Airlines In The Philippines III

[Solblanc]

At this rate, PAL really should start to rethink its policy of being unaligned. An alliance could help fill seats up front. If not an alliance, then a proper FF partnership like what they have with ANA. A FF partner in each region can help in the absence of an alliance.  

[Evodesire]

What they need is a complete revamp of BOD, or for them to just naturally close down and someone else opens a new flag carrier because at this point, they are totally hopeless, especially with the Tan women in control.

[Arianespace]

justhorace wrote

 I can't believe how PR has seemingly no foresight or if they had, how they just sat on it.

Well, they did. For their bread and butter. In fairness though, they did act on it before covid by flying 10-12 flights to SFO and 17 flights to LAX. After covid, most of their long haul fleet were gone that it was practically impossible for them to fly the frequency they used to have. PR simply can't. And UA took notice. Compounded by service woes and interruptions.

Did you know that of all North American route of PR, SFO was and still is the most profitable sector. Lets see if it still is next year.

[JNC03]

Delta's comeback is another thing

[filipinoavgeek]

I know Southeast Asia already has SQ and TG, but given PR's links to ANA I'm a bit surprised they haven't joined Star Alliance yet. I also know that PR considered joining Oneworld in the past (I think this was either before or around the same time as MH), no idea why that didn't happen.

[seven13]

Evodesire wrote

What happened to PAL's A321ceo cabin refurbish plans?

Scheduled to start in May.

[seven13]

For PR, they have codeshare and interline agreement with Westjet in Canada. AA in HNL. Currently PR is codesharing with SV with middle east, I think in all of its ME routes SV on PR's RUH and DMM while PR on SV's JED and RUH. Surprising how FJ is joining OW. Skyteam on the otherhand is losing AZ and SA as Star gains them. It has lost CZ few years back.

[JNC03]

Due to the impact of engine inspections of its A321 aircraft, Philippine Airlines is cancelling select flights to/from Japan.

In the latest update to its Japan Summer Timetable (March 25, 2025), Philippine Airlines reported it will cancel a total of 47 return flights from the Philippines to Japan between June through October. The cancellations will affect flights between Manila and Tokyo (Haneda/Narita), Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka.

[romantic_guy08]

UA adding a second daily SFO-MNL flight and with a 3rd flight being considered, plus the entry of AC should already send a lot of alarm bells ringing with PR management...

[filipinoavgeek]

Feels so weird to see such a small airline like Fiji Airways be part of an alliance, but PAL isn't despite being a sizable airline.

[Evodesire]

romantic_guy08 wrote

UA adding a second daily SFO-MNL flight and with a 3rd flight being considered, plus the entry of AC should already send a lot of alarm bells ringing with PR management...

They know that, but they don't care, because "PAL is PAL".

[Evodesire]

JNC03 wrote

Due to the impact of engine inspections of its A321 aircraft, Philippine Airlines is cancelling select flights to/from Japan.

In the latest update to its Japan Summer Timetable (March 25, 2025), Philippine Airlines reported it will cancel a total of 47 return flights from the Philippines to Japan between June through October. The cancellations will affect flights between Manila and Tokyo (Haneda/Narita), Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka.

While Cebu Pacific will be adding more flights for sure.

[filipinoavgeek]

Both PR and 5J use the PWs on their fleet, and the PW neos are the one known to have issues. It's just that I think 5J already finished its inspections first.

[Evodesire]

Difference between 5J and PR is 5J is proactive. They don't wait for sh*t to happen before taking action. They anticipate what can happen and they plan for it. PAL is reactive. They wait for things to happen first, and then they take action.

5J saw that they will be putting a lot of NEOs on AOG. So they leased and renegotiated to speed up the delivery of their ordered planes. They received 18 planes in 2024 alone and 6 more to be delivered this year.

As for PAL, they know what is happening and what can happen. However, they choose to shun it, thinking that they are immune to these problems because "PAL is PAL". Nagmamatigas to get more planes. Analysts do feel that PAL's biggest mistake post covid was to return too much planes, projecting a 2014 capacity will remain for long. They did not see the surge, which 5J saw. But they had the chance to rectify it, but BOD (Tan family) chose not to shell out money. They shrugged off the competition. Now, its too late. Only way now to win back people and regain their bread and butter is to offer a better hard product and more competitive fares against UA and AC.

If PR was being run the way 5J is currently being run, UA would not even stand a chance and I feel AC will think twice about competing. Thats why PAL is a hopeless case while under the current Tan family members.

[Arianespace]

filipinoavgeek wrote

Both PR and 5J use the PWs on their fleet, and the PW neos are the one known to have issues. It's just that I think 5J already finished its inspections first.

5J leases planes to cover those AOGs. Meanwhile, PR shuffles what was remaining on the air.

[Solblanc]

seven13 wrote

For PR, they have codeshare and interline agreement with Westjet in Canada. AA in HNL. Currently PR is codesharing with SV with middle east, I think in all of its ME routes SV on PR's RUH and DMM while PR on SV's JED and RUH. Surprising how FJ is joining OW. Skyteam on the otherhand is losing AZ and SA as Star gains them. It has lost CZ few years back.

Codeshare and interline isn’t the same as an FF partnership. A Mabuhay miles member based in Canada can’t redeem their Mabuhay miles on a domestic westjet flight award. Mabuhay miles elite flyers don’t have lounge access or other privileges on any airline other than PAL or ANA. And vice versa. Frequent flyers would fly economy on their airline of choice even if PAL has cheaper W or J fares because they know PAL flights won’t contribute at all to their status. Because of this, a lot of business traffic will go elsewhere. Now that PAL is no longer the only airline flying nonstop to the Philippines from the US and Canada, they need more reasons to attract passengers their way.

I wouldn’t be surprised if PAL gets squeezed out of SFO altogether at this rate.

[Evodesire]

<quote author="Solblanc">

seven13 wrote

I wouldn’t be surprised if PAL gets squeezed out of SFO altogether at this rate.

I would not be surprised if they just become a museum relic in less than 5 years, given the way the Tan family is controlling things.

[romantic_guy08]

Speaking of UA...

It will be a big blow to PAL if for some reason, UA is able to partner with CebPac and interline to allow domestic connections... with both under one terminal... that would be a winning combo...

[Arianespace]

It seems the 3rd flight is gonna be launch next year as they are applying it now. Did not expect how big this was. Most likely affecting connecting traffic from Taiwan, Korea and Japan, as excess traffic is always funneled in this direction. SFO is PR biggest bread and butter. I would have thought LAX but no. UA must probably be pissed at them, and attacks them where it hurts.

[Evodesire]

I'm actually hoping PAL bows out of SFO so for once, they learn their lesson the hardest way. This will be a total slap on their faces and a testament that they are no longer worthy to be our national flag carrier given how they are just taking advantage of Filipinos by providing mediocre services for high fares.

You now notice how all airlines, including 5J, are taking advantage of PAL's weakness - the Tans! I am sure these airlines know that the Tans dont want to spend on new planes and better products and would rather use whats simply available. So what do these airlines do? Dump additional capacity with better services until PAL pulls out.