Airlines, Airplanes, and Airports

[NTprime]

Yep, I would like to go to Turkey as well (and not just Istanbul but Pamukkale, Cappadocia, Ephesus, etc.). The crossroads of Asia and Europe, soon within reach by a non-stop flight

If PAL or Turkish Airlines gets to fly non-stop between IST and MNL, that would be really great for tourism. Turkey can be PAL's gateway to the region (also with codeshares to other city pairs) while waiting for the lifting of the EU ban.

[hybridace101]

The problem there would be the loads. They may struggle to fill an A330, let alone a 77W. I was in IST and while it is a nice city, there aren't that many Filipinos.

Can PR (at least technically or theoretically) travel to KEF or OSL since they are not technically part of the EU?

[krazy816]

Originally Posted by hybridace101

The problem there would be the loads. They may struggle to fill an A330, let alone a 77W. I was in IST and while it is a nice city, there aren't that many Filipinos.

Can PR (at least technically or theoretically) travel to KEF or OSL since they are not technically part of the EU?

While Iceland and Norway are not full EU members, they are both EEA (European Economic Area) members* and follow the same economic, technical and safety standards of full EU member countries and therefore PAL cannot fly to either Iceland or Norway (or even Switzerland for that matter)

Besides, even if those countries were not EEA members PAL still cannot fly to those places as the EU ban also covers flights flying over EU airspace, and you cannot fly to KEF or OSL without first entering EU airspace.

*-EU and EEA membership is not mutual: all EU members are also EEA members, but some EEA members (Norway, Iceland) are not full EU members

[romantic_guy08]

flights to London soon for PR? hmmm...

UK minister cites PAL's Airbus purchase in new PH-UK air deal
by Rappler.com
Posted on 12/11/2012 1:15 PM | Updated 12/11/2012 1:49 PM


MANILA, Philippines - Visiting United Kingdom Member of Parliament (MP) Hugo Swire announced that a new bilateral air service agreement between his government and the Philippines' has been sealed on Tuesday, December 11.

In a speech before business leaders in Makati City, Swire, also the Foreign Minister of State at the UK Foreign Office, made special mention of the recent purchase of new Airbus aircraft by local legacy carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL).

"I [have signed] a new air services agreement with [Transportation] Secretary [Joseph Emilio] Abaya and will meet Ramon Ang [President and Chief Operating Officer] of PAL who hope to start direct flights to London soon," Swire told members of the Makati Business Club and the Management Association of the Philippines.

"Incidentally, their (PAL) passengers will probably be arriving on new aircraft made partly in Britain, following the announcement by PAL in August of a US$7 billion order from Airbus for over 50 new aircraft," he added.

In August, PAL announced an order for 54 wide and narrow-bodied Airbus aircraft with a list price of $7 billion, the biggest airline deal in the country. At the time, PAL announced that, of the 54, it will purchase 10 A330-300 twin-aisle jets

The large number of long-haul aircraft orders by PAL has set the world's two major manufacturers -- Boeing and Airbus -- scrambling for a piece of it.

Airbus -- originally a consortium between France, Germany, Britain and Spain -- is pushing for major contracts in Asia. Both aircraft makers are locked in a global contest for market share, with top-level officials and diplomats giving support during trips to Asia.

During the October visit of French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault in Manila, he hinted that PAL has confirmed an order for 10 Airbus A330 jets on top of a purchase in the summer."

Swire is in a 2-day Manila visit from December 11 to 12. He is responsible for British relations with the Philippines and South East Asia.

Aside from his meeting with Abaya, Swire will also meet with President Aquino in Malacañang, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. The main focus of his visit is boosting bilateral trade and investment relations with the Philippines.

PAL, now controlled by diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp, has an ongoing multi-year refleeting and modernization plan, which involves the purchase of up to 100 new planes.

The airline wants to fly long-haul to profitable destinations, including the United States where it is barred to expand its current operations, and to the European Union, where the Philippines remains in the blacklist due to pending issues on the ability of the aviation regulatory body to implement global safety standards.

PAL has been sealing and seeking deals with other carriers that do not have limited access to these markets. - Rappler.com, with reports from Carlos Santamari

[evodesire]

Can the new HGW A330 do MNL-LHR non-stop? Or this route to be served by 777s?

I think PAL needs more 777s. 6 777s is not enough especially that the airline is expanding long haul routes. Those A340s and 747s need to retire already.

[fransarj]

Originally Posted by evodesire

Can the new HGW A330 do MNL-LHR non-stop? Or this route to be served by 777s?

I think PAL needs more 777s. 6 777s is not enough especially that the airline is expanding long haul routes. Those A340s and 747s need to retire already.

Sightings from the Fildac FB page... Credits to Ian San Gabriel



Don't know what this means or if it's Boeing's way of luring PAL, or if a deal is already being made... but I must say... damnnn looking good!

