philippines. This projection is brought about by expected increase in arrivals from China, India and Middle Eastern tourists. - Traveldailynews (http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/29230).

^^^ i've seen this same news article before, same pic as well here in SSC Philippines.

good news, question what other airport in the Philippines, is this Davao, Aklan, Puerto Princesa, Bacolod, Iloilo? just wonder.....:cheers::cheers:

I think it especifically stated there clearly in arianspace's posted article as to where in the Phililppines.

wtf... the ONLY 5th freedom that's worth it from DXB is to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait! EK and EY can still technically use their CRK fifths in the far future when CRK is better developed, but for Philippine carriers, any point other than Saudi and Kuwait are useless! That's a pretty raw deal there. Haay.

Yeah, it mostly benefits UAE carriers....

Can anyone confirm that the 777 to be delivered to PAL later this year will have the reg RP-C7773?

PAL's Fiesta Boutique will be offering a model of the said aircraft, a 777-36NER (from GECAS), with the said registration shortly.

If true, are they reserving RP-C7771 and ~2 for the 777-3F6ERs coming in 2010? I read somewhere that PAL reserved a total of eight reg's for the 777s (but only six have been ordered/ leased).

3,186 Filipinos barred from leaving Clark airport (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=437070&publicationSubCategoryId=200)
By Ding Cervantes Updated February 03, 2009 12:00 PM


CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) here has prevented a total of 3,186 Filipinos from leaving the country on tourist visas via the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) on suspicion that they plan to work in other countries.

Heranio Manalo, chief of the BI at the DMIA, also told The STAR that since last year, his office has also barred 248 “suspicious” foreigners from entering the country via the airport here.

Manalo said the barring of Filipinos from boarding their flights here is part of the BI’s “continuing effort to curb human trafficking and to ensure the welfare of overseas Filipino workers”. He said that last January alone, 435 Filipino passengers were barred from leaving, on top of 2,751 last year.

“They all were leaving as tourists, but interviews would reveal that some of them had no gainful employment or source of income to justify their leaving as tourists bound for such placed as Macau, Singapore and Malaysia where we have had cases of human trafficking,” Manalo said.

“We just found it incredible that they would go abroad as tourists and our suspicion is bolstered by their admission that they would like to stay in their foreign destinations over unusually long periods,” he said.

He said the offloaded passengers either planned to work illegally in their country of destination or use the initial destination as take off point for another foreign country such as Dubai. “Some argue that they are to get their working papers once they reach their destinations, but this is not the legal process. They have to pass through the POEA for their own protection,” he added.

In the case of the foreigners, Manalo noted various cases for their being barred from entering the country via the DMIA.

“There were cases of some foreigners from the People’s Republic of China whose disembarkation card did not relay information on the address of their destinations in the country. They had no destination at all and could later end up as public charge,” he said.

Manalo said BI personnel at the DMIA have been trained to detect suspicious documents of foreigners some of whom could be involved in illegal international syndicates.

I heard that PAL is reducing its flights to YVR from 5 times a week to only twice a week. Any truth to this? and if yes, why? I realize the global economic crisis could be the reason, but this route has always been a good market for PAL. Could it be because they are refitting the A340s with a new cabin, thereby temporarily reducing service to YVR?

I heard that PAL is reducing its flights to YVR from 5 times a week to only twice a week. Any truth to this? and if yes, why? I realize the global economic crisis could be the reason, but this route has always been a good market for PAL. Could it be because they are refitting the A340s with a new cabin, thereby temporarily reducing service to YVR?


Not true at all. PAL is not reducing service to Vancouver but rather increasing service to this Canadian city from 5 times weekly to daily flights (7x/week) starting on March 23, 2009.

No formal announcement has been made re this increase of service to Vancouver but in the bid sheets for flight attanedants and cabin crew, said increase is there up for bid.

Also note on the official Philippine Airlines website, there is a small annoncement to the increase of service found on the lower right of the main page.

I would be surprised if they reduce service to Vancouver. Having had worked the Vancouver flights in the past, the loads are pretty much full and that included the quick turn around flights to Las Vegas (mix of Pinoy expatriates and Canadian nationals travelling to Vegas). Also Vancouver will be the jump off point to planned flights to San Diego, hopefully to commence as soon as the FAA Category 2 downgrade will be lifted by US officials.

Good. I thought so. I found what I heard make absolutely no sense, because as you said, MNL-YVR flights are often full...and its been (along with the US flights) one of PAL's bread and butter routes for revenue.

Not true at all. PAL is not reducing service to Vancouver but rather increasing service to this Canadian city from 5 times weekly to daily flights (7x/week) starting on March 23, 2009.

No formal announcement has been made re this increase of service to Vancouver but in the bid sheets for flight attanedants and cabin crew, said increase is there up for bid.

Also note on the official Philippine Airlines website, there is a small annoncement to the increase of service found on the lower right of the main page.

I would be surprised if they reduce service to Vancouver. Having had worked the Vancouver flights in the past, the loads are pretty much full and that included the quick turn around flights to Las Vegas (mix of Pinoy expatriates and Canadian nationals travelling to Vegas). Also Vancouver will be the jump off point to planned flights to San Diego, hopefully to commence as soon as the FAA Category 2 downgrade will be lifted by US officials.

Presenting "Air Quannar" my very own airline......:lol::lol::lol::lol:

http://photos-129.friendster.com/e1/photos/92/19/4539129/1_115883859l.jpg

make your own airline here :banana::banana::banana:

http://www.redkid.net/generator/plane/

i don't think so... aside from NCLEX, there are also many Pinoy residents in SPN and OFWs too.

But the final decision yet is still from PR.


Philippine Airlines loses sight on Saipan

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/8/3/1/0283138.jpg
Hopes dim for Northern Marianas service

By Moneth Deposa (http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=87421)
Reporter

The possibility of Philippine Airlines extending air services to the Commonwealth are dim at present, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority.

MVA managing director Perry Tenorio said the CNMI has not received any communication from the Philippines' flag carrier regarding the revival of the flight service.

Although it may help CNMI tourist arrivals, Tenorio said the agency is not banking too much on the idea because the CNMI “lost” its potential market from the country when Manila opened its testing facilities for the National Council Licensure Examination for nurses last year.

Last year, PAL president and chief executive officer Jaime J. Bautista was quoted in a newspaper report that the airline company plans to have flights to Saipan, San Diego, Chicago, New York, and Seattle.

“MVA is not aware of any plan [of Philippine Airlines].and if that opportunity comes up, we need to evaluate fully well the impact on our tourism,” he said, noting the decline in arrivals from the Philippines, which usually sends hundreds of nurses to the island to take the NCLEX.

“Our goal [for the Philippine market] is like educational tourism for NCLEX.but since Manila opened its testing facilities we lost the only important component in keeping that market,” Tenorio said.

The CNMI recorded a 71-percent drop in arrivals from the Philippines after the nursing test was offered in Manila beginning August 2007. Before that, MVA posted 461 nurses who took the exam on Saipan the previous year.

Between August 2007 and July 2008, only 130 Filipino nurses took the exams at PearsonVue testing center in Garapan.

Nurses from the Philippines and other foreign countries need to take and pass the NCLEX to be eligible to practice in the U.S. and its territories, including Guam and the CNMI.

Between 2002 and 2008, the CNMI nursing board recorded 1,557 foreign nurses taking the exams on Saipan.

Barely a year after NCLEX was offered in the Philippines, the number of nurses who opted to take the test in Manila shot up to 20,410, resulting in the lower number of nurses taking the NCLEX on Saipan and in other areas like Hong Kong.

The drastic drop in the number of Saipan-bound nursing graduates from the Philippines was one of the major reasons cited by Continental Micronesia when it discontinued direct flights between Manila and Saipan effective July 16, 2008.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/06spbKl6dB5bo/610x.jpg

I made a post in December on how were they connected. At that time Kingfisher denied that its deferring its order for the A380. Guess what? Tides changed.

Kingfisher seeks to delay delivery of the A380 (http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/kingfisher-seeks-to-delay-delivery-of.html)

PAL has apparently hired after several biddings from Olgivy & Mather as well as BBDO, Leo Burnett to handle their creative & marketing for the airline. Perhaps a new livery in works as well??

http://www.adoimagazine.com/newhome/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3827&catid=1&Itemid=5

Philippine Airlines (PAL), the country’s primary flag carrier, has appointed Leo Burnett Manila to handle creative duties for the airline, following a pitch that included BBDO and O&M. Leo Burnett will develop through-the-line communication solutions that will focus on the extraordinary competitive advantage that PAL currently enjoys.

i got hold of some news that leases of 2 737-200 of airphil will expire in two months and they will not renew it daw. what will replace these two planes?

:( :( FedEx's last flight from Subic...

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/36118/FedEx-cargo-carrier-makes-last-flight-at-Subic-airport

:( :( FedEx's last flight from Subic...

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/36118/FedEx-cargo-carrier-makes-last-flight-at-Subic-airport

nooo!!!
that's so sad naman... :ohno:

:( :( FedEx's last flight from Subic...

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/36118/FedEx-cargo-carrier-makes-last-flight-at-Subic-airport

It was a business decision. The company had to go where the money is.

[QUOTE=ewh1;31863966]PAL has apparently hired after several biddings from Olgivy & Mather as well as BBDO, Leo Burnett to handle their creative & marketing for the airline. Perhaps a new livery in works as well??

In my opinion PAL has one of the best liverys worldwide. there is no need for a new one. it simply is outstanding, timeless, not occupied by fashion (which usually needs a change sooner than later) , simple, clear, well designed, bright in color, representing the philippine flag and what it stands for. remarcably easy to spot out of a bunch of tails within busy airport tarmacs, one of its own, one of a kind !

possibly though there could be an upgrade to to aricraft body. i have seen some grand ideas with forumers painting the "long white passenger tube" with alternative decent motivs of filipino culture to supplement the strong and colorful logo on the back, on the tail of the aircraft.

my favorite airline logo worldwide : philippine airlines ! :)

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/06spbKl6dB5bo/610x.jpg

I made a post in December on how were they connected. At that time Kingfisher denied that its deferring its order for the A380. Guess what? Tides changed.

Kingfisher seeks to delay delivery of the A380 (http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/kingfisher-seeks-to-delay-delivery-of.html)

hopefully you will keep right arianespace, would be great to see A380´s in PAL colors soon !!!

a big cheers to philippine aviation, extremly successful, expanding to succeed the global crisis. with airlines like PAL and CEB in south east asia you have the tools to bring people of the world to the pearl of the orient and a unique colorfull culture from these "thousand gems" to spread the globe.

[QUOTE=ewh1;31863966]PAL has apparently hired after several biddings from Olgivy & Mather as well as BBDO, Leo Burnett to handle their creative & marketing for the airline. Perhaps a new livery in works as well??

In my opinion PAL has one of the best liverys worldwide. there is no need for a new one. it simply is outstanding, timeless, not occupied by fashion (which usually needs a change sooner than later) , simple, clear, well designed, bright in color, representing the philippine flag and what it stands for. remarcably easy to spot out of a bunch of tails within busy airport tarmacs, one of its own, one of a kind !

possibly though there could be an upgrade to to aricraft body. i have seen some grand ideas with forumers painting the "long white passenger tube" with alternative decent motivs of filipino culture to supplement the strong and colorful logo on the back, on the tail of the aircraft.

my favorite airline logo worldwide : philippine airlines ! :)

oh i agree, a simple update to the belly should suffice. The tail logo is one of the most recognizable and it would be a shame to change any part of it. Just change the typeface just like the Air France rebranding, except WAYYYY better

i got hold of some news that leases of 2 737-200 of airphil will expire in two months and they will not renew it daw. what will replace these two planes?

A320, just a speculation :D

wasn´t it arianespace who some time ago quoted that 2 older PAL A320´s were in irland for inspection and repainting to air phil colors ?

maybe you would like to comment dear arianespace please ? possibly you also know how many of these older A320´s will fly for air phil and when, or will they possibly just slowly stop operations in favor of PAL´s econoline or PALexpress ?

salamat.

[QUOTE=majaba;31873054]

oh i agree, a simple update to the belly should suffice. The tail logo is one of the most recognizable and it would be a shame to change any part of it. Just change the typeface just like the Air France rebranding, except WAYYYY better

much better that way... re-branding in terms of font type.. AF didn't even their company logo ever since...

but it would still best if there's a special livery for PAL... katulad sa Malaysia Airlines, Quantas, at Cathay Pacific may special livery ang isang 744 nila...

wasn´t it arianespace who some time ago quoted that 2 older PAL A320´s were in irland for inspection and repainting to air phil colors ?

maybe you would like to comment dear arianespace please ? possibly you also know how many of these older A320´s will fly for air phil and when, or will they possibly just slowly stop operations in favor of PAL´s econoline or PALexpress ?

salamat.

www.ch-aviation.ch on its "fleet lists" section lists all 7 older A320s of the PAL fleet as "for Air Philippines." This database is usually accurate, but it also lists the last PAL 737-300 as still being "for Air Philippines."

^^
Thats more like it. The 733 was transferred last year, 2 A320 this year, 3 more next year and 2 more in 2011. The first one is RP-C3221. I think that was the plan as far as I can remember. The 732 overhead was really killing their finances.

Fedex adieu . Read the link.
Clark politics killed Subic's dream (http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/subic-bids-farewell-to-fedex-asian-hub.html)

^^
Thats more like it. The 733 was transferred last year, 2 A320 this year, 3 more next year and 2 more in 2011. The first one is RP-C3221. I think that was the plan as far as I can remember. The 732 overhead was really killing their finances.

Transferring the leases. But will the livery still be "mainline?" Or will we see new titles applied: PALexpress or AirPhils?

Interesting photos:
http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showpost.php?p=33364377&postcount=3092

Why would PAL put an A380 model with its corporate colors on public display?

Is it a case of "naubusan ng display items?" Or does this really mean something?

Kingfisher already announced their deferral of the ordered A380s...

^^
Its transfer alright. Are you familiar with leaseback? Thats what it is. Its the same with the Q300. Had 2P posted a decent profit, it would have been done a year ago. But with its losses, it had to lease its planes which it did not currently want.



Why would PAL put an A380 model with its corporate colors on public display?

Is it a case of "naubusan ng display items?" Or does this really mean something?

Kingfisher already announced their deferral of the ordered A380s...

I can answer some of your questions on this link (http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/kingfisher-seeks-to-delay-delivery-of.html).

And for the public display, naubusan na po kasi ang display item nila. But seriously though, there is only one A380 model of PAL in the Philippines similar to the size you find at the Centennial Terminal Ticketing office. If they are of the same scale model, then I don't want to talk about it. :lol:

Fedex adieu . Read the link.
Clark politics killed Subic's dream (http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/subic-bids-farewell-to-fedex-asian-hub.html)

Emo ang last flight nung napanood ko sa news yesterday...

