PAL Re-configures Monoclass A330
1 December 2016
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is heading to "nose-to-tail reinvention" as it aims to become a five-star, full-service carrier by 2020, said President and COO Jaime Bautista on the sidelines of Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) 60th Assembly of Presidents in Manila.
Bautista confirmed that initiatives were already mapped out to remedy the carrier’s identity crisis and LCC inclinations as it re-positions back to become a full service carrier of the Philippines, a move that required a reconfiguration of all the mono-class aircraft in its fleet.
According to Bautista eight A330-300s will be reconfigured with business, premium economy and economy class seats for medium-haul flights to the Middle East, Japan, Korea, Australia and Honolulu. It will also be furnish with backseat In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) systems covering all classes which the present equipment doesn't provide.
The airline said the seat configuration of the A330 will be less dense than the current product they have.
Meanwhile, the upcoming A321NEOs orders which start arriving in the last quarter of 2017 will also sport backseat IFE's designed for regional destinations as well as medium haul routes to Australia and India.
PAL is currently rated three star by Skytrax.
Bautista confirmed that initiatives were already mapped out to remedy the carrier’s identity crisis and LCC inclinations as it re-positions back to become a full service carrier of the Philippines, a move that required a reconfiguration of all the mono-class aircraft in its fleet.
According to Bautista eight A330-300s will be reconfigured with business, premium economy and economy class seats for medium-haul flights to the Middle East, Japan, Korea, Australia and Honolulu. It will also be furnish with backseat In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) systems covering all classes which the present equipment doesn't provide.
The airline said the seat configuration of the A330 will be less dense than the current product they have.
Meanwhile, the upcoming A321NEOs orders which start arriving in the last quarter of 2017 will also sport backseat IFE's designed for regional destinations as well as medium haul routes to Australia and India.
PAL is currently rated three star by Skytrax.
Looking forward to the major transformation. Make Filipinos proud again in the skies.
ReplyDeleteYou will never get that star :) haha!
ReplyDeleteAnd so do you. hahaha
DeleteWhy? I need explanation. Do you have any proof?
DeleteWow...I'm glad that even the A321NEOs will be getting IFE. That's really good. I hope they will also equip all aircraft with WiFi on board.
ReplyDeleteThey might be able to get five star for service inside the plane. But the service outside the plane at front desk and the phone deserve a one star. I would give a zero star if they had that.
ReplyDeletePAL would be bankrupt if they had to compete with an American airline or European airline service outside the plane.
The major challenge here will be the fact that many employees at PAL have been working for many years now and most of them are reluctant to step inside their comfort zone. Other than setting higher standards, collaboration and team work for a common goal will be much needed, as well as having an insight into the services of the world's five star carriers. Surely PR is not an SQ, CX, QR, or EY, but they are right in choosing GA as their benchmark. PR might as well reintroduce their 'Maharlika' First Class, of which I heard they have no plans as of the moment. Their A350 won't even feature First Class. Although BR was able to attain five star status without First Class. GA and EY on the other hand invested heavily on their First and Business Class products.
ReplyDelete*correction, I mean '...outside their comfort zone.'
DeleteAs they say, you cant teach an old dog new tricks. Im sure many will have an early retirement. Many jobs will be outsourced.
DeleteAnd the more serious challenge on their aim would be the politics inside the company. Sobrang tindi ng pulitika at inggitan sa PAL. The weak never stand a chance. This will undeniably affect the way they collaborate with each other in projects.
DeleteWhat about the 7 existing 3-class Airbus A330-300?
ReplyDeleteThat's my thought actually. Eight 414-seater A330-300 are all 235 tonnes. They can fly into Honolulu but with payload restrictions way back, unlike the remaining seven 240 tonnes.
DeleteWhen will PAL A330s be reconfigured their A330s I only heard 2017 but without an exact date or when will be the turn of the remaning 7 A330s ?
ReplyDeleteSubscribe and be posted when information becomes available.
ReplyDeleteI think in economy their A340s beat all those other 5 star airlines. The older thicker seats that these planes have are way more comfortable than the new slim lines that everyone has. Also the A340s have more legroom than the other airlines with their newer planes.
ReplyDelete