[Mojacko]

Originally Posted by fransarj

WOW!!! A model of a Boeing 747-8i in Philippine Airlines' livery - can this really be true!? (If only this were Facebook, I'd *LIKE* this photo! ) The airline placing an order for this type as considered - as replacements for their aging -400s - would make me the happiest Philippine aviation aficionado on Earth! And if that does indeed materialize as planned and they deploy them on their flagship MNL-LAX-v.v. and MNL-SFO-v.v. routes, I'm DEFINITELY flying on board those EVERY trip to the U.S. I plan in the future!!

[litigs]

Originally Posted by fransarj

Sightings from the Fildac FB page... Credits to Ian San Gabriel



Don't know what this means or if it's Boeing's way of luring PAL, or if a deal is already being made... but I must say... damnnn looking good!

Looks agile and sleek!, definitely the best contender for PAL.

[evodesire]

Originally Posted by fransarj

Sightings from the Fildac FB page... Credits to Ian San Gabriel



Don't know what this means or if it's Boeing's way of luring PAL, or if a deal is already being made... but I must say... damnnn looking good!

OMG, talk about a thing of beauty.

Well, it means nothing really. PAL also has a scale model of A380 in PAL colors, and CebuPac has a 777-300ER in their colors too. More of a way for these companies to purchase aircraft.

[arianespace]

Ang must be glimpsing at this bird every time he looks the other way. Very nice indeed. I think I saw a replica of that at PAL's ticketing office in Terminal 2.

Originally Posted by evodesire

Can the new HGW A330 do MNL-LHR non-stop? Or this route to be served by 777s?

The increase gross variant can fly 5,950 miles (9.575 km) says John Leahy. And with that range comes Turkey as the farthest the A330 can go from MNL safely without worrying the wind. But that is for the 240T variant.

I believe PAL has ordered two variants, the 235T coming next year and 240T version coming in 2015. The newest 245 T variant could probably fly farther by 500nm.

So probably its gonna be a triple seven service to Europe for the remaining two orders.

[Xeltran]

With the arrival of new birds, perhaps Ang can also toy around with the idea of changing the PAL livery? The current one looks good, but I personally feel it can be tweaked further to make it better.

[marlowe_cano]

I second.

[xzibit31]

Originally Posted by Xeltran

With the arrival of new birds, perhaps Ang can also toy around with the idea of changing the PAL livery? The current one looks good, but I personally feel it can be tweaked further to make it better.

the current livery is nice. simple but elegant.

[romantic_guy08]

UK to help PH overcome EU aviation ban
by Carlos Santamaria
Posted on 12/11/2012 6:34 PM | Updated 12/11/2012 10:22 PM

(UPDATED) MANILA, Philippines - The United Kingdom wants to help the Philippines resolve pending issues with the European Union so Brussels will lift its ban on Philippines-based airlines, a British government official said.

On Tuesday, December 11, British Member of Parliament and State Minister for the Foreign Office Hugo Swire told Rappler he wants carriers, such as Philipine Airlines (PAL), to fly to London soon and boost tourism and trade relationship between the two countries.

"We want to work with the Philippine government to look at the outstanding issues that the EU has, and try to resolve them so we can get these flights up and running as quickly as we can," he said.

Swire had previously announced the signing of a bilateral air services agreement between the Philippines and UK that will, in the future, allow PAL to fly direct to London and other UK destinations.

However, the deal will have to overcome the hurdle of the EU, where the Philippine aviation sector remains blacklisted due to concerns regarding the ability of the aviation regulatory body to implement global safety standards.

UK wants to be part of PH growth

Swire noted that the British government wants to see Philippine airlines flying into the United Kingdom, but left it up to the airlines to figure out how many flights they will offer and whether to land at Gatwick Airport or the more congested Heathrow in London.

"We want to see direct flights from Manila into the UK. We have 250,000 Filipinos in the UK and plenty of people want to come back and forth," he said.

On top of that, "the Philippine government is trying to expand its tourism offers, and we'd like to be part of that growth," Swire added, while reminding the government and the aviation industry that "these air routes are conditional on all the boxes being ticked by the government as far as the EU is concerned."

The official also commended PAL for placing last August a $7 billion order for 54 Airbus aircraft -- the biggest ever deal struck by a local airline -- equipped with British-made Rolls Royce engines.

"That's plainly a good thing for our bilateral relations and for the UK economy," he said.

more

[NTprime]

Originally Posted by xzibit31

the current livery is nice. simple but elegant.

Yes, I concur. You used the same two words I would have used.

The current livery still looks contemporary, so I don't see much tweaking needed. Maybe they may want to put stickers of their URL but I think that's going to ruin the elegance. Wonder what they'd do to the livery of Airphilexpress when it becomes PAL Express for the nth time again?