But then China is really booming...

Transferring the leases. But will the livery still be "mainline?" Or will we see new titles applied: PALexpress or AirPhils?

would be nice to see a new livery with air philippines. the old one simply looks old fashioned. as the airline belongs to mr tan too, he should do better to display sistership to PAL similar like :

PALexpress he could name it :
PALregional or :
PALecono

or some title relating to the LCC version.

National gov’t to modernize Kalibo airport





KALIBO, Aklan — Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores said more airport developments will be implemented by the national government to enhance the international status of Kalibo International Airport as a premier gateway to Boracay Island.

Last week, planners and surveyors of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) discussed their plans with Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Kalibo manager Engr. Percy Malonesio to improve the airport facilities.

"By 2009, the Kalibo airport will substantially have more developments by modernizing the old domestic airport. An extension of the runway to comply with the 2,500 meters standards will be pursued. A one-kilometer diversion road will also be finalized to re-route the existing portion of the provincial road to give way to the runway extension," the solon said.

As of December 2008, the R48-million new terminal building at the Kalibo International Airport is 38.27 percent completed while the R54.175-million installation of the Instrument Landing System is ongoing. (Boy Ryan B. Zabal)

^^ Next time, please provide links to the websites where you got your articles from. It's only proper to give credit to the source of the information you're getting. Thank you very much for your cooperation on this matter.

you are right kiretoce, i only noticed after i posted that a link was missing. that was from manila bullitin.
ok now the next one from business world online :

PAL, Cebu Pacific still bullish on Northern Mindanao prospects

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The country’s biggest domestic airlines remain bullish about their Northern Mindanao prospects this year despite the global economic downturn.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific officials said they are increasing flights to this city and have no plans of laying off workers.

Early this week, the regional office of the Labor department said Air Philippines is reducing its workers in this city, with two employees so far laid off based on official notice submitted to the agency.

Tourism industry leaders projected a lower number of visitor arrivals this year not only due to the global economic slump but also due to negative media reports about Mindanao.

Licerio F. Cruz, PAL branch manager, said the airline has actually increased flights between this city and major destinations to accommodate the growing number of inbound and outbound passengers.

"In December, we increased daily flights to four from three because of the peak traveling period," said Mr. Cruz in a brief interview.

The routes cover Manila-Cagayan de Oro and Cebu-Cagayan de Oro. "We maintained the four daily flights after the Christmas season," Mr. Cruz said.

Also, flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays have been increased to five.

The same optimism is shared by Cebu Pacific, which introduced budget fares three years ago.

"Our Cagayan de Oro operation has remained one of our strongest performing routes. We continue to maintain high passenger loads with our trademark low fares, convenient schedule, and new planes," said Candice A. Iyog, vice-president for marketing and distribution, said in an email to BusinessWorld.

Ms. Iyog said Cebu Pacific would also be adding flights to Cagayan de Oro City next month. "Our Manila-Cagayan de Oro flights will increase from 35 times weekly to 39 times weekly," she said.

Cebu Pacific currently operates five daily flights from Manila to this city. The budget airline also flies twice daily from this city to Cebu City. — Geefe P. Alba

is there any information on zest air´s second A320, has it arrived in manila yet ? and when are the next 2 airbusses coming ?

i recall reading (not sure where, possibly in this thread?) that zest air wants to fly 4 A 320´s this year. would be greatfull for any infos in this matter.

just noticed Seair has a new website design : http://www.flyseair.com/

looks nice, but is a bit slow yet.

Mukhang nahuli pa ako sa balita...I was surprised that Air Philippines is now using Boeing 737-300 (or is it 400?).

This particular picture was shot last 6 February wherein its bound for Cebu. Air Philippines hasn't surrendered its Air Philippines flight Iloilo to Cebu and vice versa to PAL Express which was earlier slated to replace 2P's flight in this segment.

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/331/1200x1200/47/IloAirport014.jpg?et=tXgicz7r2GEAtmBJufFliw&nmid=195253831

And another flight serving ILO-CEB vice versa is the ATR Turboprops of CebuPacificAir.
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/331/1200x1200/45/IloAirport017.jpg?et=4buSfBqCoJD8B54Q02aTmw&nmid=195253831

@habagat

737-300 po yan... judging the length of its fuselage...

is there any information on zest air´s second A320, has it arrived in manila yet ? and when are the next 2 airbusses coming ?

i recall reading (not sure where, possibly in this thread?) that zest air wants to fly 4 A 320´s this year. would be greatfull for any infos in this matter.


Click Here to view the photo (http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1462874)

RP-C8898 left Long Beach, California on it's delivery flight to the Philippines via Hilo, last January 8. I'm surprise no photo have been posted yet of her in the Philippines.

Click Here to view the photo (http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1462874)

RP-C8898 left Long Beach, California on it's delivery flight to the Philippines via Hilo, last January 8. I'm surprise no photo have been posted yet of her in the Philippines.

gee thanks montecito !
so was i....

By the way, here's a photo of the sample of PAL's upcoming 77W model to be sold inflight:
http://modelutions.de/catalog/images/DSC05286.JPG

It is made by Herpa and is in 1/500 scale.

Notice the PAL logo just after door 1L and the small titles (?) written after it.

Overall, I think it needs more color, but the sunrise livery still looks good on the 77W.

PAL has two subsidiary companies. What is the plan of this airline company? Why do they open two subsidiary companies? Do they really want to monopolies the airlines business in the country? They should give room as well for others to have a healthy competition.

By the way, here's a photo of the sample of PAL's upcoming 77W model to be sold inflight:
http://modelutions.de/catalog/images/DSC05286.JPG

It is made by Herpa and is in 1/500 scale.

Notice the PAL logo just after door 1L and the small titles (?) written after it.

Overall, I think it needs more color, but the sunrise livery still looks good on the 77W.


I love B777. It’s comfortable in air and spacious same as B747.

LTP - Lufthansa Technik Philippines video...
GgNQ2X37qiw

one of the best aircraft "talyer" in the world hehe... accommodates all range of Airbus and Boeing birds even the upcoming 747-800.. though A380 wasn't mentioned...
its really a good thing Lufthansa choose our country to setting up their business here...

Do you know if this will be sold in all PAL international flights. I reallly want to add this to my collection.

By the way, here's a photo of the sample of PAL's upcoming 77W model to be sold inflight:
http://modelutions.de/catalog/images/DSC05286.JPG

It is made by Herpa and is in 1/500 scale.

Notice the PAL logo just after door 1L and the small titles (?) written after it.

Overall, I think it needs more color, but the sunrise livery still looks good on the 77W.

Assembling Delta's 777-200 in 4 minutes...

_ncI9-xb3Lc

^^ It is nice to join the Boeing plant tour.

I heard they have a new flight simulator at the Future of Flight Aviation Center.

Do you know if this will be sold in all PAL international flights. I reallly want to add this to my collection.

Yup, it will be!:banana: I emailed PAL and they said they will sell it as soon as stocks arrive.

You can read more about the model here:
http://www.wings900.com/vb/1-500-scale-discussion/39948-new-release-1-500-herpa-philippine-airlines-b-777-36ner.html
I posted the email sent by PAL and I think it is on the second page.

LTP - Lufthansa Technik Philippines video...
GgNQ2X37qiw

one of the best aircraft "talyer" in the world hehe... accommodates all range of Airbus and Boeing birds even the upcoming 747-800.. though A380 wasn't mentioned...
its really a good thing Lufthansa choose our country to setting up their business here...

very informative video..... so LTP is in Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Clark. all the while i thought that LTP was only in Manila.:)

By the way, here's a photo of the sample of PAL's upcoming 77W model to be sold inflight:
http://modelutions.de/catalog/images/DSC05286.JPG

It is made by Herpa and is in 1/500 scale.

Notice the PAL logo just after door 1L and the small titles (?) written after it.

Overall, I think it needs more color, but the sunrise livery still looks good on the 77W.

How much a 1/500 scale cost?

By the way, here's a photo of the sample of PAL's upcoming 77W model to be sold inflight:
http://modelutions.de/catalog/images/DSC05286.JPG

It is made by Herpa and is in 1/500 scale.

Notice the PAL logo just after door 1L and the small titles (?) written after it.

Overall, I think it needs more color, but the sunrise livery still looks good on the 77W.

pwede ba bumuli nyan kahit d ka sumsakay sa mga flight nila gusto ko lang magkaroon for collection... sana pwede at magkano? tnx

pwede ba bumuli nyan kahit d ka sumsakay sa mga flight nila gusto ko lang magkaroon for collection... sana pwede at magkano? tnx

i think hobby stores will sell this product. check mo na lang sa LIL's sa SM megamall, trinoma or sa glorietta. try mo rin icheck sa Special Toy Center (STC) sa Ali Mall (ito lang ang branch na alam ko hehe):)

very informative video..... so LTP is in Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Clark. all the while i thought that LTP was only in Manila.:)

LTP is in Davao too @xzibit a long time ago..they are certified to conduct engineering checks for SilkAir flights..

How much a 1/500 scale cost?

The current inflight set of PAL (Herpa 1/500) costs USD28 and it contains the 747-400 + A340-300.

Herpa sold regular editions of each separately and each retailed for around USD18++. Today, these cost around USD25 upwards each.

I just hope PAL sells it at a lower price.

pwede ba bumuli nyan kahit d ka sumsakay sa mga flight nila gusto ko lang magkaroon for collection... sana pwede at magkano? tnx

The sample shown is the regular edition to be distributed by Herpa. Normally they're more expensive than the airline version. Sometimes the inflight/ airline version have different features, although PAL's current set (744 + 343) did not differ much from the regular edition.

PAL's version will only be sold aboard international flights.:ohno:

i think hobby stores will sell this product. check mo na lang sa LIL's sa SM megamall, trinoma or sa glorietta. try mo rin icheck sa Special Toy Center (STC) sa Ali Mall (ito lang ang branch na alam ko hehe):)

Lil's is the only and official distributor of Herpa in the Phils. You will never see this at STC (unless you're looking for 1/400, other brands though). Normally, only the Ayala branch of Lil's sells the Herpas.

Lil's is the only and official distributor of Herpa in the Phils. You will never see this at STC (unless you're looking for 1/400, other brands though). Normally, only the Ayala branch of Lil's sells the Herpas.

ahh ganoon po ba... maybe STC used to sell Herpas kasi i bought a Herpa PAL A343 nung december sa ali mall.

i would like pass on credits to all forumers in all the airline and airport threads here.

the quality of posts and images has reached very good quality during the last 12 months. as i myself am a great civilian aviation enthuziast, especially connected to philippine aviation, it is of great pleasure to thank all of you very much for making these posts and images more lively and very professional !

SALAMAT PO !

WEDNESDAY Feb 11 Business Mirror
4 more carriers moving to Naia 3
Top News
Written by Recto Mercene / Reporter
TUESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2009 22:28
SOME airlines that deferred their transfer to the new Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 have changed their minds and are transferring sometime before June this year after the old Terminal 1 exceeded its 7-million passenger capacity, making it overcrowded.

General manager Alfonso Cusi of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said that at the end of the year, perhaps up to four international air carriers would have transferred to Terminal 3 (T3), but did not identify them, only saying none fly to the United States.

“We have reached an agreement that these air carriers would transfer to T3 as part of a bargain that we have arrived at,” Cusi told a media forum at the Sofitel Hotel on Tuesday.

He said the Miaa expects international traffic in Manila to rise by 2 percent to 3 percent this year, while domestic air travel is seen to have only a more modest growth.

He reported that in 2008, international passenger traffic was at 10.7 million and domestic traffic was 9.7 million, for a total of 20.4 million passengers.

By 2013, the MIAA forecasts 11.3 million international passengers and 10.3 million domestic passengers for a total of 21.6 million passengers; and in its long view, the figure would be 39 million by 2018.

As the movement of passengers between T1 and T2 is seen to rise, Cusi said a monorail would be constructed next year to link them; it’s estimated to cost P300 million and be completed in three years.

“We intend to use our own revenue for the construction of this monorail, which is less than a kilometer long, although eventually, it would be extended up to T3,” said Cusi, revealing the MIAA had revenues of P8 billion last year.

They expect the Philippines to continue to register greater passenger arrivals despite the crisis, citing the healthy growth of deployment in overseas Filipino workers. OFW arrival last year was recorded at 25 percent of terminal capacity.:banana::banana::banana:

They worry too much about other people's (countries' supposed business) but cant take care of its own.

FAA Records Stolen By Computer Hackers

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090210/ap_on_hi_te/faa_computers

Check out PAL's big bird in Hongkong.

Picture from the International Airport and Aviation Thread



http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2009/0131/IMG_2529.jpg

They worry too much about other people's (countries' supposed business) but cant take care of its own.

FAA Records Stolen By Computer Hackers

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090210/ap_on_hi_te/faa_computers

you are quite right flipflop06.
if there is any decision who is allowed and who is not (to fly anywhere, no matter where) it should be an international gremium that desides after defined international standards.

"one planet one world"

safety concerns are everybodies matters.

they really should sweep in front of their own doorstep instead of playing "world police/we know everything better" again.

ahh ganoon po ba... maybe STC used to sell Herpas kasi i bought a Herpa PAL A343 nung december sa ali mall.

salamat pero san ba nakakabili yung final na?:banana: cause i want to get one of these

Trains connecting NAIA terminals eyed (http://http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090210-188540/Trains-connecting-NAIA-terminals-eyed)
By Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:01:00 02/10/2009

MANILA, Philippines—Plans are underway for a rail service connecting the four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) complex, according to airport officials.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Alfonso Cusi and his deputy for airport development and corporate services, Tirso Serrano, said on Tuesday the monorail service would bring convenience to air travelers using the NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and the Manila Domestic Airport.

“This is part of our program to improve airport services by connecting our terminals for easy access,” Cusi said during the weekly media forum at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

At present, passengers use shuttle buses, taxis and other public utility vehicles to get from one terminal to another.

The setup has resulted in some inconvenience, particularly for departing passengers who sometimes ended up at the wrong airport, as well as for arriving foreign tourists with connecting flights.

Many foreign tourists who come to the Philippines without advance bookings have a hard time shuttling from NAIA 1 or 3 to the domestic airport for their connecting flights to the provinces.

Serrano said the monorail system would cost around P300 million and would be constructed via the design-and-build scheme, utilizing local technology.

If the project were put out for bids and awarded this year, construction could begin immediately and the train system would be operational within two years, he said.

Serrano added that the MIAA has been studying if the monorail system would be internal, meaning, the service would be located inside airport premises, with trains available only to air travelers and airport personnel.

