PAL Adds Cauayan Route

11 October 2024

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will add Cauayan, Isabela to its domestic network out of Manila starting January 15, 2025.

The airline will operate the daily flights to and from Cauayan utilizing 86-seater De Havilland Dash 8-400 Next Generation aircraft, withPR2018 departing NAIA Terminal 2 at 01:25 PM, arriving Cauayan at 2:30 PM. Return flight PR2019 departs Cauayan Airport at 3:25 PM, arriving NAIA at 4:40 PM.

“We will welcome 2025 with our new Manila-Cauayan-Manila service, commencing on January 15th, 2025,” said PAL Express President Rabbi Vincent Ang.

PAL Seattle Inaugural Flight

Eyes Daily Flight Soon 

 

10 October 2024

Philippine flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) Boeing 777-300ER (RP-C7778) aircraft arrived at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport as two ARFF trucks sprayed welcome arch over the airliner in Washington State on October 3. PAL will fly three weekly nonstop flights (PR124 and PR125) from Manila to Seattle and vice versa every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is now planning to expand the new Manila-Seattle direct flights soon, as new aircraft arrives on its fleet starting next year, according to its President, as it incites connecting travelers to Asian destinations, particularly Vietnam and Thailand.

“We are not just targeting the Filipino community, but introducing the Philippines to the rest of the world,” said PAL President Capt. Stanley K. Ng at a media briefing in Seattle.

Ng said the direct flight offers them convenience as it cuts down travel to Manila to 14 hours from 20 hours if they take a connecting flight.

The President noted that direct flight offers seamless connection to the Philippines as passengers would have the luxury and convenience of not losing their baggage during transit at a foreign airport.

PAL Vice President for Sales Salvador C. Britanico Jr. confirmed Seattle expansion, saying that while the newly-launched Manila-Seattle route already has a load factor of 80 percent to 90 percent, potential for market growth is there by making Seattle a transit point from Manila and Manila a transit point from Seattle to Asian destinations.

“We have a good partner here, Alaska Air. We also have passengers connecting via American Airlines and as well as Delta. So, Alaska Air, they fly to more than 100 destinations from here. So, it's good connectivity for us because when you land, immediately you can connect to other parts of the US and even Canada,” he noted.

“From interior US connecting here. And then also, we'll have passengers that can access Southeast Asia from here. So Seattle to Bangkok (via Manila), since we have good connections. Vietnam, Bangkok, even other parts of Asia.” adds Britanico.

The Pacific Northwest capital is home to 178,300 Filipino migrants according to US Census Bureau in 2017.

“The state of Washington has about 180,000 Filipinos. For the Pacific Northwest, close to 300,000 Filipinos. So, when we launched the flights, many of our passengers actually for the first time in many years also taking trips back to the Philippines, to Manila because it is now more convenient for them.” says Britanico.

Britanico said there is also a huge market among seafarers since there are many cruise ships departing from Seattle.

“So, we also transport a lot of Filipino seafarers and also those taking tours. The Port of Seattle is one of the major gateways for Filipino seafarers. Many of the workers on the big cruise ships are actually Filipinos coming from the Philippines. So that's one traffic especially during the summer when cruise season starts,” he said. 

 

Seattle is the fifth gateway of PAL to the United States after San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and New York. It intends to add new destination in the US beginning in 2026 for a much delayed return flight to Chicago which has been delayed due to local airline opposition, which has now been resolved. It is also planning to add Houston beginning 2027.

 

The Philippines is allowed to fly to seven gateways in the United States under existing air bilateral agreement. 

 

Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista previously said the Philippine is undergoing consultations with their US counterpart on the expansion of the Air Services Agreement (ASA) last amended in 1995.

The DoTr through the Civil Aeronautics Board is planning again to meet with their US Department of Transportation (DOT) counterpart this year, in a bid to expand gateway points beyond 7, as it hopes to open New Manila International Airport by 2028, Mr. Bautista said.

Discussions over amendments of the ASA were first introduced during the PH-US bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 11th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Transportation Ministerial Meeting on May 16, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan, as the Philippines and the US discussed mutual interest to promote air transport and expand cooperation in the aviation sector.