[JYng]

Originally Posted by romantic_guy08

UK to help PH overcome EU aviation ban
by Carlos Santamaria
Posted on 12/11/2012 6:34 PM | Updated 12/11/2012 10:22 PM

(UPDATED) MANILA, Philippines - The United Kingdom wants to help the Philippines resolve pending issues with the European Union so Brussels will lift its ban on Philippines-based airlines, a British government official said.

On Tuesday, December 11, British Member of Parliament and State Minister for the Foreign Office Hugo Swire told Rappler he wants carriers, such as Philipine Airlines (PAL), to fly to London soon and boost tourism and trade relationship between the two countries.

"We want to work with the Philippine government to look at the outstanding issues that the EU has, and try to resolve them so we can get these flights up and running as quickly as we can," he said.

Swire had previously announced the signing of a bilateral air services agreement between the Philippines and UK that will, in the future, allow PAL to fly direct to London and other UK destinations.

However, the deal will have to overcome the hurdle of the EU, where the Philippine aviation sector remains blacklisted due to concerns regarding the ability of the aviation regulatory body to implement global safety standards.

UK wants to be part of PH growth

Swire noted that the British government wants to see Philippine airlines flying into the United Kingdom, but left it up to the airlines to figure out how many flights they will offer and whether to land at Gatwick Airport or the more congested Heathrow in London.

"We want to see direct flights from Manila into the UK. We have 250,000 Filipinos in the UK and plenty of people want to come back and forth," he said.

On top of that, "the Philippine government is trying to expand its tourism offers, and we'd like to be part of that growth," Swire added, while reminding the government and the aviation industry that "these air routes are conditional on all the boxes being ticked by the government as far as the EU is concerned."

The official also commended PAL for placing last August a $7 billion order for 54 Airbus aircraft -- the biggest ever deal struck by a local airline -- equipped with British-made Rolls Royce engines.

"That's plainly a good thing for our bilateral relations and for the UK economy," he said.

more

a few thoughts:
1. Reading between the lines, the UK seems to be saying that there are more gains with the Philippines and this encumbrance with the EU ban is a barrier for those potential gains to be made.
2. It looks like the EU ban will be addressed sooner than the FAA Cat 2 issue, considering the involvement (directly or indirectly) by the French with Airbus and the UK with Rolls Royce.
3. Tourism goes both ways, UK tourists into the cheap holiday offers in the Philippines and the rich-getting-richer-Filipinos into London - including those studying and/or planning to study in London's prestigious universities.

[Transporter89]

Swire on PH Aviation

[hybridace101]

Originally Posted by JYng

a few thoughts:
1. Reading between the lines, the UK seems to be saying that there are more gains with the Philippines and this encumbrance with the EU ban is a barrier for those potential gains to be made.
2. It looks like the EU ban will be addressed sooner than the FAA Cat 2 issue, considering the involvement (directly or indirectly) by the French with Airbus and the UK with Rolls Royce.
3. Tourism goes both ways, UK tourists into the cheap holiday offers in the Philippines and the rich-getting-richer-Filipinos into London - including those studying and/or planning to study in London's prestigious universities.

Some of my takes:

1. Third-parties can help all they want. Look at what happened when a former FAA official with his consultancy firm tried to help. It's one thing letting them give us a hand but it's another pressing the CAAP grab that hand.
2. If you think about it, this may be hardly surprising as I feel the UK has been generally at odds with the EU establishment, sort of the odd-man-out in this 27-state club. Not quite encouraging considering that what was the centre of the world for nearly 2 centuries is now being sidelined in its own backyard.
3. If the UK is really keen on bringing tourists into the PH and vv., why can't they just let BA fly here?

[mwg12a]

The west is actually looking towards Far East as they can see a potential for economic gains. I guess that is pretty obvious. but that's just my personal opinion ofcourse.

[krazy816]

Originally Posted by hybridace101

Some of my takes:

1. Third-parties can help all they want. Look at what happened when a former FAA official with his consultancy firm tried to help. It's one thing letting them give us a hand but it's another pressing the CAAP grab that hand.
2. If you think about it, this may be hardly surprising as I feel the UK has been generally at odds with the EU establishment, sort of the odd-man-out in this 27-state club. Not quite encouraging considering that what was the centre of the world for nearly 2 centuries is now being sidelined in its own backyard.
3. If the UK is really keen on bringing tourists into the PH and vv., why can't they just let BA fly here?

Aircraft orders won't help either: despite the record setting order of Boeing aircraft by Lion Air, Indonesia is still under FAA category 2 along with the PH

BA can (and did) fly to the Philippines, but since the PH is (as we all know) is a low yielding destination, it makes more financial sense for BA to connect in HKG via Oneworld partner Cathay Pacific