Airlines In The Philippines III

[filipinoavgeek]

I can't say I'm surprised. The domestic demand for Kalibo has essentially evaporated ever since Caticlan expanded, and these days Kalibo is really used more for international flights than domestic. Even then, Caticlan already sees some international flights (which actually surprises me considering how small the current facilities are). With the Kalibo O&D market itself not doing so hot, while disappointing it's not a big surprise.

[xzibit31]

Minor Overshoot of PR at BCD.

https://digicastnegros.com/pal-plane-overshoots-runway-at-bacolod-silay-airport-caap/

[Gustavo J Oppenheimer]

What are 5J's plans this 2025 besides introducing Sapporo? Maiden flights to India? Flying to Okinawa?

[filipinoavgeek]

Not sure about 5J, but regarding Okinawa, AirAsia PH said they were considering launching flights there and to Penang next year. Given their fleet and financial issues though, I'm not sure that's happening.

[Arianespace]

5J intends to open 15 new routes in 2025, including reopening of old ones,  according to Xander Lao. As to where, he does not say just yet.  Meanwhile, CEB is closing the year with the delivery of its 17th aircraft for 2024. It just received a 330n and 320n bringing its commercial fleet to 91.

[Arianespace]

AirAsia Philippines hopes to restore its aircraft fleet to prepandemic level next year while also expanding its local destination network.

Ricky Isla, the budget carrier’s CEO, said in an event last week the airline currently operates a 16-jet fleet but it was planning to reactivate more planes.

“And coming soon, hopefully next year, we’ll go back to 24 aircraft,” he said.

Isla said they were eyeing to relaunch their flights to Zamboanga and General Santos. Prior to the pandemic, the carrier was flying these routes twice daily.

Other target destinations for AirAsia include Dumaguete, Legazpi, Tuguegarao and Butuan.
https://business.inquirer.net/480352/airasia-eyes-more-local-routes-with-prepandemic-fleet-count

As to how they do that is the question. The 8 planes that was taken out has passed their retirement age.

They projected themselves to fly 8 million in 2024 but fails to reach that figure. Instead it settles barely above 7.2 million. Now, it expects to fly at least 7.5 million passengers in 2025, or about 450,000 more pax.

AirAsia Philippines is projected to reach 7.5 million passengers next year, as the carrier reaps the benefit of expanding both its fleet and network. The airline scaled up its fleet by 78 percent, to 16 Airbus A320s in 2024, from nine in 2023.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/12/10/2406196/airasia-philippines-eyes-75-million-passengers-2025

That is barely equivalent to 2 more planes.

[filipinoavgeek]

How possible is it that we could see a return of Phuket flights?

[Arianespace]

789 is back. Wamos 332(EC-NCK) is heading back to MAD after last service to MEL today.

[Evodesire]

It's 2025. Lets see if PAL still has plans for its future. An aircraft order should be placed this year. I also want to hear more route expansions.

[seven13]

did it go heavy maintenance? or was it out of service due to financial reasons?

[Arianespace]

Most likely heavy maintenance

[seven13]

I see. Then 8783 should be coming back by end of January with SYD be flown by PR metal starting Feb

[Solblanc]

Evodesire wrote

It's 2025. Lets see if PAL still has plans for its future. An aircraft order should be placed this year. I also want to hear more route expansions.

The A320ceos have about two years life left in them. So I expect that we’ll hear about their replacement in two years time. Or even more if they can lease some old frames.

The A350-1000s are supposed to come in this year. No word on product at all.

The A321ceos are due for refurbishment, but nobody has seen a single plane actually go in. No word on schedule, or even the new layout.

I mean, what are they gonna announce when even previous announcements haven’t really materialized.

[filipinoavgeek]

There's a post on SkyscraperCity reporting that there aren't any bookable Sunlight Air flights at the moment. Did something happen to them?

[Arianespace]

They are still flying as of this date. See FR24. You can see their planes crisscrossing Vismin regions.

[Evodesire]

PAL has been inconsistent. Like they launched the "Care" campaign and then all of a sudden, fall silent. Let's see. Hopefully they say something. IMO, if they don't order any planes this year, that's the beginning of their downfall. Or maybe it has started already.

[Arianespace]

romantic_guy08 wrote

PAL stopping Kalibo flights?

Philippine Airlines, in a letter sent by its Vice President for Corporate Affairs Anne Tiongco to Aklan Governor Jose Miraflores, shared a major development in the latter part of this quarter.

Beginning March 1, 2025, PAL will no longer fly directly between Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) and Kalibo International Airport (KLO).

“We regret to inform you however that we are suspending our Manila-Kalibo-Manila operations… due to necessary network adjustments.”

The Philippine flag carrier, meanwhile, said that it will continue to serve the province of Aklan through their daily flights to Caticlan Airport (MPH) from Manila and Cebu.

Its seasonal regional flights to Kalibo from other regional ports in Asia, such as the one that flies between the town and Seoul, South Korea, will continue its flights slated for January 2 until March 4, 2025.

PAL did not close all its doors to reviving the route in the future, as they “will continue to review potential opportunites to make the Manila-Kalibo-Manila route viable and create a sustained demand for the service in the future.”

Gone destinations:
1. Surigao
2. Baguio
3. Pagadian
4. Kalibo
5. Bongao? (i think also March)

Surprise, PAA is doing great at KLO.

[Evodesire]

With all their route suspensions due to lack of aircraft and mediocre services, sad to say that PAL is now much less of a flag carrier than Cebu Pacific.

[Arianespace]

According to timetable, CBO-TWT is until Feb. 28. Gone by March.

[JNC03]