WEDNESDAY Feb 11 Business Mirror
4 more carriers moving to Naia 3
Top News
Written by Recto Mercene / Reporter
TUESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2009 22:28
SOME airlines that deferred their transfer to the new Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 have changed their minds and are transferring sometime before June this year after the old Terminal 1 exceeded its 7-million passenger capacity, making it overcrowded.

General manager Alfonso Cusi of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said that at the end of the year, perhaps up to four international air carriers would have transferred to Terminal 3 (T3), but did not identify them, only saying none fly to the United States.

“We have reached an agreement that these air carriers would transfer to T3 as part of a bargain that we have arrived at,” Cusi told a media forum at the Sofitel Hotel on Tuesday.

He said the Miaa expects international traffic in Manila to rise by 2 percent to 3 percent this year, while domestic air travel is seen to have only a more modest growth.

He reported that in 2008, international passenger traffic was at 10.7 million and domestic traffic was 9.7 million, for a total of 20.4 million passengers.

By 2013, the MIAA forecasts 11.3 million international passengers and 10.3 million domestic passengers for a total of 21.6 million passengers; and in its long view, the figure would be 39 million by 2018.

As the movement of passengers between T1 and T2 is seen to rise, Cusi said a monorail would be constructed next year to link them; it’s estimated to cost P300 million and be completed in three years.

“We intend to use our own revenue for the construction of this monorail, which is less than a kilometer long, although eventually, it would be extended up to T3,” said Cusi, revealing the MIAA had revenues of P8 billion last year.

They expect the Philippines to continue to register greater passenger arrivals despite the crisis, citing the healthy growth of deployment in overseas Filipino workers. OFW arrival last year was recorded at 25 percent of terminal capacity.:banana::banana::banana:

its cathay, singapore, korean and thai according to this article

http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/cathay-leads-terminal-3-transfer.html

Four international airline companies would probably help alot in decongesting T1. That way they can renovate t1 little by little. I wonder which other airlines would remain in T1. I've got a feeling that this might be a permanent deal.....or would last long. especially now that they would be connecting the three terminal buildings with a monorail. They probably need to expand T2 towards the old nayong filipino so that the other domestic carriers can use it instead of just PAL and Air Philippines. Or they can move Zest Air and Seair as well to T3 then tear down the old Domestic airport so they can use that area to widen and lengthen the runway between T2 and T3.

And wow! I read the article , it stated there that Emirates is intending to operates it A380 the middle of next year I think. And then T2 will construct an annex building to accomodate more international passengers for PAL.

Cebu Pacific market share hits 45.6% (http://http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20090211-188611/Cebu-Pacific-market-share-hits-456)

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:55:00 02/11/2009

MANILA, Philippines--Cebu Pacific Air said it corned 45.6 percent of the domestic airline market last year, up 2.6 percentage points from 2007, citing government data.

The unit of the Gokongwei group’s publicly listed conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. said data from the Civil Aeronautics Board and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines showed it flew 5.4 million domestic passengers in 2008 — half a million passengers more than the combined traffic of rival Philippine Airlines and its PAL Express.

It said the data showed Air Philippines carried 913,570, Zest Air (formerly known as Asian Spirit) 374,145, and Southeast Asian Airlines 217,885.

The 13-year-old Cebu Pacific flies to 15 foreign and 27 domestic destinations.

It said it would soon add four more domestic destinations: Calbayog, Catarman, Virac (Catanduanes) and Siargao. Doris C. Dumlao; edited by INQUIRER.net

ahh ganoon po ba... maybe STC used to sell Herpas kasi i bought a Herpa PAL A343 nung december sa ali mall.

STC also used to sell StarJets (1/500) because it used to be associated with GeminiJets (1/400) which they officially carry.

I just got my Herpa Wings 2009 catalog yesterday and it only lists LIL's Ayala as the official distributor.

its cathay, singapore, korean and thai according to this article

http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/cathay-leads-terminal-3-transfer.html

A long time ago, when T3 first announced its opening, they announced that JL, NW, EK and TG would be moving in.

The article mentions two more carriers to follow. One from Europe (Hmmm, could it be KL? Ooops! We don't have any other EU carrier!:nuts:). And the other one from the MEast (Maybe EK or QR).

has the crashed chinese airliner/zest air in caticlan been removed or is it still there ?
any comments anyone ?

now that everyone is delighted with the news of 4 airlines moving to T3 in summer.
what about the terminal ? are they really going to be finished with their repairs (tanaka) and have everything running and working properly by then ?

now that everyone is delighted with the news of 4 airlines moving to T3 in summer.
what about the terminal ? are they really going to be finished with their repairs (tanaka) and have everything running and working properly by then ?

I'm curious about the status of the Terminal, too! I've never been inside T3, but from what I've gathered from friends who've used it, many of the jetways remain inoperable (or at least are not allowed for use).

NEDA Board OKs road project in Samar and airport upgrade in Palawan (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148283/NEDA-Board-OKs-road-project-in-Samar-and-airport-upgrade-in-Palawan)
02/11/2009 | 03:26 PM

MANILA, Philippines- The National Economic and Development Authority Board, chaired by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has approved two new projects aiming to link remote provinces in Samar and increase tourist arrivals in Palawan.

In a statement, NEDA said the two projects, which will be sponsored by South Korea, are worth P6 billion.

The P2.5-billion Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project will link the towns in Samar Island to enhance the development of potential agricultural lands and fishing grounds of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar provinces as well as facilitate the movement of goods and services in the area.

It involves the improvement of the 108.4-kilometer road that traverses the pacific coastal towns of Laoang, Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay, and Lapinig in Northern Samar and Arteche and San Policarpo in Eastern Samar. Of the total project cost, about P1.6 billion will be foreign-funded while the remaining P900 million will be the local counterpart. The foreign cost component shall be sourced from the Korean-EDCF loan facility.

While the project is set to be implemented from 2010 to 2013, the Department of Public Works and Highways has jumpstarted implementation of the project in “critical" locations in 2008. About P287 million was used to finance the project last year while P500 million is allocated to continue completion this year.

Meanwhile, the Board also approved the P3.5-billion Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project. About P2.8 billion of the total cost for this project shall be sourced from the Korean EDCF loan facility while the remaining P700 million will be the government counterpart.

The project will improve the Puerto Princesa Airport by upgrading its facilities to meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization .

It includes the construction of a new passenger terminal complex and a new access road off the national highway; widening of the runway strip and installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS); establishment of new security fencing; and improvement of navigational aid, air traffic control, communications and air field lighting.

Moreover, the Board approved the “emergency" repair works for the LRT Line 1 Capacity Expansion Project (Phase II). The LRT Line 1 was constructed in December 1984 and operated as the first light rail line in Asia.

The Line 1 Capacity Expansion Project which was implemented from 1994 to 1998 increased the passenger-carrying capacity by 50 percent from 18,000 to 27,000 passengers per peak hour per direction.

On the other hand, the Phase II of the project, implemented from 1999 to 2008 supported the operations of integrated LRT Lines 1, 2 and 3 networks. This increased passenger capacity by another 50 percent from 27,000 to 40,000 passengers per peak hour per direction. GMANews.TV

STC also used to sell StarJets (1/500) because it used to be associated with GeminiJets (1/400) which they officially carry.

I just got my Herpa Wings 2009 catalog yesterday and it only lists LIL's Ayala as the official distributor.


by ayala you mean both trinoma and glorietta? or glorietta only? thanks

by ayala you mean both trinoma and glorietta? or glorietta only? thanks

Glorietta only. Lil's Trinoma carries various other brands aside from Herpa. So with the Megamall branch, though I've seen one or two Herpa models.

Perhaps you'd find this thread useful:
http://www.wings900.com/vb/1-500-scale-discussion/34310-airline-models-store-philippines.html

NEDA Board OKs road project in Samar and airport upgrade in Palawan (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148283/NEDA-Board-OKs-road-project-in-Samar-and-airport-upgrade-in-Palawan)
02/11/2009 | 03:26 PM

...

Meanwhile, the Board also approved the P3.5-billion Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project. About P2.8 billion of the total cost for this project shall be sourced from the Korean EDCF loan facility while the remaining P700 million will be the government counterpart.

The project will improve the Puerto Princesa Airport by upgrading its facilities to meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization .

It includes the construction of a new passenger terminal complex and a new access road off the national highway; widening of the runway strip and installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS); establishment of new security fencing; and improvement of navigational aid, air traffic control, communications and air field lighting.

...

Does Puerto Princesa still have international flights? I think some domestic airlines operated some flights to Korea, Malaysia and somewhere in Micronesia. But I think those were charters.

Glorietta only. Lil's Trinoma carries various other brands aside from Herpa. So with the Megamall branch, though I've seen one or two Herpa models.

Perhaps you'd find this thread useful:
http://www.wings900.com/vb/1-500-scale-discussion/34310-airline-models-store-philippines.html



Does Puerto Princesa still have international flights? I think some domestic airlines operated some flights to Korea, Malaysia and somewhere in Micronesia. But I think those were charters.

yes, there is... SEAir flight from Puerto Princesa City to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia once a week...^^

Manila Bulletin :
Iran readying Tehran-Manila direct flights

By CHARISSA M. LUCI

The Iranian government plans to start the first Tehran-Manila direct flight "in three months" in a move to intensify the tourism and investment relations between the two countries.

Iranian Ambassador Ali Mojtaba Rouzbehani said Tehran’s Mahan Air, a private airline, is targeting to have four direct flights in a week.

"We will have direct flights from Tehran to Manila. In two or three months, it will take off," he said at the celebration of National Day of Iran at Mandarin Hotel in Makati last Tuesday night.

Last year, the Philippine air panel signed the first air services agreement with Iran to address the increasing demand for Middle East-bound flights.

There are about two million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) deployed in the Middle East.

Rouzbehani said Tehran is set to expand the proposed four flights in a week to 14 flights to cater to airports outside Manila, including those at Clark and Cebu.

"We suggested to have four flights in a week. We are eyeing to expand them to 14 flights, including in other Philippine airports," he said.

Mahan Air already expressed readiness to operate in Manila and at the Clark airport.

Once the Tehran-Manila direct flight operations start, the Philippines is expected to at least lure around seven million tourists from Iran, Rouzbehani said.

"It is very important to have Iranian tourists here. I am pushing for that," the top Iranian top official in the country said.

He said Mahan Air has invited Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano to visit Tehran, together with officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to finalize air agreements.

Earlier, Reza Jafarzadeh, spokesperson of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO), announced the Iranian government’s intention to begin the first Tehran-Manila direct flight.

Aside from Iran, the Philippines has reached new and amended air agreements with Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, Canada, and Finland.

Business Mirror :
Cebu Pacific considers more rate cuts this year
Companies
Written by Lenie Lectura / Reporter
WEDNESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2009 20:48
CEBU Air Inc., the airline unit of JG Summit Holdings Inc. is looking at offering cheaper fares this year to make air travel more affordable, its president said yesterday.

In a text message to the BusinessMirror, the airline’s president Lance Gokongwei said “prices will go down this year.” JG Summit is controlled by the family of tycoon John Gokongwei and is owner of the nation’s largest snack-food company, Universal Robina Corp., and the second-largest carrier, Cebu Air.

Cebu Air Inc., which is more popularly known as Cebu Pacific, already removed the fuel and insurance surcharges for all its domestic flight bookings.

The removal of the surcharges will now allow passengers to easily compare airfare with the fares offered by buses and ferries.

“We removed fuel surcharges because oil prices are going down,” added Gokongwei.

There is no word yet if Cebu Pacific will also remove the same for international flights but the airline had earlier announced a cut in fuel and insurance surcharge for select international routes. For instance, Manila-Bangkok and Clark-Bangkok one-way surcharges went down from $80 to $50 and $80 to $60, respectively.

Also, Manila-Osaka one-way surcharges had been lowered from $105 to $100 and Manila-Hong Kong surcharges reduced from $45 to $40 per way.

Gokongwei also said six new planes will arrive this year. “We await the delivery of two Airbus and four ATRs.” Accordingly, the airline will expand its services, added the official.

Cebu Pacific has the most number of interisland routes and connections from its hubs in Clark, Manila, Cebu and Davao. It flies to 15 international cities and 27, soon to be 32 domestic destinations with the addition of Siargao, Catarman, Calbayog, Cauayan (Isabela), and Virac (Cantanduanes) in the coming months.

The airline expects to fly 9.3 million passengers this year from 6.7 million passengers last year. It carried 5.38 million domestic passengers in 2008, up 20.7 percent from 2007, while international passengers rose by 33 percent, from one million to 1.4 million in the same period.

In terms of market share, Cebu Pacific retained its position as the country’s leading domestic airline with a 45.6-percent market share last year, up by 2.6 percentage points from the previous year’s 42.9 percent.

According to a statement released by Cebu Pacific on Monday, it flew half-a-million domestic passengers more than the combined traffic of Philippine Airlines and PAL Express. PAL flew 4.9 million passengers; Air Philippines carried 913,570; Zest Air, formerly known as Asian Spirit had 374,145 passengers; and Seair flew 217,885 passengers.

The company increased its total number of domestic destinations to 27 in 2008 from 20 in 2007, and it also added routes from 28 in 2007 to 39 in 2008.

The growth, said the airline, can be attributed to the increase in seat capacity coupled with low fares.

Cebu Pacific pioneered all-inclusive fares in the domestic air travel market and introduced the ‘Go Lite’ fares that gave discounts to travelers without check-in luggage.

Business World :
PAL forecasts loss due to fuel hedging

FLAG CARRIER Philippine Airlines (PAL) expects to post its first full-year loss since 2004, with a slowing global economy and oil price volatility having weighed down revenues.


Speaking on the sidelines of a briefing, PAL President Jaime J. Bautista yesterday said the company would likely post a loss for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, a reversal from a $30-million profit previously.

"We already reported a six months’ loss. For the third quarter we will lose again but hopefully in the last quarter we will be profitable or break even, that is our projection," he told reporters while declining to provide an estimate.

PAL, whose fiscal year ends in March, incurred losses of $113.8 million for the first two quarters. In the comparable 2007 period, the Lucio Tan-led carrier booked income of $22.7 million.

Mr. Bautista said the airline’s losses were primarily because of a hedging program to address volatile fuel prices.

Crude oil prices skyrocketed to an all-time high of $147 per barrel in July last year but are now just above $40.

To offset hedging losses, Mr. Bautista said the company would focus on keeping load factors high. He said the airline’s average load factor per flight, or the number of passengers on a plane relative to its full capacity, has stayed at more than 70%.

"We have to manage our revenues depending on the demand. If the revenues are low, we offer more seats at lower prices," Mr. Bautista said.

But he also said "On the passenger side, there might be a very small growth [in 2009] but we will be happy if we will be able to achieve the same number as eight million last year."

