PAL To Fly Palau Next Year

5 December 2025

Flag carrier  Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced on Thursday that it would launch new flight services between Manila and Palau (Koror) starting 2026.

The airline will begin offering twice-weekly flights to Palau, an island nation in Micronesia, starting March 29 to be flown by newly refurbished 199-seater dual-class Airbus A321ceo aircraft. 

Flights from Manila are scheduled every Wednesday and Sunday, departing at 10:15 p.m. and arriving in Palau (Koror) at 2 a.m. local time. Return flights from Palau (Koror) to Manila operate on Mondays and Thursdays, taking off at 3:10 a.m. local time and landing in Manila at 4:45 a.m.

Jetstar Lands In CEB

 4 December 2025

Australia-based low cost carrier Jetstar Airways lands its inaugural flight to Mactan Cebu on Wednesday connecting Brisbane, Australia, and Cebu, Philippines — the first scheduled commercial route linking an Australian city to the Philippines second biggest City. The route will be served with A321LR aircraft departing thrice weekly until 16 May 2026.

From December to May, Flight JQ101 flies from Brisbane every Wednesday, Friday, Sunday with an additional flight on Saturdays from January 31 to March 28. It departs at 12:30pm and arrives in Cebu at 17:15pm. Flight JQ100 from Cebu returns to Brisbane on the same days, departing at 20:15pm.

Australia and the Philippines updated their bilateral air services arrangements in September, agreeing to double passenger capacity from 35 to 70 weekly services to major Australian cities by the fourth quarter of 2026.

PAL Renews GAP Fleet with newer A320s

4 December 2025

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is renewing the fleet of its low cost subsidiary PAL Express (GAP) by replacing nine of its oldest A320 ceo fleet with newer models pending its planned acquisition of brand new aircraft expected to be announce in 2027.

Rabbi Vincent Ang, President of PAL Express said the leased aircraft would replaced initially five (5) of the retiring A320 fleet in a transaction valued at $490 million, according to London-based aviation consultancy Axon Aviation.  The airline said some of its older aircraft has reached its retirement age this year and next year, prompting PAL to replace them with newer models to enable it to boost its fleet for domestic operations for another six years pending arrival of its new aircraft acquisition orders.

PAL said they will replace 2 frames this year with another A320 arriving this month leased from aircraft lessors, and with three more joining the fleet in 2026, and 4 more in 2027, the carrier announced on Wednesday.

Ang said some of the newer aircraft were previously operated brand new by PAL Express in 2011 before they were returned to lessor at the expiration of their leases, and has since wore other airline colors.

The airline said the newer A320ceos will still be configured to carry 180 passengers, same as their original single class configurations in 2011. 

“By expanding our A320 fleet, we are providing travelers with more reliable, convenient and comfortable options,” said Ang.

PAL Express currently operates 16 A320 aircraft. 

The airline recently increased flight frequencies on key domestic routes with the arrival of newer fleet by expanding Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Legazpi (Daraga), Dumaguete, and Tacloban, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to stronger connectivity. 

PAL separately is scheduled to receive nine A321neo jets beginning January of next year. 

Firefly, Vietnam Flies Mactan

3 December 2025

Vietnam Airlines begins flight to Mactan Cebu International Airport’ from Hanoi with Flight VN643 arriving Mactan early dawn today, December 3, to a water cannon salute, marking the first ever direct connection between Cebu and Vietnam’s capital city. The route will be flown by A321 aircraft thrice a week every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday every 22:50 from Hanoi arriving Mactan at 03:30am. Return Flight VN 642 is scheduled every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, flying out of Cebu at 4:45 p.m. and landing in Hanoi at 7:35 p.m.

Meanwhile, Malaysia-based Firefly Airlines, the low-cost subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, has began direct flights between Cebu and Kuala Lumpur yesterday, connecting Visayas to Malaysia. Firefly will operate five weekly flights. The route will be flown by B738 aircraft.

 

CEB Lands A330 in TAG

 18 November 2025

Cebu Pacific has fielded for the first time in the airports history Airbus A330-900neo at Bohol Panglao International Airport on Sunday November 16, arriving at 11:07 a.m., marking the airport's first arrival of widebody aircraft for revenue flights.

 

Dornier Technology Secures FAA Certification

14 November 2025

Philippines-based Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) company Dornier Technology has secured FAA certification for heavy maintenance work on the Airbus A320 family aircraft, covering both A320neos and A320ceos. 

The certification brings a new milestone for the 17-year-old company, which currently holds certifications from regulators in  the Philippines, Indonesia and South Korea. 

“This allows us to bid for more work not just from the local carriers, but also in the Southeast Asian region in particular, because were close enough that it still makes sense for them to bring over.” Dornier’s Chief Executive Officer Nick Gitsis said.

According to Gitsis, airframe maintenance makes up about 65% of the company’s work, with line maintenance making up the remaining 35%. 

Heavy maintenance checks are done at its main MRO facility at Clark airport in Pampanga while it also operates line maintenance capabilities at airports in Cebu, Davao and Manila. 

Line maintenance refers to the routine maintenance tasks performed on aircraft between flights. It typically occurs at the line station, which is an operational location where aircraft arrive and depart. Line maintenance activities are aimed at promptly resolving minor issues, conducting inspections, and ensuring that the aircraft is safe and airworthy for its next flight. 

These tasks include visual inspections, fluid replenishment, tire changes, minor repairs, and troubleshooting.

Line maintenance is “an important stream of revenue” for Dornier, but “the core of our business” is in base maintenance, and will be an area of long-term growth, says Gitsis. 

With FAA certification the company is looking to expand into end-of-lease checks and is “talking to” several lessors, and “planning some work in the near future”. 

MROs taking on end-of-lease checks are required to have FAA and/or EASA certification should they be return to service in the future. 

Engine Woes Prompted CEB to Lease jet again from LZB

31 October 2025

Low Cost Carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) has entered into another damp lease agreement covering two (2) Airbus 320 CEO aircraft with Bulgaria Air to augment its fleet ahead of the expected surge in passenger traffic during the peak travel season to address fleet shortfall due to engine issues associated with Pratt and Whitney's PW1000G powering its fleet of NEO aircraft.

“We are continuously exploring ways to expand our fleet and ensure operational resilience,” Cebu Pacific President and Chief Commercial Officer Alexander G. Lao said in a statement on Thursday.

The two A320 aircraft with 180 seats will service domestic routes between Manila and Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro from December 2025 to January 2026.

Cebu Pacific previously signed a similar agreement with Bulgaria Air in 2023 to service domestic routes such as Cebu and Davao from January to May 2024.

Russia Resumes Flight To The Philippines

Connects Irkutsk To Kalibo

27 October 2025 

Russian carrier IrAero Airlines has re-launch twice weekly flight services to the Philippines beginning October 25, 2025 from Irkutsk airport using the Russian plane Sukhoi Superjet SSJ-100, and the first Russian Airline to fly back to the country after the pandemic.

The inaugural flight of the Russia-based IrAero Airlines to Kalibo marks a new chapter in air connectivity between the Philippines and Russia amidst western sanctions considering the Philippines is a western-aligned country.

The first Iraero Airlines flight from Irkutsk, Russia landed at Kalibo International Airport on Oct. 25, carrying 93 Russian tourists, bound for the world famous Boracay Island.

Iraero Airlines will begin its regular flights every Tuesday and Saturday between Kalibo and Russian cities Irkutsk and Khabarovsk starting tomorrow.