PAL, Airphil Express adding 10 new aircraft in 2012

January 2, 2011

PAL expects 2 Boeing 777-300ER's in June and November and 4 Airbus 320 in March, April, November and December.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines and low cost subsidiary AirPhil Express are adding 10 aircraft to their fleet this year in anticipation of increase passenger traffic for 2012.

PAL president Jaime Bautista said the two airlines were both on track on their respective fleet expansion as flag carrier is taking delivery of six planes this year— four A320s and two Boeing 777s while Airphil will have delivery of four Airbuses 320 in 2012 as part of the low-cost carrier’s $250-million fleet expansion program involving the delivery of 18 A320 from 2010 to 2012..

“The delivery of aircraft is on schedule. In total, there will be 10 aircraft that will be added,” Bautista said.

PAL is expecting two Boeing 777-300ER's in June and November this year and four Airbus 320 in March, April, November and December.

The new Airbus planes will be used for re-fleeting program in which the older aircraft type ordered in 1992 will be replaced with newer technology and more fuel-efficient plane models as they retire one after the other upon reaching the end of their economic lives. PAL will have a modern fleet of Airbus 320 at the end of 2012.

Meanwhile, Airphil Express is also scheduled to take delivery of four new aircraft in the first quarter of the year.

PAL Senior Assistant Vice President Cesar Chiong said two Airbus A320s will arrive in January, one in February and another one in March.

The new planes will open new routes and destinations in Visayas and Mindanao such as Dumaguete, Butuan, Dipolog, and Pagadian. Airphil Express will also establish a new hub in Clark.

Bautista said AirPhil was funding its own expansion program through internally generated funds and loans, which are independent to that of PAL.

“We are giving them the chance to be on their own,” Bautista added.

AirphilExpress seeks to solidify its market share by offering travelers with compelling value for money fare. Among these is the free 15-kilo check-in luggage allowance plus seven-kilo hand-carry baggage that used to be standard among budget carriers. 

Airphil was the country's fastest growing airline in 2011expanding close to 200% from previous year figures.

Bautista said another batch of new planes will join PAL next year, two B777s and two A320s for delivery in July and November 2013, and March and April 2013, respectively. The airline will also announce orders for A330 and 340 replacement soon after a deal with its new investor.

PAL parent company controlled by Lucio Tan has been in talks with conglomerate San Miguel Corp. for investments in the airline for its refleeting and modernization program equivalent to 14 frames of medium to long range widebody aircraft valued at $3.5 billion within the next 5 years.