Mr. Bautista said PAL was expecting delivery of a leased Boeing 777 long-haul jet this November, which the airline plans to use for more flights to the United States, its biggest market.

A factor that has to be considered, however, is that the company and other Philippine carriers remain barred from mounting additional flights to the US, due to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgrade that hit Philippine airlines.

The FAA has pointed to below par Philippine aviation safety standards as having spurred the downgrade, which carried with it the bar on expansion.

The government wants the FAA to restore the country’s rating by July, banking on the creation of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

PAL last posted full-year losses in the 2003-2004 fiscal year when it was still under rehabilitation. The airline went into rehab in June 1998 after suffering massive losses caused by labor problems and the 1997 Asian currency crisis.

It exited the turnaround program in October 2007, two months ahead of schedule. — with a report from Reuters

Back to top

Iran readying Tehran-Manila direct flights (http://http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20090212147922.html)
By CHARISSA M. LUCI

The Iranian government plans to start the first Tehran-Manila direct flight "in three months" in a move to intensify the tourism and investment relations between the two countries.

Iranian Ambassador Ali Mojtaba Rouzbehani said Tehran’s Mahan Air, a private airline, is targeting to have four direct flights in a week.

"We will have direct flights from Tehran to Manila. In two or three months, it will take off," he said at the celebration of National Day of Iran at Mandarin Hotel in Makati last Tuesday night.

Last year, the Philippine air panel signed the first air services agreement with Iran to address the increasing demand for Middle East-bound flights.

There are about two million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) deployed in the Middle East.

Rouzbehani said Tehran is set to expand the proposed four flights in a week to 14 flights to cater to airports outside Manila, including those at Clark and Cebu.

"We suggested to have four flights in a week. We are eyeing to expand them to 14 flights, including in other Philippine airports," he said.

Mahan Air already expressed readiness to operate in Manila and at the Clark airport.

Once the Tehran-Manila direct flight operations start, the Philippines is expected to at least lure around seven million tourists from Iran, Rouzbehani said.

"It is very important to have Iranian tourists here. I am pushing for that," the top Iranian top official in the country said.

He said Mahan Air has invited Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano to visit Tehran, together with officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to finalize air agreements.

Earlier, Reza Jafarzadeh, spokesperson of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO), announced the Iranian government’s intention to begin the first Tehran-Manila direct flight.

Aside from Iran, the Philippines has reached new and amended air agreements with Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, Canada, and Finland.

Asia's budget airlines eye growth, trade barriers (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=439656&publicationSubCategoryId=200)
Updated February 12, 2009 09:55 AM


SINGAPORE (AP) -Asia's budget airlines should benefit from bargain hunting travelers amid a global economic slowdown, as long as government barriers don't stifle expansion of this still young business, industry experts said.

Low-cost carriers are poised to take advantage of falling fuel costs and increased demand for cheap fares as full-service airlines struggle with a global collapse in consumer demand, they said.

"These times are very good for low-cost carriers," Bruce Buchanan, chief executive of Melbourne-based Jetstar Airways, said at a conference. "We're seeing quite strong demand. Six months ago it was a much tougher environment."

Budget airlines have flourished this decade in Asia as the region opened routes to competition. However, governments could scuttle that growth by returning to protectionist policies in a bid to save jobs at national flagship carriers, many of which are state-owned, said Peter Harbison, an industry consultant at the Sydney-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.

Tiger Airways Chief Executive Tony Davis said that while a surge in protectionism is the industry's biggest risk, governments also face pressure to boost tourist revenue.

"I don't think protectionism will flourish in this market," Davis said. "Progress is being made."

Budget airlines expect to save millions of dollars on fuel costs this year after crude oil prices fell from near $150 in July to about $40 this month. Davis said Singapore-based Tiger flew 50 percent more passengers in the last quarter from the same quarter a year earlier.

"A two-thirds reduction in your single-largest expense is enormous," Davis said. "We will translate that into lower airfares and high passenger margins."

Full-service airlines won't likely fare as well.

Singapore Airlines, which has a 49 percent stake in Tiger, said Tuesday its October-December profit fell 43 percent from a year earlier. The airline, which started all business-class flights to New York and Los Angeles last year, said last month it planned to cut flights to the US, Europe and Asia as demand dried up.

"There's been a 20 to 25 percent fall in premium traffic over last couple months," Harbison said. "If demand continues to deteriorate, we're going to see airlines grounded this year."

"This is not just another downturn. It's a watershed for aviation."

[B][SIZE="4"]

Aside from Iran, the Philippines has reached new and amended air agreements with Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, Canada, and Finland.
nice, two european countries.

i have a suggestion to propose.
wouln´t it be nice to open a new thread to the philippines 3rd bussiest airport ?
caticlan has a lot to offer in terms of traffic with (are there 4) different airlines frequenting the airfield and construction coming up soon ?

PAL seen to postpone Airbus deal
PAL delays deal with Airbus on loss forecasts
February 12, 2009

MANILA - Flag carrier Philippine Airlines is likely to postpone new aircraft purchases this year as it expects to post a net loss for the fiscal year ending March 31 primarily due to costly fuel hedges and high fuel prices, its president said on Wednesday.

The airline, PAL Holdings Inc (PAL.PS), incurred a net loss of $113.8 million for the first half of the fiscal year which ended on Sept 30 as compared to its booked income of $22.7 million in the same period last year, and it went earning $30-million profit in 2007.
It joins industry leader Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, Malaysia Airlines, China Eastern Airlines Corp., Air China Ltd. and Cathay Pacific, which agreed to hedging deals when oil prices were rising last year, and have all posted paper losses from contracts after oil prices went down.

read the whole article here : http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com

taken from PAL website/news :
New Laoag Terminal

PHOTO RELEASE

NEW LAOAG TERMINAL. The newly expanded and renovated passenger terminal building of Laoag International Airport was formally opened yesterday (January 30, 2009) with Dir. Ruben Ciron of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and Jaime J. Bautista, president of Philippine Airlines, cutting the ceremonial ribbon.

Photo shows Ilocos Norte Rep. Roque Ablan, Jr. welcoming the PAL President upon arriving at Laoag. Also present at the simple blessing ceremonies were Ronald Estabillo, Laoag airport manager; Delfin Canonizado, PAL's Laoag branch manager; and Mrs. Victorina Ablan.

any photos of the expansion anyone ?

as due to zest air´s website they have rationalized their fleet again. as of now they only fly 5 chinese ma 60´s and 2 A320´s.

i wonder if they substituted their ma 60 loss (in caticlan) by now?

Iran readying Tehran-Manila direct flights (http://http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20090212147922.html)
By CHARISSA M. LUCI

The Iranian government plans to start the first Tehran-Manila direct flight "in three months" in a move to intensify the tourism and investment relations between the two countries.

Iranian Ambassador Ali Mojtaba Rouzbehani said Tehran’s Mahan Air, a private airline, is targeting to have four direct flights in a week.

"We will have direct flights from Tehran to Manila. In two or three months, it will take off," he said at the celebration of National Day of Iran at Mandarin Hotel in Makati last Tuesday night.

Last year, the Philippine air panel signed the first air services agreement with Iran to address the increasing demand for Middle East-bound flights.

There are about two million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) deployed in the Middle East.

Rouzbehani said Tehran is set to expand the proposed four flights in a week to 14 flights to cater to airports outside Manila, including those at Clark and Cebu.

"We suggested to have four flights in a week. We are eyeing to expand them to 14 flights, including in other Philippine airports," he said.

Mahan Air already expressed readiness to operate in Manila and at the Clark airport.

Once the Tehran-Manila direct flight operations start, the Philippines is expected to at least lure around seven million tourists from Iran, Rouzbehani said.

"It is very important to have Iranian tourists here. I am pushing for that," the top Iranian top official in the country said.

He said Mahan Air has invited Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano to visit Tehran, together with officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to finalize air agreements.

Earlier, Reza Jafarzadeh, spokesperson of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO), announced the Iranian government’s intention to begin the first Tehran-Manila direct flight.

Aside from Iran, the Philippines has reached new and amended air agreements with Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, Canada, and Finland.

Am really excited about this. Hope this becomes true, as there are lots of places to see there (Esfahan, Persepolis, Shiraz, ancient city of Bam, etc). It's also an added advantage that Filipinos don't need a visa to go there, but I'm not sure if there will be enough demand if direct flights are launched.

Cebu Pacific opens domestic flights to Catarman, Calbayog, Samar

Low-fare carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) will soon fly the Catarman, Northern Samar and Calbayog City, Samar routes.


Cebu Pacific has just acquired its seventh brand-new ATR 72-500 aircraft which it will use to fly to Catarman and Calbayog in Samar.

Cebu Pacific’s Michelle Eve de Guzman informed the Philippine Information Agency that the inaugural flight to Catarman will be on Valentines Day, February 14, 2009, at 7:00 o’clock in the morning.

Meanwhile, the inaugural flight to Calbayog will be at 7:00 in the morning on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, Ms. De Guzman added.

To mark the announcement of these additional services, Cebu Pacific is offering a promotional P500 all-in ‘Go Lite’ seat sale for flights from Manila to Calbayog and Catarman.

Ms. Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific VP for marketing and distribution, said “we are expanding our Manila hub operations with the arrival of our brand new ATR and will make more areas accessible through our low fares and new planes.”

Cebu Pacific will fly Manila-Catarman every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; and will fly Manila-Calbayog on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

For flight schedules and bookings, passengers may log on to www.cebupacificair.com, call the reservations hotline (632) 70-20-888; or visit the travel agent nearest them.

Now in its 13th year, Cebu Pacific has the youngest aircraft fleet in the Philippines. It flies to 15 international cities and 27, soon to be 32 domestic destinations with the addition of Siargao, Virac (Catanduanes), Cauayan (Isabela), Catarman and Calbayog. in the coming weeks.

The coming in of Cebu Pacific make three airline companies flying the Catarman, Northern Samar and Calbayog City, Samar route.:banana:

Source: Philippine Information Agency (Eastern Visayas)

A flying hotel ?!?

A luxurious Airbus A380, as conceived by Lufthansa (http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/12/a-luxurious-airbus-a380-as-conceived-by-lufthansa/)

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_1.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_4.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_2.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_3.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_5.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_front.jpg

With the economy the way it is and companies across the board cutting back on luxury perks for its executives, it's probably a little surprising to learn that some airlines are nevertheless moving forward with plans to pimp out their orders of the much-anticipated, double-decker Airbus A380.

Back in 2007, Justin gave us this look inside an Airbus A380 model purchased by Korean Air.

Now, the folks over at Dvice gives us this look at the Airbus A380 as being conceived by German national carrier Lufthansa's customization and decoration division, Lufthansa Technik. It is calling these renderings the Airbus A380 VIP Saloon.

This design is long on luxury -- full bars, sitting rooms, huge beds, showers -- and can almost feel sorry for the "poor" sods that opted for a cheaper ticket and are thus relegated to the back of the plane, where the normal seats are positioned.

^^ i really wonder how it would messed up that when the A380 makes turns or banking during flight... :lol:

I doubt it, probably those interior components will be bolted in place...

Financial News
Friday February 13, 12:17 AM
Heathrow Service 'Worst In World'
By Sky News


British travellers vote Heathrow the worst international airport for queues and baggage problems, but the best in the world for security.

Heathrow has come out worst for queues and topped the list of airports most likely to damage ADVERTISEMENT


luggage in a poll by social networking website WAYN.com (Where Are You Now?).

But the airport comes top of the table for security and friendliness.

USA immigration officials are considered the rudest, with 31% of British travellers describing US passport control staff as the least polite.

Jerome Touze, the founder of WAYN.com, said: "Our survey would suggest that the US customs and immigration need to address their attitude towards visitors.

"Simplify the form filling, generally be a lot more welcoming and better reflect the personality of the American people."

For passport control queues Heathrow came out bottom, followed by New York's Kennedy airport and Los Angeles.

The shortest queues can apparently be found at Amsterdam's Schipol airport.

Mr Touze said: "Our survey results may be pretty damning in terms of Heathrow's reputation for passenger service, but I guess all travellers would agree security is much more important."

"In this respect Heathrow can be proud to be considered among the best in the world."

Amsterdam and Rome were considered to have the least thorough security.

America's Best Airports 2008 #10 Los Angeles (LAX)

Flights delayed: 21%

Delays increased by a percentage point from 2007, but LAX was still able to hold onto a spot in our list.

#7 (tie) Phoenix (PHX)

Flights delayed: 20%

Phoenix is a newcomer to our list—go Arizona!

#7 (tie) Tampa (TPA)

Flights delayed: 20%

Tampa's delays didn't change at all—for better or worse—from 2007.

#7 (tie) Seattle (SEA)

Flights delayed: 20%

Seattle is another newbie for 2008—guess the weather isn’t all that bad.

#3 (tie) Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP)

Flights delayed: 19%

Four cities locked horns at 19%, but the Twin Cities had the biggest jump from 2007, improving on delays by 4%.

#3 (tie) Washington D.C. (DCA)

Flights delayed: 19%

Its cousin, Dulles, may have had 27% of its flights delayed, but that didn’t hold true for DCA, which is a newcomer to the list, despite having one of the World’s Scariest Runways.

#3 (tie) Oakland (OAK)

Flights delayed: 19%

Oakland broke into the top 10 in 2007 and this year improved on their delays by 2%.

#3 (tie) San Diego (SAN)

Flights delayed: 19%

Delays at San Diego may have increased by 2% this year, but the airport still hangs on to its top 3 ranking.

#2 Portland Oregon (PDX)

Flights delayed: 16%

Portland snagged the #1 spot last year with the same low percentage of delays, but this year one airport proved better.

#1 Salt Lake City (SLC)

Flights delayed: 14%

Salt Lake came roaring back into the top spot this year, after losing the title in 2007. The airport recaptured whatever magic it possessed in 2006, when its delays were also at just 14%.

Worst Airports

#10 (tie) Chicago Midway (MDW)

Flights delayed: 25%

An improved Midway cut 3% of its delays over last year. A similar jump next year and it may disappear from this list.

#10 (tie) Atlanta (ATL)

Flights delayed: 25%

Atlanta also improved its performance, jumping 5 percentage points from 2007.

#8 (tie) New York John F. Kennedy (JFK)

Flights delayed: 26%

The list’s biggest success story! JFK was tied for worst airport in 2007, but this year improved by a full 9%.

#8 (tie) San Francisco (SFO)

Flights delayed: 26%

SFO is one of the newcomers this year—let’s hope it was an anomaly.

#6 Washington Dulles (IAD)

Flights delayed: 27%

Dulles is another newcomer to the list in 2008.

