Resumes CEB-LAX
5 January 2020
5 January 2020
 |
| Flag carrier Philippine Airlines is re-introducing flight to Seattle beginning 3 May 2020 with thrice a week service on A350 every Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Flight schedules are listed as follows: PR128 MNL2245 – 1945SEA 350 137 PR129 SEA2305 – 0335+1MNL 350 137 Meanwhile, PAL intends to resume thrice a week Cebu – Los Angeles service beginning 2 May 2020 every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The airline last operated this route two years ago using Airbus A340-300 but temporarily stopped service on May 2017 due to operational requirements. Flight schedules are listed as follows: PR152 CEB2100 – 1930LAX 773 246 PR153 LAX2230 – 0500+2CEB 773 246 |
why "re-introducing" flight to Seattle?
ReplyDeleteBetween 1996-1998 PAL flew ORD via SEA and EWR via YVR on MD-11 wet-leased from TWA.
DeleteNot necessarily news to us as this was announced two years ago. Implementation was in fact late for a year. You can read our old story here.
https://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2017/12/san-diego-lights-up-a350-planning.html
With that in mind, there are only three US destinations left that are up for grabs soon.
great to know. thanks ;)
DeleteActually Chicago was served as MNL-HNL-ORD and MNL-HNL-SFO-ORD for the limited time was served. Never through Seattle. On 747-200. Terminal 3 L Concourse. 2x then 3x then 0x. Handled by Lufthansa at Ohare. PR never operated in SEA and the MD11 came in much later than the ORD service. I think ORD was served in the late 80s vs late 90s.
DeletePAL first flew to ORD on 17 November 1985 twice weekly with B742 via HNL and loop service between SFO and LAX before it was suspended in 1986. ORD was served again between 1992-1993 via SFO. The last one was served with MD11 via SEA 3x a week also briefly beginning 3 June 1996 lasting only 18 months. You can find this information on the Philippine yearbook as well the book of former PAL President Avelino Zapanta. Glad to be of help.
DeletePR's MD-11 are wet-leased from World Airways not from TWA.
DeleteCorrect. It should be WOA not TWA. N277WA and N278WA belongs to World Airways. Sorry for the typo.
DeletePAL never served Seattle. Just because it's on the Philippine yearbook means zilch. I've never read Avelino Zapanta's book, and if you're telling the truth, I'm surprised he's telling a lie. I know this because I worked for the management offices of SEATAC from 1990 to 2009. If I wanted to fly PAL to go back home, I had to drive up to YVR or fly down to SFO/LAX. The wet-leased MD-11s (and there were only 4 of them) flew MNL-YVR-EWR, MNL-LAO-HNL, MNL-SEL-LAX and CEB-SEL-LAX. I think they might have also served Australia.
DeleteThere are only 3 airports in the Philippines capable of handling MD-11 in 1995 and Laoag airport is not one of them. LAO can't even handle the plane now. Make your fact straight.
DeleteWill there be enough aircraft to handle all these longhaul routes? We have the 777-300ER for LAX and SFO and YVR, and LAX and SFO are more than once a day (and LAX can even be 17 times weekly). Also, one 77W is still out of service, or is it? Is it still under repairs? We have the A350 for JFK, LHR, and YYZ, and there are 6 of them, so I'm guessing there's enough for Seatle?
ReplyDeleteMaybe PAL might suspend LHR route since its their least profitable long-haul route. SEA might be the replacement? Who knows, since North America route is where their money's at.
DeleteI've read rumors that PAL is going to exercise its additional A350 options, so that might be what those planes will be for.
DeleteI was saw this coming for a while. CAPA previously reported that PAL has too many expensive long haul aircraft on lease vis a vis their current long haul routes which contributes largely to their losses. I believe they had more routes in mind when they ordered the 4 new 777's but instead increased capacity at LAX which had the effect of pressuring MNL-LAX yields downward. I believe with the launch of PR 152 and 153, PR 124 and 125 will no longer operate. I think it's the right move for PAL because passengers from Cebu and other local destinations would like to avoid MNL at all costs, even flying Other Airlines just to avoid MNL.
DeleteIn regards to the A350 to SEA, take note that they have reduced MNL-LHR frequencies to 5x a week it may be further be reduced to 4x a week opening the possibility of another route being added 3x a week. They can also implement seasonal rotations with YYZ because YYZ is a more mature market and can be shifted to 777's during summer months when the winds aren't as strong to force payload limitations on YYZ-MNL sector then during winter months SEA gets the 777 while YYZ gets the A350. I dont think they'll pull out of LHR but they are reducing the frequency to reduce the cost of operating a loss making route and hopefully SEA will be profitable for PAL to pave the way for additional A350 orders
It would be enough for the current long haul fleet for now. It wont be next year.
