5J To Take Unused PR Slots to OZ

13 September 2014

Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) declared today that they will take the unused slots of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to Australia after it failed to provide additional services to four major airports there. 

PAL recently withdrew flight applications to Perth and Brisbane airports originally planned for October and lately moved to November until it was eventually stricken off from Airport Coordination Australia database.

Cebu Pacific said PAL has been blocking them from using some of its unused slots which prevent the airline from providing daily services to Sydney.

The airline operates the densest A330 in the world from Manila initially operating four times a week that will increase to five flights a week beginning December 10.

Gary Kingshott, Chief Executive Adviser of Cebu Pacific said they will take that option before requesting for expansion of Air Services with Australia that would allow them to fly double daily flights to points in Sydney and Melbourne. 

“We believe there is great potential for this route. It’s only been served by two legacy carriers, the fares have been very high, more than $1000.’’ Mr Kingshott said. 

Qantas and Philippine Airlines served Sydney-Manila route. Kingshott added that with their new service CEB offers tickets 35 per cent cheaper than its rivals with year-round all-inclusive fares starting at $335.

The Air Services Agreement with Australia provides 6000 seats a week from Manila covering the airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Flights to Darwin and Between Cebu, Davao and Clark remains unrestricted. Of the 6000 seats available PAL held 4000 of which 2058 are currently utilized while CEB was awarded 2000 seats.

The airline operates the densest A330 in the world at 440 seats from Manila initially operating four times a week that will increase to five flights a week beginning December 10. 

Kingshott said that with the five flights they have in December they are constrain to carry only 400 passengers per flight to Sydney, 40 less than its aircraft passenger capacity, and with the unused PAL entitlements getting 1000 of that could make their flight go daily.

Australia is serviced by another less dense variant of its A330 holding 436 passengers that also flies to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.