#5 New York LaGuardia (LGA)

Flights delayed: 28%

LaGuardia improved its delays by 1 percentage point, but they still ranked in the worst 5, (down from #8 in 2007).

#4 Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW)

Flights delayed: 30%

Dallas had only a slight increase in delays this year, but that 1 percentage point bumped them into the top 5.

#3 Miami (MIA)

Percentage of flights delayed: 31%

What happened?! The drop from 28% in 2007 meant the airport's ranking jumped to the top 3—not a good place to be.

#2 Newark (EWR)

Flights delayed: 33%

Newark Airport was #3 last year, but even though there was a decrease in delays, it inched closer to the top spot.

#1 Chicago O’Hare (ORD)

Flights delayed: 35%

O’Hare won the dubious distinction of worst airport for delays in 2007, and things aren’t any better—even the percentage of delays has remained the same.

^^ i really wonder how it would messed up that when the A380 makes turns or banking during flight... :lol:

I doubt it, probably those interior components will be bolted in place...

It shouldn't US Airforce one is built almost like that same way. Not so much with lots of bedrooms but there are conference hall and such.

Share ko lang...

Continental Airlines Flight 3407, crashed near Buffalo, New York, USA...48 people on board...:ohno:

A flying hotel ?!?

A luxurious Airbus A380, as conceived by Lufthansa (http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/12/a-luxurious-airbus-a380-as-conceived-by-lufthansa/)

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_1.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_4.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_2.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_3.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_5.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2009/02/vipsaloon_front.jpg

wowowee...:cheers: :lol:

Share ko lang...

Continental Airlines Flight 3407, crashed near Buffalo, New York, USA...48 people on board...:ohno:

oh, that's sad...:ohno:

i was thinking that might have been caused by strong winds thursday night.. it was howling--we hit 60mph gusts in our nearby airport...

oh, that's sad...:ohno:

i was thinking that might have been caused by strong winds thursday night.. it was howling--we hit 60mph gusts in our nearby airport...

yeah i think so too, its in the news (CNN) that a strong wind will cause the cancellations and delays of airplanes in the airports...and then just minutes or an hour after the report, here comes the breaking news that a continental airline have crashed.:ohno:

Business World :
PAL forecasts loss due to fuel hedging

FLAG CARRIER Philippine Airlines (PAL) expects to post its first full-year loss since 2004, with a slowing global economy and oil price volatility having weighed down revenues.


Speaking on the sidelines of a briefing, PAL President Jaime J. Bautista yesterday said the company would likely post a loss for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, a reversal from a $30-million profit previously.

"We already reported a six months’ loss. For the third quarter we will lose again but hopefully in the last quarter we will be profitable or break even, that is our projection," he told reporters while declining to provide an estimate.

PAL, whose fiscal year ends in March, incurred losses of $113.8 million for the first two quarters. In the comparable 2007 period, the Lucio Tan-led carrier booked income of $22.7 million.


Back to top

On my domestic flights to/from Manila on PAL, I was surprised that they were serving tea again, and their crackers/skyflakes wasn't alone, they served peanuts. Told to myself, uy, umasenso na ang PAL (sarcasm included). Before, they were serving coffee, tea, juice, water, and food was packaged as a set. Last, year, it was down to coffee and water, and snacks became one piece, a snack. I guess its not because of better profits. Can't be due to competition, as Cebpac doesnt even offer anything free.

http://travel.msn.com//Guides/MSNTravelSlideShow.aspx?cp-documentid=636390&imageindex=1

oh, that's sad...:ohno:

i was thinking that might have been caused by strong winds thursday night.. it was howling--we hit 60mph gusts in our nearby airport...

It was a commuter plane from Newark Liberty Airport with 48 crews and passengers on board crashed and one person on the ground with no survivors. The Bombardier Q400 turboprop airplane was about 5 miles from Buffalo Airport.
May they rest in peace.

oh, that's sad...:ohno:

i was thinking that might have been caused by strong winds thursday night.. it was howling--we hit 60mph gusts in our nearby airport...

thats scarry, along residential area...hopefully nobody in the ground died.

On my domestic flights to/from Manila on PAL, I was surprised that they were serving tea again, and their crackers/skyflakes wasn't alone, they served peanuts. Told to myself, uy, umasenso na ang PAL (sarcasm included). Before, they were serving coffee, tea, juice, water, and food was packaged as a set. Last, year, it was down to coffee and water, and snacks became one piece, a snack. I guess its not because of better profits. Can't be due to competition, as Cebpac doesnt even offer anything free.

Well they need to improved their service, the fare is higher compare to cebu pacific....

Work on Kabankalan airport starts (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090212-188998/Work-on-Kabankalan-airport-starts)
By Carla Gomez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:57:00 02/12/2009

BACOLOD CITY – Ground preparation for the P200-million airport project in Kabankalan City has started.

The airport, to be built in Barangay Hilamonan, four kilometers from the city proper, was scheduled for completion in 2014, Kabankalan Mayor Pedro Zayco said.

“We are in the stage of earth-moving because the airport site is located in a hilly area,” Zayco said.

Land acquisition for the 104-hectare airport site is almost completed, he said. Only two landowners are left to be paid after the completion of paper work.

The ground preparations were being done on the land that have been paid for, Zayco said.

The runway will be two kilometers long but can extend to three kilometers.

“The Department of Transportation and Communication has given us a copy of its pre-feasibility on the airport,” Zayco said.

The study could be used as a basis for seeking national funding, Zayco said.

The city and provincial governments jointly funded the ongoing works at the airport project, he said.

The DOTC has given the navigational equipment from the closed airport in Bacolod City so that it could be used at the Kabankalan airport, Zayco said.

The pre-feasibility study also showed that the Kabankalan airport would have the capacity to cater to two domestic flights a day.

thats scarry, along residential area...hopefully nobody in the ground died.

One person on the ground was reported to have died. Initial finding as to cause of the crash is icing on the tail.

ATC communication with Colgan 3407 (http://www.allenhuntshow.com/Andy-Borgmann/2009/02/13/colgon-continental-express-3407-buffalo)

Cebu Pacific plane grounded by 'bird strike' in Tacloban
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148725/Cebu-Pacific-plane-grounded-by-bird-strike-in-Tacloban

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThis
MANILA, Philippines – A “bird strike" caused engine trouble for a passenger airplane of Cebu Pacific airlines at an airport in the central Philippines on Friday, a report on GMA’s 24 Oras news program said.

Reporter Lei Alvis quoted airport officials as saying Cebu Pacific flight 5J651 was landing at the airport in Tacloban City in Leyte early morning of Friday when a bird got sucked, breaking the engine’s three blades.

The aircraft managed to land safely, but its return flight to Manila was cancelled, forcing passengers to take alternative flights later on the day, said the report.

Cebu Pacific confirmed the incident.

“A Cebu Pacific flight from Manila had a bird strike as it approached Tacloban airport this morning. The plane landed normally and will undergo servicing and maintenance," a statement released by the airline read.

The report said it was the first incident of bird strike in Tacloban.

Tacloban has a standing city ordinance prohibiting the raising of birds within a four-kilometer radius from the airport.

Last month, a US Airways jetliner crashed into the Hudson River after a flock of birds appeared to have disabled both its engines.

Rescuers, however, were able to pull out the more than 150 passengers and crew members into boats before the plane sank.
The Tacloban incident prompted Philippine airport authorities to beef-up its bird reduction teams, particularly at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In previous report, Manila International Airport official Angel Atutubo said the NAIA is equipped with pyrotechnics that emulate the sound of gunfire and audio dispersal equipment that drive away migratory birds that usually flock to the area in the cold season.

Atutubo, the airport’s assistant general manager for security and emergency services, said they could also use air rifles when the birds already pose a direct threat to airplane security.

Aside from regularly patrolling the NAIA airways for the presence of migratory birds, NAIA authorities have also appealed to nearby residents not to take care of doves around the area because they may also pose security risks despite their size, Atutubo said. - GMANews.TV

Palawan officials hail NEDA's approval of P3.2-B airport project (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Palawan_officials_hail_NEDA_s_approval_of_P3_2-B_airport_project.shtml)
Positive News Media (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Palawan_officials_hail_NEDA_s_approval_of_P3_2-B_airport_project.shtml)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Feb. 14 (PNA) - Officials of Palawan hailed the approval a new P3.5-billion airport development project in Puerto Princesa by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which aims to boost tourist arrivals in this island province.

The Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project is one of the new two P6 billion projects approved by NEDA Thursday that will be sponsored by South Korea.

The other is the P2.5 billion Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project.

Mayor Edward Hagedorn said the P3.5-billion NEDA fund will help realize in upgrading of the city's airport into international standards.

Hagedorn said this will further strengthen the niche of the city as the commercial center of Palawan as well as premiere destination hub in the country.

Out of the P3.2 billion, about P2.8 billion shall be sourced from the Korean EDCF loan facility while the remaining P700 million will be the government counterpart.

The report stated that the project will improve the Puerto Princesa Airport by upgrading its facilities to meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

It includes the construction of a new passenger terminal complex and a new access road off the national highway; widening of the runway strip and installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS); establishment of new security fencing; and improvement of navigational aid, air traffic control, communications and air field lighting.

Hagedorn remained optimistic that the airport expansion will be completed in 2010 and will open the door for international flights into the city.

The entire P3.2-billion Puerto Princesa City airport modernization project is largely dependent on how Phases 1 and 2 would be put up and operated by the Air Transportation Office (ATO).

Phase 3 is the construction of a brand new airport terminal building.
It is one of the airports lined up for rehabilitation and upgrading and will complement the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) project of President Arroyo, further strengthening and broadening the country's air, sea and land transportation network under the Super Region concept. (PNA)

Photos this time:

PAL is one of the very few HK-bound carriers that use narrow-body aircrafts. But I like the smell of the cabin of the newer ones. :)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/2973152317_bd74f71e49.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2974005946_95a891d00b.jpg
I guess this is the second flight to HK.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/2974000844_34433d16cc.jpg
The earlier one is an A330. I noticed that there were two tubes at HKIA for the A330 flight. One for the economy, another for business class.

Edit: Some more photos:

PR847 - the 7:30am flight to Cebu. The 9:00 flight is using a B744, sometimes an A340.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3277284843_cacc53f526.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/3278095066_bf3226ec92.jpg

PR A340 at the International Wing
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/3277276797_b7d25fddcb.jpg

Wait...there's Makati Skyline in the backdrop
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3331/3277279543_ccc479be6b.jpg

PR on pushback and 5J on touchdown
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/3277282447_d7da4fb889.jpg

good day guys...it's been a while,any signs of airline operation in Maria Cristina Airport,Iligan City?not bird-friendly skies yet?just askin'...:)

Fisherfolk and environmentalists dump water lilies at the DENR gate in Quezon City Friday to condemn government's plan to construct an international airport near Laguna Lake. GMANews.TV

Another proposed airport????

Fisherfolk and environmentalists dump water lilies at the DENR gate in Quezon City Friday to condemn government's plan to construct an international airport near Laguna Lake. GMANews.TV

Another proposed airport????

probably the airport to be built in taguig

tuloy ba yung sa taguig d pa nga full operational yung T3 ng NAIA tas magtatayo agad?

news from www.philippineairspace.blogspot.com :
PSS finally starts 3.5 Billion project
Delay caused by government buying its own land

February 14, 2004

Puerto Princesa - After being plagued by corruption scandals on land acquisitions, Puerto Princesa International Airport Development Project finally started construction 12 years after it was conceived.

The airport was funded not under the grants of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and European International Bank (EIB) but by loan grants from Korea Eximbank, through the Economic Develoment Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

Originally, the development of Puerto Princesa airport was part of the DOTC’s Third Airports Development Projects, which also included the airports of Cotabato, Butuan, Dipolog, Pagadian and Sanga-Sanga in Tawi-Tawi, with total cost estimated at P14.3 billion, P5 billion of which was supposed to be used for terminal construction. The rest of the funds were intended for land acquisition; civil works; equipment; navigational aids; crash, fire and rescue vehicles; consulting services; contingencies and other expenses.

The ADB loan became effective in November 1998. By the original closing date of May 2003, civil works implementation had not commenced.

The development project was stopped after ADB found out that Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) made "ghost purchase of public land" to the tune of P100.8-million for the expansion project to which land the government already owns.
In the Citizens vs Corruption Task Force (CCTF) report in 2004, then Senator Francisco Tatad told that the government reportedly paid P100,804,500 for 112,005 square meters (sqm) of "public land" in Palawan for the proposed expansion of the airport in 2002.

The DOTC concluded the sale a month after it had offered to buy the property at P900 per sqm, while the government was buying private land for the Iloilo international airport at P60 per sqm.

Tatad said the Asian Development Bank and the European International Bank initially agreed to fund the projects, "but they have since pulled out because of the government’s unsatisfactory performance."

In August 2003, ADB and Government agreed to cancel the civil work and equipment components for the six airports and conducted a reappraisal of the project airports with the assistance of detailed design and construction supervision consultants under the loan. ADB did formulate a replacement project for Puerto Princesa in 2004 under the "Technical Assistance on Intermodal Transport Development Project." Although a replacement project was mooted, this did not proceed. The project was finally terminated in Sepember 2005 due to unresolved differences with DOTC.

In 2006, The government negotiated with the Korean government to fund the Puerto Princesa Airport Develoment Project. It was approved for funding in 2008 with a total project cost of P3.2 billion pesos at 3% interest, payable in 30 years and with grace period of 10 years. Korea Eximbank agreed to finance 80% of the project cost while 20% was to be financed by GOP. The counterpart fund was however a problem to the Philippine government. Consequently, project implementation was moved to 2009 with cost estimate balooning to 3.5 billion pesos.


A loan of P2.79 billion from the Korean EDCF will be supplemented by a counterpart fund of P698.76 million from the national government, which may source the money from the Malampaya royalty shares.

The Government of Korea established the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) on June 1, 1987 with the purpose of promoting economic cooperation between Korea and developing countries.

The Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project will include the construction of a passenger terminal complex and an access road off the national highway, the widening of the runway strip, the installation of an instrument landing system, the establishment of a new security fencing, and the improvement of navigational aid, air traffic control, communications and air field lighting in accordance with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.(ICAO)
The project is rated by EDCF as economically viable with an Economic Internal Rate of Return of 16.92 percent. It is expected to generate 1,400 jobs during its construction. The project will last from 2009 to 2013.

tuloy ba yung sa taguig d pa nga full operational yung T3 ng NAIA tas magtatayo agad?



^^^^^ I doubt it...

Updates on CEB's international flights by March...