DeleteLAX-CEB actually makes sense now as there are plenty of domestic connections to Vismin regions as compared to two years ago. The Hong Kong,Korean and Taiwanese carriers are actually benefiting from this demand as OFWs and balikbayans bound to vismin prefers to use Mactan as compared to NAIA. Transfer is more convenient now.
So there won't be enough aircraft for next year? Even if they order new planes right now, will they be available next year when they really need them?
DeleteReintroducing CEB-LAX, even at the expense of a MNL-LAX frequency, is a very good move. As it is, there are a number of people I know from Visayas and Mindanao who avoid Manila if possible, taking PAL connecting flights via Cebu from Vis-Min to SoKor, Japan, etc. This is all because of the wonderful T2 of MCIA. I've been saying so many times years ago - a beautiful Mactan-Cebu T2 will definitely decongest NAIA more than CRK as it will take some passengers out of connecting through NAIA.
DeleteThey still have A350 options from their original order. Options somewhat reserved an airline's place on queue in the production without them fully committing to taking the aircraft in. Maybe they will execute these options this year for delivery next year. They may be in net loss but their cash flow is positive meaning they still have cash running around to finance the expansion if they wish. Anyway they will also need to phaseout 777's starting 2022 so they'll need to figure it out soon. Altho I've heard that Boeing officials have been hanging around PAL HQ recently so it may mean they'll go with the 777X but that will mean it'll take longer for them to get new aircraft, and the 777X are way larger and more difficult to fill than the current 777's
ReplyDeleteI sense that the 777X is coming to replace the 777-300ERs. The 77W is taking over an A340 route in CEB-LAX. This might also mean that there will be a regular 777-300ER flight between MNL and CEB as a domestic route to maximize PAL's flying the 777 to CEB for the LAX flight.
DeleteYes, I did hear that Boeing is working hard to convince PAL to get the 777X to replace their aging 77Ws. With this, PAL can still retain their pilots rated for the 77W with minimal training. But it would be a double-edged sword; given that PAL is said to be iffy regarding how Boeing is handling the 737 MAX crisis and the delays on the 777X program, PAL could be in a better position during negotiations. Also, ordering the 777X would give PAL some time to recuperate from losses before it gets delivered given that PAL is now getting conservative regarding its refleeting and 5-star program.
DeleteWow 777-300ER for Cebu-LA. Isn't that too large?
ReplyDeleteClearly, the 77W is now taking the role of PAL's then-A340. The A350 is the current flagship and one can't help but think that the 777X is in the works very soon. Good times for PAL on the road to 5-star!
DeleteThis proves also that the OFW market is not PAL's cup of tea. Focusing on key cities in the US with Fil-Am communities is actually working wonders for PAL compared to the Middle East and Europe where Filipino communities are mainly migrant workers instead of families that have migrated and established themselves in those foreign lands. This is also an admission for PAL that it cannot compete where the one-stop Gulf carriers (and also some Asian legacy carriers) are strongest - Asia/Australia-EU.
ReplyDeleteThis is great news from PAL that SEA is finally taking off. Also the resumption of CEB-LAX is a very welcome development as well.
ReplyDeleteGoodluck on these two new routes for 2020!!
On the side note...Perth is also coming back in March!
When Philippine airlines opening there new lounge in manila terminal 1 any one know and ant they moving all there international flights from terminal 1
ReplyDelete7X a week from Toronto-Manila-Toronto is not enough as it is always a fully booked flight, PAL should add more flight on this route.
ReplyDeleteSo as JFK. Two flights must be adjusted seasonally, 5-7x weekly.
DeleteYes that is correct , i have also observed the long line of PAL passengers everynight during boarding time at Gate 33 as i am working in one of the restaurant inside the terminal 2 building.
DeletePAL should use their options to order A350-1000s. These have the range and would add capacity for the JFK and YYZ flights.
ReplyDeleteThe 2020 version of the A35K has the payload range to fly JFK. It can even fly as far as MIA.
DeleteI really hope Chicago would be the next PAL destination to cover the US Midwest market. A350-900 would be great for this route.
ReplyDeleteI really hope they do direct MNL-ORD, however although ORD has larger traffic than MNL-SEA, ORD has had difficulty with Transpacific flights recently, Asiana just cut their ICN-ORD route (altho this is an opportunity because Asiana has the most MNL-ORD traffic), American Airlines cut their Beijing and Shanghai flights from ORD. This is significant because ORD is the hub of Star Alliance and Oneworld respectively, what more an independent carrier with little codeshare/interline with American carriers
DeleteThis has to be it now philippine airlines expanding they really will not have any more aircraft to fly long haul unless they put a order in for more aircraft but don't think they will order any any time soon
ReplyDelete