Cebu Pacific Buys Airswift

Ayala Sells Airline at $32 Million

7 October 2024

Low Cost Carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) has signed agreement with ALI Capital Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Land Inc., to acquire full ownership of boutique airline AirSWIFT Transport Inc. for a transaction valued at P1.75 billion (US$32,250,000 million) through share purchase deal.

According to PSE disclosures, ALI stated the agreement was reached through arm’s-length negotiations, taking into consideration AirSWIFT’s aircraft lease payments, manila airport slot allocations, and rights to land at El Nido' private airport.

The share swap deal involves a one-time cash payment that will be held in escrow at Bank of the Philippine Islands, to be released once all post-closing conditions, such as approval of the Competition Commission, Civil Aeronautics Board, Manila International Airport Authority, and the Civil Aviation Authority has been met, and share price adjustments outlined in the share purchase agreement (SPA) are fulfilled.

CEB said there will be no changes in Airswift flight schedule and services, as it will simply become another airline subsidiary of Cebu Pacific, like Cebgo, bought from Southeast Asia Airlines (SEAIR).

"With this transaction, we are hopeful the expertise of Cebu Pacific will bring lower cost options and greater accessibilty to El Nido", ALI Capital President Alfonso Javier Reyes said in  a statement.

Airswift operates a pair of ATR 42-500 and thre ATR72-600 turboprop aircraft.

Cebu Pacific said the acquisition will widen their network and improve connectivity for both local and foreign travelers, helping grow businesses and local communities in key tourist hotspots.

“We are excited to play our part in increasing accessibility to local destinations that have high potential and are world-renowned for having some of the best beaches in the world," said Cebu Pacific President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao.

Cebu Pacific and Ayala land previously confirmed their discussion on the sale of Airswift to Cebu Pacific as early as July 2024.

SIA Engineering in the Philippines becomes first E2 jet authorised service centre in Asia Pacific

 

26 September 2024

SIA Engineering (Philippines) Corporation (SIAEP), a subsidiary of SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC), has become the first Embraer-authorised service centre for its newest E2 family jets in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

Accordingly, SIAEP will perform maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for Embraer’s E-Jets E2 family of aircraft at its hangar in Clark International Airport in Angeles City, Pampanga.

SIAEP has been an authorised service centre in APAC for Embraer’s first-generation E-Jets since 2017. It has three hangars in Clark, Philippines.

SIA Engineering Philippines (SIAEP) is likewise set to perform MRO work on Scoot, the low cost airline of Singapore International Airlines. 

Embraer’s Services & Support footprint is an important development for the Brazilian aerospace firm’s expansion strategy in APAC.

The company’s E-Jets fleet in APAC is operated by airlines in Singapore, Australia, India, Myanmar, Japan and China.

Air France Returns To Manila

10 September 2024

European Carrier Air France (AFR) announces flight to the far east as it expands its Asian network.

Beginning December 7, 2024, Air France will link Manila to its hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle operating thrice a week direct flights every Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays on Airbus A350-900 aircraft, offering 34 seats in Business class, 24 seats in Premium, and 266 in Economy.

The flight will alternate with Amsterdam-based KLM, using the same slots and operating at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

AF208: Leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 11:20pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, arriving in Manila at 7:30pm (next day),

AF209: Leaving Manila at 9:50pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, arriving at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 5:50am (next day).

Meanwhile, KLM will operate with 4 flights a week from Amsterdam Schiphol airport, every Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, using B787-900 aircraft.

Air France-KLM Group will provide daily European flights to Manila by coordinating their respective flight schedules, with KLM reducing flight services.

Air France will also add flights to Tokyo Haneda this winter (up to 15 flights a week), Osaka (up to 3 flights a week), Beijing (up to 7 flights a week), Shanghai (up to 7 flights a week), Hong Kong (up to 7 flights a week), Seoul (up to 7 flights a week), Bangkok (up to 13 flights a week), Singapore (up to 10 flights a week), and Ho Chi Minh City (3 flights a week).

The introduction of Manila marks Air France’s 5th new route for the winter 2024-2025 season. 

During this period, the airline will inaugurate new routes to Salvador de Bahia (Brazil, 3 flights a week from October 28, 2024), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, 3 flights a week from November 18, as an extension from Zanzibar), Malé (Maldives, up to 2 flights a week from December 20) and Kiruna (Sweden, 1 flight a week from December 21).