New Daily Flights
Manila - Macau - Manila
Manila - Shanghai - Manila
Cebu - Hong Kong - Cebu

6x weekly
Clark - Macau - Clark

4x Weekly
Manila - Saigon - Manila (upto May 30 then back to 3x weekly) [new Saturday flight]

Manila - Singapore - Manila will be having 4 [M-W-F-SA] new additional flights per week (new flight 5J 805 departs Manila at 1330H)

Suspended flights

Davao - Hong Kong - Davao
Davao - Singapore - Davao

Updates on CEB's international flights by March...

New Daily Flights
Manila - Macau - Manila
Manila - Shanghai - Manila
Cebu - Hong Kong - Cebu

6x weekly
Clark - Macau - Clark

4x Weekly
Manila - Saigon - Manila (upto May 30 then back to 3x weekly) [new Saturday flight]

Manila - Singapore - Manila will be having 4 [M-W-F-SA] new additional flights per week (new flight 5J 805 departs Manila at 1330H)

Suspended flights

Davao - Hong Kong - Davao
Davao - Singapore - Davao

Why they suspend Davao flight any idea?

Why they suspend Davao flight any idea?

there can only be one REAL reason for that decision : not enough income, no break even, not enough passengers......

The military are very accomodating during the Balloon festival in Clark. I saw these planes in display. I hope the first two are no longer in service.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/ericlucky290/Forum/clark/Airplane1.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/ericlucky290/Forum/clark/Airplane3.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/ericlucky290/Forum/clark/Airplane2.jpg

Updates on CEB's international flights by March...

New Daily Flights
Manila - Macau - Manila
Manila - Shanghai - Manila
Cebu - Hong Kong - Cebu

6x weekly
Clark - Macau - Clark

4x Weekly
Manila - Saigon - Manila (upto May 30 then back to 3x weekly) [new Saturday flight]

Manila - Singapore - Manila will be having 4 [M-W-F-SA] new additional flights per week (new flight 5J 805 departs Manila at 1330H)

Suspended flights

Davao - Hong Kong - Davao
Davao - Singapore - Davao

^^i guess u forgot to include cebu-singapore-cebu:)

The first two are trainer aircrafts (S211) while the last one is a trainer converted to attack role (AS211). I think the first two are still in service, they put those covers to protect the cockpit from the heat. Also, Red Aces is an aerial acrobatic team.

The military are very accomodating during the Balloon festival in Clark. I saw these planes in display. I hope the first two are no longer in service.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/ericlucky290/Forum/clark/Airplane1.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/ericlucky290/Forum/clark/Airplane3.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/ericlucky290/Forum/clark/Airplane2.jpg

^^ I guess they are still in service... Aermacchi S-211 is primarily used for trainer aircraft.. there are 14 in service but only 4 are airworthy...

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/0/photos/331/600x600/7/IloAirport064.jpg?et=G8bETaVjSBKVHeYYpIWaHQ&nmid=195253831

PAL seen to postpone Airbus deal
PAL delays deal with Airbus on loss forecasts
February 12, 2009

MANILA - Flag carrier Philippine Airlines is likely to postpone new aircraft purchases this year as it expects to post a net loss for the fiscal year ending March 31 primarily due to costly fuel hedges and high fuel prices, its president said on Wednesday.

The airline, PAL Holdings Inc (PAL.PS), incurred a net loss of $113.8 million for the first half of the fiscal year which ended on Sept 30 as compared to its booked income of $22.7 million in the same period last year, and it went earning $30-million profit in 2007.
It joins industry leader Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, Malaysia Airlines, China Eastern Airlines Corp., Air China Ltd. and Cathay Pacific, which agreed to hedging deals when oil prices were rising last year, and have all posted paper losses from contracts after oil prices went down.

read the whole article here : http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com

Airbus deal? what Airbus deal? A380?

^^ I guess they are still in service... Aermacchi S-211 is primarily used for trainer aircraft.. there are 14 in service but only 4 are airworthy...

And the fact that they're not able to maintain their fleet of trainer/attack aircraft is a sad reality, they won't be able to have a 3rd or even fourth generation aircraft at that rate...

Those sick-*** incompetents should do something about this...

Local airlines can only hope (http://http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/feb/16/yehey/metro/20090216met5.html)
for negligible growth in 2009


Air-passenger traffic this year is expected to have a “very small growth” because of the global financial crisis, according to the chief of the country’s flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL).

In a statement, PAL President Jaime Bautista over the weekend said that the economic downturn has made it difficult for PAL to recover from high fuel prices that hit the company’s earnings in 2008. He added, though, that he still hopes to match the number of passengers that PAL had last year—eight million.

Robert Lim Joseph, the chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Tourist Agencies, said that the government should use the slowdown in tourism to prepare for global economic recovery by building and improving tourism infrastructure, opening new tourist destinations, remarketing Philippine tourism with new tour packages and new target groups in mind and retraining personnel involved in tourism.

He added that the government should not burden local air carriers by adopting unregulated open skies, which, Joseph said, would give foreign airlines unfair advantage.

Joseph noted that the lack of tourism infrastructure is one reason why the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has abandoned the target of attracting five million tourists this year. “We failed to do all the things that we should have done,” he said.

He pointed to necessary roads and bridges leading to new tourist spots that are mostly unfinished and to the current tourism promotion program that concentrates on the Visayas region when, Joseph said, there are other good tourist destinations.

PAL’s rival company Cebu Pacific, showed improvement in domestic traffic despite the global financial crisis. It has retained its spot as the country’s top domestic airline with a 45.6-percent market share in 2008 from the previous year’s 42.9 percent.

Data from the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines showed the budget airline flew 5.4 million domestic passengers in 2008, or 500,000 more than the combined traffic of PAL and its low-fare carrier PAL Express. PAL flew only 4.9 million domestic passengers.

Even with the financial crisis, Cebu Pacific last year increased its total number of domestic destinations to 27 (from 20) and 39 routes (from 28).
-- Francis Earl A. Cueto

http://img3.cdn.crunchyroll.com/i/spire2/6cc672b1de5cc747dae7df7aeb5c4b3b1234674520_full.jpg

http://img2.cdn.crunchyroll.com/i/spire4/8aa8283f64c179b25618132ba002cb7b1232683190_full.jpg

http://img2.cdn.crunchyroll.com/i/spire4/f4b3f1c8f41cab4528078971ad8518c31232690132_full.jpg

http://img3.cdn.crunchyroll.com/i/spire2/490d45e9381d181df019f2f348a38d701232716691_full.jpg

DIA pics

WOW! I want to ride n Zest Air's new Airbus A320.:)

there can only be one REAL reason for that decision : not enough income, no break even, not enough passengers......

yup, sobrang low ng load... i dont think 5j will open the route again because international flights from clark are doing very very good, think 5j will focus more on clark....i've been checking the manifest of both dvo-sin and dvo-hkg flights and the load indeed really very low...

Airbus deal? what Airbus deal? A380?

nope...
they transfered 2 A320s pending options into orders (probably for substitution for older A320s that would then/2010/11 transfer to AirPhil)....

www.philippineairspace.blogspot.com

Finnair keeps its eye on the Philippines
Finnair's future lies in Asia

February 16, 2009

Helsinki - Nordic airline Finnair Oyj (FIA1S.HE), Finland's national airline, keeps its eye on Manila and the rest of Asia despite the global financial crisis and the global decline of international passenger traffic from Europe.

The Philippines allocated four flights per week between Manila and Helsinki in its first Bilateral Air Service Agreement with Finland in October last year. However, the Philippines refused to give Fifth-freedom rights from Manila, its intended destination. It opened Clark instead to any point in Asia. This put Finnair's plan in limbo as it ordered aircraft that is not capable of flying direct to Helsinki.

In December 2005 Finnair made the biggest investment decision in its history with more than one billion euro commitment to acquire long-haul Airbus aircraft. The airline continues its modernization of the wide-bodied fleet in 2009 with the acquisition of five new Airbus A330-300 long-haul aircraft and in 2010 with the acquisition of three more. It just converted its A340 order to the A330 series last year making its service to Manila more difficult. All its A340 fleet are far east bound.

The destination as a leisure route is not however remote as they intend to operate flight this year. It may have to lease another A330-200 from XL Airways just to serve the route. Other Leisure Flights long-haul destinations include Phuket in Thailand, Vietnam, Penang in Malaysia, India, the Caribbean and Brazil as well as Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
The Airbus A330-200 will allow non-stop flights from Helsinki to Manila. The aircraft has a total of 328 seats, of which 42 are in Comfort Class located in the front section, and 286 in Economy Class. The leased aircraft delivers a very high standard of passenger comfort; the seat spacing in Economy Class is 32–33 inches (81-84 cm) and in Comfort Class 38 inches (96 cm).

Philippine Airlines on its part has said that it is not keen on reviving European routes for now because of stiff competition from state-subsidized Middle Eastern carriers.

Finnair President and CEO Jukka Hienonen said "We still believe in our Asian strategy. This is our lifeblood in the coming years. Even in the most difficult of times, we cannot concede our place as one of Europe's most significant Asian operators. Our task is now to adjust in order to put our profitability on a sustainable basis. " The carrier just announced a 9.5% reduction in its network and a range of layoffs, furloughs and personnel expense reductions aimed at maintaining financial health. However no fleet reductions are planned this year.

Traffic numbers from Nordic countries to the Philippines proved too good to ignore, almost accounting to half of Europe's total visitors count to the country. A report from Europe Tourism Attaché Domingo Enerio III, head of the Philippine DOT office in London recorded that tourist arrival breached the 40,000-barrier for the first time in 2007. The figure exceeded earlier expectations and raised hopes that it could breach the 50,000 mark in 2008. Overall, tourist arrivals in the Philippines for 2007 rose 8.7 percent from the previous year to a record 3.09 million, as the country positions itself to become a major travel destination in Asia. Tourist arrivals for the first ten months of 2008 to the Philippines recorded an all time high of 2,607,118 visitors which is a 4 percent growth over the same period last year.

The Philippine market turns out a surprise in 2008 registering positive growth of 4% despite the economic slowdown while the rest of Asia reported negative trends. Amsterdam based KLM already capitalized on the market by fielding its new triple seven on daily basis and as the only European carrier, has registered more than 80% load factor of its EU flight despite the market downturn.

yup, sobrang low ng load... i dont think 5j will open the route again because international flights from clark are doing very very good, think 5j will focus more on clark....i've been checking the manifest of both dvo-sin and dvo-hkg flights and the load indeed really very low...

yeah. i agree with you on this. d lang ito sa davao, but also sa cebu scheds, manila scheds .actually there is a drop industry wide and its happening everywhere. ang pangit kasi ng schedule nila.

i, for myself, will not ride cebu pacific. i would rather pay a premium and get a good scheduled fight than fly at night time.

look at silk air. they have been flying from davao to singapore for over 10 years now. even though it still passes through cebu, they still get good loads from davao. that is why there are still in davao.

yeah. i agree with you on this. d lang ito sa davao, but also sa cebu scheds, manila scheds .actually there is a drop industry wide and its happening everywhere. ang pangit kasi ng schedule nila.

i, for myself, will not ride cebu pacific. i would rather pay a premium and get a good scheduled fight than fly at night time.

look at silk air. they have been flying from davao to singapore for over 10 years now. even though it still passes through cebu, they still get good loads from davao. that is why there are still in davao.

Silkair has been flying to CEB and DVO for ages. I think they have triangular flights going both ways now and there are even extra frequencies to CEB (turnaround/ terminator flights instead of triangular).

from surigao city thread:

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt152/rally_620/Airphil007.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt152/rally_620/Airphil009.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt152/rally_620/Airphil012.jpg

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt152/rally_620/Airphil014.jpg

finally the big bird has landed in the city fo surigao. i just wana ask, will CebuPc Airbus can also land safely in surigao? clarification please!

Silkair has been flying to CEB and DVO for ages. I think they have triangular flights going both ways now and there are even extra frequencies to CEB (turnaround/ terminator flights instead of triangular).

yup. and 5j cannot compete with silk air in the dvo sing route because silk air has better schedules and cares for their passengers.

^^ parang ang baba naman nung stairs ginamit doon Surigao airport... hehe
kailangan pa ata tumalon.. :lol:

^^ parang ang baba naman nung stairs ginamit doon Surigao airport... hehe
kailangan pa ata tumalon.. :lol:

hehehe that was still a proving flight. testing the runway if it can land and take-off safely. considering that this is the first time for the city to host B737plane such facility (stairs for jets) is still not available but im sure after the successful proving flight before the maiden flight that will be upgrade already.

regarding about the 5J's Airbus in Surigao... Airbus A319 or A320 can land on Surigao (RPMS) pero yun nga lang limitado yung passengers at cargo loads dahil hindi mahaba yung runway length sa RPMS.. katulad din sa Ozamis airport..

pero i doubt 5J's will use ATR 72 in Surigao flights..

from surigao city thread:



finally the big bird has landed in the city fo surigao. i just wana ask, will CebuPc Airbus can also land safely in surigao? clarification please!

the best person to answer your question is arianspace...:)

from surigao city thread:



finally the big bird has landed in the city fo surigao. i just wana ask, will CebuPc Airbus can also land safely in surigao? clarification please!

they definately need new stairways, what a big step out of the aircraft !

so now they can fly jets to surigao....:banana:
how long is the runway ?

they definately need new stairways, what a big step out of the aircraft !

so now they can fly jets to surigao....:banana:
how long is the runway ?

dont have the exact data, but do you think 5j's airbuses will make it?

I've flown there and think it's long enough for a narrow body...

am more interested in the direct flights to siargao though

^^ I guess they are still in service... Aermacchi S-211 is primarily used for trainer aircraft.. there are 14 in service but only 4 are airworthy...

The S211 you're referring to are SIAI Marchetti made and assembled in the Phils by Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC) from 1989 to 1994, 24 units were delivered to the PAF and later undergone depot level maintenance by Aerotech based in Clark. I was involved directly with the assembly production during that time. They are good aircraft, maintenance was the main problem and budget too of the PAF. We configured 6 in warrior versions equipped even with HUDs (Headup Displays), FYI lang friend...:)

KLM announces Liverpool connection to Manila

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj53/svenz_2008/b777klmx.jpg

February 17, 2009

Amsterdam - Franco-Dutch airline alliance KLM (AIRF.PA) said on Monday that it will connect Liverpool to Manila via its Amsterdam hub at Schiphol when it opens the new route on March 29.

The new three times daily connection flight will be operated by its regional airline KLM Cityhopper using brand new Embraer 190 jets. The frequency will make it easier for Filipinos residing in Liverpool City Region, Cheshire and North Wales to go home bypassing London and Manchester via its worldwide hub.

The airline said that hundreds of passengers bound to the Philippines had taken bookings already. Some 60% of the airline bookings are out of Liverpool and 30% of those passengers will fly on to over 100 worldwide destinations on KLM's own intercontinental network.

On the new route from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Amsterdam Schiphol, Christine Ourmières, the general manager Air France KLM UK & Ireland, said “Our decision to operate this service from Liverpool John Lennon Airport is a significant part of our strategy to provide greater access to Amsterdam and the Netherlands from the UK regions."

Data from the Philippine Department of Tourism(DOT) showed that traffic between Manila and Amsterdam has been increasing from a two-way volume of 186,504 in 2005 to 208,255 in 2006 and 212,078 in 2007. The rate of tourists coming to the Philippines from the Netherlands has grown 3.4 percent and from the rest of Europe, 13.84 percent.

The Netherlands-based KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is presently the only European airline flying from the Philippines to Europe. Its load factor in Manila also improved steadily from 85 percent in 2005, 88 percent in 2006, 89 percent in 2007, and 92 percent in 2008. It plans to add 3 more flights in 2009 if their load continue to climb beyond 95% this year.

Currently, it flies Manila daily with its brand Boeing 777-300ER. The airline took delivery of its first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in February 13 last year and was deployed immediately to the Philippines. The aircraft type which is in a two-class configuration, was also deployed on routes to Dubai, Sao Paulo Guarulhos, and New York JFK. KLM has aligned the configuration and specification of its 777-300ER with Air France, which has operated the type since May 2004. KLM currently operates 15 777-200ERs.

A spokesman for Europe's largest airline said that it would delay taking delivery of several aircraft by two to three years as it seeks to rein in costs in the face of the global economic downturn. The delay would involve about five aircraft, including some Boeing 777-300 planes, some Boeing 777 cargo planes, and some Airbus (EAD.PA) planes. He added that delivery of an A380 superjumbo plane was still expected for the end of the year.The airline is not expected to cancel any plane orders.

they definately need new stairways, what a big step out of the aircraft !

so now they can fly jets to surigao....:banana:
how long is the runway ?

roughly 1,500 meters (5,000 ft)...

that's according to the database of favorite game Microsoft Flight Simulator.. :lol:

roughly 1,500 meters (5,000 ft)...

that's according to the database of favorite game Microsoft Flight Simulator.. :lol:

jesus, that is short for a 737/200, A319 or A 320. no mistakes allowed.....:ohno:

RP, Kuwait agree on more flights
bworldonline.com (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW021809/content.php?id=053)

LOCAL CARRIERS can now mount more flights to Kuwait with the conclusion of air talks between the Philippines and the oil-rich Arab emirate.

From only six, the Philippines is now entitled to 29 weekly flights to Kuwait.

The additional 23 entitlements were approved yesterday afternoon, said Porvenir P. Porciuncula, deputy executive director of the Civil Aeronautics Board.

The 29 flights are divided as follows: Manila, eight flights; Subic, 14; and Cebu, Davao and other airports, seven.

A fifth freedom right was also given to flights from Clark, allowing carriers to pick up a passenger from Kuwait before flying to another destination in a third country.

The Philippine negotiating panel was headed by the acting board chairman, Doroteo A. Reyes.

The Civil Aeronautics Board is scheduled to start air talks with Bahrain, Brunei, and Australia this year. The government has been going after flight entitlements to several countries to address an expected increase in air travel.

Mr. Porciuncula downplayed any potential hesitation local carriers may have in competing with Middle Eastern airlines — which have access to cheaper fuel — noting that fuel costs have dipped.

Lance Y. Gokongwei, president of Cebu Pacific, said the low-cost carrier is considering flights to Kuwait.

"We are always looking at possible route network expansion and we are studying the possibility of mounting flights to Kuwait," Mr. Gokongwei said.

Officials of Philippine Airlines were not available for comment.

jesus, that is short for a 737/200, A319 or A 320. no mistakes allowed.....:ohno:

yeah its really short... but thing is that those plane can land on that airport.. even in Tagbilaran (RPVT) which has only roughly about 4800 ft runway can handle A319 & A320 planes.. Butuan (RPME) runway is about 6000ft...
yet PAL's A320 overshoot on the runway last year... :ohno:

that's why we have the most best pilot around.. I even think that our airports are like aircraft carrier, short runways for jets.. although no arresting cable installed... :nuts: :lol:

OT:
Here are some flight deck landing videos of Airbus from 5J's flight to Dipolog and Dumaguete.. courtesy from Capt. Manny "Windwalker" of PFSG

RPVD - Dumaguete - Rwy 09 approach (Parang Kai Tak or Madeira ang approach)
http://www.philskies.net/library/WW/videos/rpvd09.wmv

RPMG - Dipolog - Rwy 02 approach
http://www.philskies.net/library/WW/videos/rpvd09.wmv

more discussions....
http://www.philskies.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11405&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=RPMG

Cebu Pacific eyes routes to Middle Eastern cities

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu Pacific announced plans to fly non-stop from Manila to a number of Middle Eastern cities, betting that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will continue to be deployed to the region.

The company is just awaiting an air treaty between the Philippines and Middle Eastern countries for the plan to push through, Lance Y. Gokongwei, Cebu Pacific’s president and CEO said during a Tuesday briefing.

Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ leading local airline, is capable of ferrying OFWs to and from the Middle East at more affordable rates, compared to its rivals.

“We’ve done the numbers, it’s doable. It makes financial sense," Gokongwei said.

By the end of this year, the company is expected to own some 21 airbuses and will purchase additional 10 aircraft between next year until 2012.

OFWs arriving or departing to and from the Middle East often complain of shortage in airplane seats, as several airline companies are unable to handle the large volume of Filipino visitors in the region.

Based on the latest labor statistics, five of the top 10 destinations of OFWs are Mideast countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Some 61,164 Filipinos left for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – considered as a recession-proof country – as of January 15 this year, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration data showed.

Other Middle East countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain were able to absorb more than 66,000 Filipino workers.

“Cheaper fares could also help our fellow Filipinos, especially OFWs, save a little bit more of their hard-earned money for their families," Gokongwei said.

Starting Feb. 18, Cebu Pacific will remove the surcharges on all international airfares. The move is expected to reduce year-round fares by as much as 17 percent. - GMANews.TV

^^ non stop from Manila - Middle East.. on a A320? that's a big question for 5J... unless they use A330 or even Boeing counterparts...

Manila Bulettin

CEB forecasts P25-B revenues in 2009
By EMMIE V. ABADILLA

Cebu Pacific (CEB) expects to thrive in the global economic crisis, hauling in P24 to P25 billion revenues and a "much better bottomline" this year from around P19.5 billion revenues and a loss in 2008, President and CEO Lance Y. Gokongwei told yesterday’s press conference.

After jet fuel prices went down from 60 percent of the carrier’s cost in 2008 to only 30 percent this year, CEB scrapped the surcharges on all its international fares effective today (February 18, 2008) to stimulate demand.

Jet fuel accounts for the single biggest cost of CEB, up to two-thirds. Hence, when oil plunged from $ 140 a barrel last year to the current $ 60 a barrel, CEB was able to scrap the US$ 40-75 per way fuel and insurance surcharge it slaps on fares.

The move will slash CEB’s year-round fares by as much as 17 percent, leaving passengers to pay just the fare and government taxes.

Now, the carrier is offering a system-wide sale of over one million seats effective today until the allotment is sold out. The promo fare is P1,999 one way from Manila to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh, Kaohsiung, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau Singapore and Taipei; Clark to Bangkok, HK, Macau and Singapore as well as Cebu to HK for travel between May 1 to December 31, 2009.

This year, "We intend to achieve an 80 per cent load factor and add routes with either the same or increased frequencies for 2008," Gokongwei noted. "In times of financial crisis, Low Cost Carriers like CEB will prevail."

People having less money and scrimping customers dampening demand for travel do not faze CEB. "Our business model is to make flying a habit, so in tough times, we make flying more affordable. We see a lot of corporate business this year as companies become more conscious of meeting their travel budgets," he explained.

CEB fell 300,000 passengers short of its 7 million passenger target for 2008 because it was forced to increase fares in response to the fuel price increase.

Still, last year’s total of 6.7 million passengers represented a 23 per cent growth from 2007’s 5.5 million total passengers and almost 46 per cent share in the domestic market.

"For 2009, CEB targets to carry 9 million passengers, of which 6.8 million are domestic and 2.2 million are international," Gokongwei forecasted.

And while CEB expects a 2008 operating profit, it anticipates a loss after foreign exchange losses and hedges, the President admitted. "We expect to have positive bottomline and do much better this year."

In addition, CEB has drastically reduced its capital expenditures from over USD$ 200 Million last year to only $ 60-70 million in 2009. Although it is adding 6 aircraft for 2009 four ATR 72-500s and two airbus A320s, the last two are leased and do not go into CEB’s books.

Cebu Pacific eyes routes to Middle Eastern cities

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu Pacific announced plans to fly non-stop from Manila to a number of Middle Eastern cities, betting that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will continue to be deployed to the region.

The company is just awaiting an air treaty between the Philippines and Middle Eastern countries for the plan to push through, Lance Y. Gokongwei, Cebu Pacific’s president and CEO said during a Tuesday briefing.

Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ leading local airline, is capable of ferrying OFWs to and from the Middle East at more affordable rates, compared to its rivals.

“We’ve done the numbers, it’s doable. It makes financial sense," Gokongwei said.

By the end of this year, the company is expected to own some 21 airbuses and will purchase additional 10 aircraft between next year until 2012.

OFWs arriving or departing to and from the Middle East often complain of shortage in airplane seats, as several airline companies are unable to handle the large volume of Filipino visitors in the region.

Based on the latest labor statistics, five of the top 10 destinations of OFWs are Mideast countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Some 61,164 Filipinos left for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – considered as a recession-proof country – as of January 15 this year, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration data showed.

Other Middle East countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain were able to absorb more than 66,000 Filipino workers.

“Cheaper fares could also help our fellow Filipinos, especially OFWs, save a little bit more of their hard-earned money for their families," Gokongwei said.

Starting Feb. 18, Cebu Pacific will remove the surcharges on all international airfares. The move is expected to reduce year-round fares by as much as 17 percent. - GMANews.TV

that´s good news :banana:

so they will fly with their A320´s to the middle east :banana:

wonder if they will purchase any A330´s for their arabian destinations ....

RP, Kuwait amend air agreements

Top News
Written by Lenie Lectura / Reporter
TUESDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2009 21:57
THE civil aeronautics regulators of Kuwait and the Philippines successfully amended on Tuesday the air-services agreement (ASA) between the two countries.
Under the existing air pact between Kuwait and the Philippines, six flights may be fielded in a week in Manila. The number was raised to eight, said Porvenir Porciuncula, director of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).
In a phone interview, the CAB official also said up to 14 flights per week can be fielded in Clark, while seven weekly flights are allotted in Cebu, Davao and other points, except Manila and Clark.
“Between Kuwait and the Philippines, there are now 29 flights a week divided into eight for Manila; 14 for Clark; and seven for other points, except for Manila and Clark,” he said.
The civil aeronautics regulators of both countries tried to negotiate and amend the contract last year, but no concrete results evolved from the earlier negotiations. Kuwait and the Philippines signed the first ASA in 1977.
The CAB official said Zest Airways, formerly Asian Spirit, is interested to mount flights to Kuwait. “I heard they want to, but they have yet to formally inform us that they are applying for rights.”
The Philippine air panel is slated to hold air talks with Bahrain on February 25 and 26, followed by negotiations with Australia and Brunei in March.

it somehow slipped, sorry.
the article RP, Kuwait amend air agreements
was posted with www.Business Mirror.com.ph

www.bworldonline.com
RP, Kuwait agree on more flights

LOCAL CARRIERS can now mount more flights to Kuwait with the conclusion of air talks between the Philippines and the oil-rich Arab emirate.

From only six, the Philippines is now entitled to 29 weekly flights to Kuwait.

The additional 23 entitlements were approved yesterday afternoon, said Porvenir P. Porciuncula, deputy executive director of the Civil Aeronautics Board.

The 29 flights are divided as follows: Manila, eight flights; Subic, 14; and Cebu, Davao and other airports, seven.

A fifth freedom right was also given to flights from Clark, allowing carriers to pick up a passenger from Kuwait before flying to another destination in a third country.

The Philippine negotiating panel was headed by the acting board chairman, Doroteo A. Reyes.

The Civil Aeronautics Board is scheduled to start air talks with Bahrain, Brunei, and Australia this year. The government has been going after flight entitlements to several countries to address an expected increase in air travel.

Mr. Porciuncula downplayed any potential hesitation local carriers may have in competing with Middle Eastern airlines — which have access to cheaper fuel — noting that fuel costs have dipped.

Lance Y. Gokongwei, president of Cebu Pacific, said the low-cost carrier is considering flights to Kuwait.

"We are always looking at possible route network expansion and we are studying the possibility of mounting flights to Kuwait," Mr. Gokongwei said.

both CEB and Zest seem to be interested !
Officials of Philippine Airlines were not available for comment.

jesus, that is short for a 737/200, A319 or A 320. no mistakes allowed.....:ohno:

obviously it's more than that. Airphil is not stupid enough to land 3x and the last using only 1 engine simulating emergency landing

^^According to the World Aero Data, Surigao airport's runway is 1708 meters, concrete, modern jets like the 737 and A320s are capable for single engine operation in case of emergency.

Cebu Pacific sees load growth despite crisis (http://http://www.tribune.net.ph/business/20090218bus3.html)
By Ayen Infante

02/18/2009


Budget airline Cebu Pacific (CEB) targets over 9 million passengers this year or an increase by over 30 percent its passenger load last year of almost 7 million.

Company president and chief executive officer Lance Gokongwei told reporters CEB expects 6.8 million of its passenger coming from domestic routes.

Despite the current challenges faced by the global economies, CEB has even removed surcharges on its international flights that would easily translate to as much as 17 percent discounts on its air fares.

Surcharges on international flights were included in its cost since July or when the price of fuel went as high as $181 per barrel, and now that fuel costs fell to $60 per barrel, Gokongwei said it should also result in reduced fares.

The levels of surcharges are determined by the Civil Aeronautics Board regulation varying on destination, distance and absolute price of fuel.

Effective today, passengers bound for international routes will only have to pay for the fixed fare plus government taxes.

With the 23 percent growth in the number of passengers ending 2008 to 6.7 million from 5.3 million in 2007, Gokongwei said two million more passengers are expected to fly CEB in 2009.

“This growth can be attributed to the increase in our seat capacity coupled with our trademark low fares. We were able to successfully convince more Filipinos to travel by air despite economic uncertainties. Last year challenged us to look for ways to stimulate travel and sustain our domestic and international operations,” he said.

In 2008, CEB cornered 45.6 percent market share that helped the company retain its position as the country’s leading domestic airline.