French controlled Air France-KLM Group transported 83 million passengers in 2022.

The carrier last flew to Manila in March 2004 with Airbus A340-300 aircraft. This time it will be operated by Airbus A350-900.

 

Leading Edge Air Opens Jolo

10 September 2024

Leading Edge Air Services (LEASCOR) has opened flight services from Zamboanga to Jolo  and Zamboanga to Cebu using ATR72-500 aircraft (RP-C9962) today.;

The flight will be flown every Tuesday and Saturday on the following routes: 

Cebu- Zamboanga – 0600H- 0723H; 

Zamboanga – Jolo – 0823H 0 0914H; 

Jolo- Zamboanga – 1014H – 1100H, and 

Zamboanga – Cebu – 1200H – 1330H

Fares are reported as follows:

P3,285 for Jolo-Zamboanga;

P3,386 for Zamboanga-Jolo;

P4,700 for Cebu-Zamboanga-Cebu

2023 Busiest Airport in the Philippines

5 September 2024

2023 BUSIEST AIRPORTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
NUMBER	AIRPORT	CODE	TRAFFIC	PPP	2022 Rank
1	NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL APT	MNL	45,299,607	NNIC	1
2	MACTAN CEBU INTERNATIONAL APT	CEB	10,050,340	M-GMR	2
3	FRANCISCO BANGOY INTERNATIONAL APT	DVO	3,844,895	O & M	3
4	CATICLAN	MPH	3,288,166	Trans Aire Dev	10
5	ILOILO INTERNATIONAL APT	ILO	2,330,053	O & M	5
6	CLARK INTERNATIONAL	CRK	2,000,381	M-GMR	9
7	LAGUINDINGAN APT	CGY	1,990,291	O & M	6
8	TACLOBAN APT	TAC	1,539,674	O & M	11
9	BACOLOD APT	BCD	1,874,261	O & M	8
10	PUERTO PRINCESA INTERNATIONAL APT	PPS	1,717,976	O & M	7
11	TAGBILARAN	TAG	1,653,868	O & M	13
12	ZAMBOANGA APT	ZAM	1,078,343	O & M	12
13	KALIBO INTERNATIONAL APT	KLO	952,994	O & M	4
14	GENERAL SANTOS APT	GES	904,290	GAA	14
15	BUTUAN APT	BXU	820,774	GAA	15
16	LEGASPI	DRP	662,580	GAA	17
17	DUMAGUETE	DGT	650,831	GAA	16
18	BUSUANGA	USU	594,526	GAA	18
19	SIARGAO	IAO	552,838	GAA	NEW
20	ROXAS	RXS	404,463	GAA	21
21	OZAMIZ	OZC	320,295	GAA	19
22	PAGADIAN	PAG	306,277	GAA	24
23	DIPOLOG	DPL	257,779	GAA	22
24	TUGUEGARAO	TUG	225,961	GAA	23
25	LAOAG	LAO	187,069	GAA	25
	Up	Airports with 1 million passengers or more are eligible for Public-Private partnership.
	Down	Airports below 1 million does not qualify for PPP project due to poor investor returns.
	Same	O & M- To be Privatized airports, GAA - Remains with Government

CEB Reopens Iloilo Hub

5 September 2024

Low Cost Carrier (LCC) Cebu Pacific (CEB) has continued its hub building in Iloilo airport as it offers new routes outside Metro Manila with the relaunch of flights from Iloilo to Tacloban and new flight from Iloilo to Zamboanga starting October.

In a statement on Wednesday, the airline said it would offer Iloilo-Tacloban flights four times a week by Oct. 27, while the Iloilo-Zamboanga route will commence on Oct. 28 and will be operated thrice weekly with ATR72 aircraft.

Flights to Tacloban will be every Tuesday,Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, while new Zamboanga flight begins October 28 and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“The addition of our new domestic routes from Iloilo aligns with our mission of making air travel accessible to a wider range of passengers.” Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao said. 

 "We look forward to flying more Juans across our growing inter-island network and better enabling them to discover the beautiful islands of the Philippines," Lao adds.

In July, Cebu Pacific announced that it was reopening direct flights from Iloilo to Hong Kong and Singapore in October 27. 

The budget carrier flies Manila, Cebu, and Davao domestically.