RP, Kuwait agree on more flights (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/149266/RP-Kuwait-agree-on-more-flights)
02/18/2009 | 04:02 AM


MANILA, Philippines - Local carriers can now mount more flights to Kuwait with the conclusion of air talks between the Philippines and the oil-rich Arab emirate.

From only six, the Philippines is now entitled to 29 weekly flights to Kuwait.

The additional 23 entitlements were approved Tuesday afternoon, said Porvenir P. Porciuncula, deputy executive director of the Civil Aeronautics Board.

The 29 flights are divided as follows: Manila, eight flights; Subic, 14; and Cebu, Davao and other airports, seven.

A fifth freedom right was also given to flights from Clark, allowing carriers to pick up a passenger from Kuwait before flying to another destination in a third country.

The Philippine negotiating panel was headed by the acting board chairman, Doroteo A. Reyes.

The Civil Aeronautics Board is scheduled to start air talks with Bahrain, Brunei, and Australia this year. The government has been going after flight entitlements to several countries to address an expected increase in air travel.

Mr. Porciuncula downplayed any potential hesitation local carriers may have in competing with Middle Eastern airlines — which have access to cheaper fuel — noting that fuel costs have dipped.

Lance Y. Gokongwei, president of Cebu Pacific, said the low-cost carrier is considering flights to Kuwait.

"We are always looking at possible route network expansion and we are studying the possibility of mounting flights to Kuwait," Mr. Gokongwei said.

Officials of Philippine Airlines were not available for comment. - BusinessWorld

Is Spirit of Manila Air already operating?

^^According to the World Aero Data, Surigao airport's runway is 1708 meters, concrete, modern jets like the 737 and A320s are capable for single engine operation in case of emergency.

ok tnx sa info

kelan ang transfer other foreign airline sa naia 3.....

kelan ang transfer other foreign airline sa naia 3.....

welcome to SSC Philippines...to answer your query, you may want to visit the NAIA Thread.:)

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

:nuts:..gee whiz...i didn't know there was a thread like this..thanks kimber! :banana:


let me add my two centavos worth...i agree...boeing 747 is still my wife's and my fave airplane model....be it ana, asiana, pal, singapore airlines http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/000000sing/0sing.jpg , united airlines, sultan of brunei's mode of transportation....or whatever...:cheers:

Is Spirit of Manila Air already operating?

So far, only in "spirit." :nuts: ( :rofl: )

Is Spirit of Manila Air already operating?

first flights are set für sometime in march to macao with their first 737-300.
in summer further flights to taiwan and the middle east are allocated. but that conditions further aquisations with 1 more 737-300 and 2 767-300s.
check their website for more information, ok ?

http://www.spiritofmanilaairlines.com/

hope to have helped you there. :)

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%2009%20-%20JAN%2031/DSC_0051a.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%2009%20-%20JAN%2031/DSC_0051a.jpg

REALLY LOVE THIS SHOT ! :banana:

line-ups are great displays for airlines to show their equipment and livery well :banana:

$219 million reasons to defer new PAL widebody orders (http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/pal-losses-219-million-to-fuel-hedges.html)

see the link.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/3217049697_53ee5613d7.jpg?v=0

$219 million reasons to defer new PAL widebody orders (http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/pal-losses-219-million-to-fuel-hedges.html)

see the link.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/3217049697_53ee5613d7.jpg?v=0

nice to see you are back arianespace :)

from that article arianespace recommends above (at least SOME good news nowadays) :

Other than massive losses on fuel hedge, all indicators point to a positive growth as it defied worldwide recession. PAL's operation remains the only bright spot in Asia Pacific as other legacy airlines registered declining traffic figures. The airline revenues for the third quarter increased by 15 percent to $405.90 million. :banana::banana::banana:

Any news whether they are going to pursue their $310 million IPO this year?

While PAL seems to be cautious and guarded with its expansion plans, Cebu Pacific on the other hand is more optimistic with theirs and even talking about initiating sevice to the Middle East.

$219 million reasons to defer new PAL widebody orders (http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/pal-losses-219-million-to-fuel-hedges.html)

see the link.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/3217049697_53ee5613d7.jpg?v=0

It's too bad but understandable that PAL has postponed its pan to refurbish their B747 and A340 fleet for who knows when. Had the oportunity to fly in PAL's only refurbished B747 and already I noted that some of the remote controls used to the AVOD systems have been been either vandalized (marked with name initials by passengers obviously not having anything else to do while in flight!) or remote control instruction marks (ON , OFF, PLAY etc) been scrathced off. It's a sad sight really specially that the refurbishment was just done a few months ago.

The only welcome signs for PAL this year maybe their planned twice daily service to Los Angeles and the delivery of their first 777ER aircraft (delivery of the their 2nd 77ER has been deferred to early 2010).

PAL has been cautious with their expansion mode while Cebu Pacific , I think is taking the risk with agressive expansion plans and increased capacity particulary in the domestic front.

:nuts:..gee whiz...i didn't know there was a thread like this..thanks kimber! :banana:


let me add my two centavos worth...i agree...boeing 747 is still our fave airplane model....be it ana, asiana, pal, singapore airlines http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/000000sing/0sing.jpg .. united airlines ....or whatever...:cheers:

in paranaque...we checked in at naia 2..

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108sing5.jpg

the wait wasn't too bad..there was hardly anyone in the lounge..

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/0FClounge4.jpg
hmmmmm..
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/0F.jpg

....maybe because we were too early or because of the food...

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/0FClounge3.jpg



we left naia 2...and arrived in changi terminal 2..

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108sing98.jpg




we stayed at ritz carlton for a while...to renew our marital vows in the hottub and da bed..:)

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/0000singmb6.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/000000sing/ritzview2.jpg


http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/000000sing/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108sing992.jpghttp://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/02/c1/6f/amazing-bathtub-view.jpg http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/02/c1/72/bathroom.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/000000sing/0000singnitez2.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/mb6.jpg







then we had a side trip to hongkong...

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108HK91.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108HK92.jpg





and peking..

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108peking91.jpg
hindi na nag-palit ng damit...derecho sa tianamen square....
but because my wife found out from the guide.. it was a forbidden city..she decided to go shopping instead...:ohno:

:nuts:






so...we went back to singapore to do some more sightseeing........

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/000000sing/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108HK93.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/000000sing/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108sing97.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108sing93.jpg

no we didn't stay at raffles..too expensive..we just had brunch..:ohno:

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108sing92.jpg




and a chance pet an exotic animal....:lol:


http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzxy0000123108sing2-1.jpg





then we headed back to the airport for the next leg....



http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/00aaFClounge-1.jpg


http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/00FClounge1.jpg

meanwhile...we lounged here:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/0changilounge.jpg





took off from changi......to frankfurt....

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/000000sing/zzzzzzzxy0000123108sing1.jpg




http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/0aaaaaaaasiafc.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108sing991.jpg

the lovely sia stewardess asked us to choose seats...

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108sing995.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/0aaaaaaaasiafc2.jpg


so my wife chose these..closest to the loos::banana:

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/0nor-sq21.jpg

libre ang pajamas...
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/000sq3_edited1.jpg







http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108sing94.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/0000-sq1.jpg















stop-over..in frankfurt..

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108sing9.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108sing996.jpg






paris..

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108paris997.jpg http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108paris996.jpg


milan...

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/tonyboy32/0000SIA/zzzzzzzzxy0000123108milan996.jpg

then finally home...:)

It's too bad but understandable that PAL has postponed its pan to refurbish their B747 and A340 fleet for who knows when. Had the oportunity to fly in PAL's only refurbished B747 and already I noted that some of the remote controls used to the AVOD systems have been been either vandalized (marked with name initials by passengers obviously not having anything else to do while in flight!) or remote control instruction marks (ON , OFF, PLAY etc) been scrathced off. It's a sad sight really specially that the refurbishment was just done a few months ago.

The only welcome signs for PAL this year maybe their planned twice daily service to Los Angeles and the delivery of their first 777ER aircraft (delivery of the their 2nd 77ER has been deferred to early 2010).

PAL has been cautious with their expansion mode while Cebu Pacific , I think is taking the risk with agressive expansion plans and increased capacity particulary in the domestic front.

yes, i noticed that too. In fact, the window seat right by the main door had melted gum splattered over the seat belt when I rode the refurbished 747 (I was seated at the aisle), so the FA had to wrap the seatbelt so it wouldnt smear the passenger who reported the gum. This means its an adult, as its an emergency exit seat. Terrible attitude by our riding public.

nice pictures thank you for sharing.....

About 30 hurt after Manila - Tokyo Northwest flight hits turbulence
Yahoo News

TOKYO (Reuters) – About 30 people were injured when a Northwest Airlines flight from Manila to Tokyo hit turbulence on Friday, a fire department official said.

Two people were seriously injured and about 30 slightly injured, the official said. There were no reports of deaths.

The Boeing 747-400 plane was carrying 408 passengers and 14 crew, a transport ministry official said.

Northwest Airlines, which merged last year with Delta Air Lines, was not immediately available for comment.

in paranaque...we checked in at naia 2..

then finally home...:)


thanks for your scratched out faces-tour. :ohno:
now BACK TO TOPICS.
this is not a private tourist thread. :ohno:
thank you :)

^^ imo, it was relevant.. there were photos of planes and airports... and besides, it's your choice if you want to "cover" your face...;)

20 injured on Manila-Tokyo flight, turbulence suspected (http://http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/20/09/20-injured-manila-tokyo-flight-turbulence-suspected)
Agence France-Presse | 02/20/2009 2:33 PM


TOKYO - Around 20 people were injured on a Northwest Airlines flight from the Philippines to Japan Friday, officials said, adding that turbulence was the likely cause.

Ambulances took the injured to hospitals after the Northwest Airlines Boeing 747-400 jet landed at Narita International Airport near Tokyo at 12:19 pm local time, an airport official said.

"Twenty people have been injured ... and they are being sent to hospital in ambulances," Narita International Airport spokesman Fumihiko Aoyama told AFP.

The flight had been set to continue on to Los Angeles after a stopover.

Northwest Airlines spokesman Masashi Takahashi said: "Air turbulence is believed to be the cause. The turbulence occurred 25 to 30 minutes before landing, when the seat belt light was on."

"During the flight, we received a message from the pilot saying two or three people were injured. But (the pilot) probably assessed that an emergency landing was not necessary," he told AFP.

"It is possible that the people injured did not have their seatbelts on, otherwise all of the 422 passengers would have been injured as well."

too bad.... sometimes people dont take it seriously to fasten their seat belts on the first instance that a plane hits turbulence

^^
Somehow I would agree with you. How come you would fly on the air if you have put your seat belts on. I supposed this is another passenger stupidity not following the seat belt alarm as directed. And there are plenty of them injured too!

Lessons learned. DON'T BE STUPID. You will never know when its gotta hit you! Sometimes I do act the same way though.:weird:

^^ because most people use seat belt only for compliance ... safety is a choice, not just for compliance.

Got a question about airline industry:

As we all know that the airlines sometimes (or most of the time) increase their scheduled flights during peak seasons like Summer and December, so they earn a lot, operate a lot...but what happens every off-peak season? What happen to the utilization of the planes and the profits since there would be a decline in passenger and traffic?

Thanks if you could clarify it. :)

^^
Its the time when airlines usually do the heavy checks.

By the way, love your pictures Bern!

TOKYO — Forty-five people were injured, at least three seriously, when a Northwest Airlines Boeing 747 hit turbulence on the Manila-Tokyo leg of a US-bound flight, according to airport officials.Ambulances took the injured to local hospitals after the jet with 408 passengers and 14 crew landed at Narita International Airport outside Tokyo at 12:19 pm local time (0319 GMT) on Friday, an airport official said.The flight had been set to continue on to Los Angeles after a stopover."The latest information we have is that 39 passengers were injured in addition to six crew members," said Toshiaki Nohara, a spokesman for Narita Airport Authority, which runs the airport.A middle-aged woman passenger, speaking in accented Japanese, told the TBS television network: "The person in front of me flew up to the ceiling. The person behind me collapsed and looked unconscious."A young man, also speaking in halting Japanese, said: "I was really scared. I thought I would die. The plane shook so much, and my whole body hovered up in the air. Inside the cabin, everybody was screaming loudly."Northwest Airlines spokesman Masashi Takahashi said: "Air turbulence is believed to be the cause. The turbulence occurred 25 to 30 minutes before landing, when the seat belt light was on.""During the flight, we received a message from the pilot saying two or three people were injured. But (the pilot) probably assessed that an emergency landing was not necessary," Takahashi told AFP."It is possible that the people injured did not have their seatbelts on, otherwise all of the 422 (people aboard) would have been injured as well."Television images in Japan showed medical workers carrying two passengers off the plane, one on a stretcher and one in a wheelchair, while one young girl could be seen wearing a bandage around her head.Among the most seriously injured were three Philippine nationals, two men and one women, Jiji news agency reported, quoting local police.A 55-year-old US passenger said he heard screams when the plane suddenly descended before rising again, some 30 minutes before landing, the Kyodo news agency reported without naming the man.Some people who did not have their seatbelts fastened hit their heads on the ceiling and injured their necks, he reportedly said.The accident occurred while the Boeing 747-400 aircraft was circling over waters off Japan's Chiba Prefecture awaiting permission to land at Narita airport, officials said.

^^ imo, it was relevant.. there were photos of planes and airports... and besides, it's your choice if you want to "cover" your face...;)

sure pl_malejana. i am not opposing and i don´t want to be offensive either, it´s just my private comment in a democratic forum in one of the real democracies on the globe.

thank you.

taken from changi airport

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/empoy/DSC_0211_055.jpg

first flights are set für sometime in march to macao with their first 737-300.
in summer further flights to taiwan and the middle east are allocated. but that conditions further aquisations with 1 more 737-300 and 2 767-300s.
check their website for more information, ok ?

http://www.spiritofmanilaairlines.com/

hope to have helped you there. :)

Thanks. I was just wondering since O read somewhere that they were supposed to start this month

Any news whether they are going to pursue their $310 million IPO this year?

While PAL seems to be cautious and guarded with its expansion plans, Cebu Pacific on the other hand is more optimistic with theirs and even talking about initiating sevice to the Middle East.

Their IPO was temporarily shelved. Looks like they weill be getting funding via borrowing.

^^
Its the time when airlines usually do the heavy checks.

By the way, love your pictures Bern!
What picture? Hehe!! I only have few though. It could've been full blast for the pictures of the airplanes and airports though.

A lot of Iliganon now really needs the Maria Christina Airport.. Its still a question when it will open and cater flights from Manila and Cebu...

PAL Ex did express their intention in opening flight here.. If only MILF didn't deliberately attack some towns in Lanao del Norte last year.. :bash:

I just hope CebPac, Zest Air and Seair might be interested opening a flight here...
Crossing my fingers... :)