Airlines In The Philippines III

[Solblanc]

Arianespace wrote

filipinoavgeek wrote

Could the NAIA rehab allow A380s, or do we have to wait for NMIA to come online?

They have to wait for NMIA to come on line. The problem with NAIA is the runway separation to its taxiway. Whenever the a380 is on the runway or taxiaway, no widebody is permitted either on the runway or taxiway, and that affects aircraft movements. That's why you only see them arriving or departing  midnight or early morning for LTP checks.

Its the same reason why widebodies are not allowed to use 13-31 because of the separation to its taxiway that has full of narrows.

I would say that Emirates will have started retiring its A380s before NMIA becomes online.

Also, in a decade, Riyadh Air and Air India will be airlines to be reckoned with, offering more choices vs your standard ME3 + TK.

EK’s mammoth A380 operation will have to dial it down, with no new VLA save for the 779

[JNC03]

APlus now transitions from Line Maintenance to Base Maintenance Operations

As a result, they are now a full fledged MRO in the Philippines joining SIAEP and LTP

Aplus will now conduct C-Check to 5J’s A320 and A321 fleet.

[JNC03]

PAL to increase Manila to Seattle flights in November to five times weekly from three times

[xzibit31]

When did PR start to use the One World lounge in ICN?  
Last year we were using the Korean Air Lounge near Gate 28.

[Solblanc]

JNC03 wrote

PAL to increase Manila to Seattle flights in November to five times weekly from three times

Do they have enough 77Ws? Just because an A35K is arriving at that time doesn’t mean that they can deploy it transpac right away. They still have to familiarize the crew with it…

[filipinoavgeek]

Didn't Korean move to Terminal 2 after it opened? Or they still have a lounge at T1?

[seven13]

Solblanc wrote

JNC03 wrote

PAL to increase Manila to Seattle flights in November to five times weekly from three times

Do they have enough 77Ws? Just because an A35K is arriving at that time doesn’t mean that they can deploy it transpac right away. They still have to familiarize the crew with it…

Nothing really to familiarize with the A35K, I guess. Pretty much similar with the A359.

[filipinoavgeek]

Crew familiarization also refers to the cabin crew. They're not the same cabins after all, especially with the A359s being 3-3-3 and the A35Ks being 3-4-3.

[AnonBoy]

yeah and service flows in the cabin are going to be very different including crew distribution per section. new planes usually go through crew fam which historically pal flies long haulers to HKG/CEB/SIN/BKK/DVO rotations for a month or two before being deployed to long haul sectors.

[seven13]

filipinoavgeek wrote

Crew familiarization also refers to the cabin crew. They're not the same cabins after all, especially with the A359s being 3-3-3 and the A35Ks being 3-4-3.

Cabin crews are already undergoing textbook familiarization with the A35K. Manuals will definitely be released before EIS and crews will just follow the assignment. Nothing will be different in terms of service flow actually.

How many frames is PR expecting this 2025? Only one?

[AnonBoy]

no change in service flow? for one, there will be one or two more extra crew in ECY for sure given the 315 ecy vs 382 pax, so that will change assignments and where meal services will start and end per designation. If it is true that there is no difference, the heavier workload for the crew would be really aweful. If PAL is going to still man A350-1000s with just 12 crew for LH, just imagine how long it will take to get your food after take off. By context, the current 370 seater B777 has a 14-man long haul crew complement (although given that minimum crew requirement for the aircraft is already 10 on a short haul flight).

[xzibit31]

The One World lounge is across the Korean Air lounge in T1.

[filipinoavgeek]

https://business.inquirer.net/534361/biz-buzz-fernandes-on-a-high

Tony Fernandes wrote

The Philippines will figure prominently in the expansion plans and Fernandes is scheduled to visit the Philippines for a long-delayed catch-up with partners here to discuss how to take AirAsia Philippines on the path of faster growth.

But Fernandes already said in a briefing last week that exciting times are indeed ahead for the Philippines.

“I’m coming to the Philippines. It’s long overdue. There’s lots to discuss … and I have a lot to say,” said Fernandes.

Could the worst be finally over for AirAsia Philippines? It's been one of their red headed stepchildren for years now, along with Indonesia and lately arguably Cambodia.

[Evodesire]

Until its there, its there. Don't believe everything Tony says until it's there.

[JNC03]

Philippine Airlines will relaunch its seasonal Manila–Sapporo service starting November 24, 2025, using its Airbus A321neo aircraft.

The route will operate every winter (IATA winter schedule), with this year’s schedule running three times weekly until March 27, 2026.

[filipinoavgeek]

The interesting thing here is that they're only planning to serve it seasonally (at least for now), unlike Cebu Pacific which has managed so far to maintain the route year round. In fact, 5J is emphasizing that Sapporo is not only a winter destination.

[Gustavo J Oppenheimer]

AirAsia PH eyeing India flights

https://insiderph.com/insider-insights-airasia-ph-eyes-india-closer-group-ties-in-strategy-shift-under-new-president

[Arianespace]

It seems PAL is returning back to LHR next year. They are now negotiating with Speedbird for the return of their swapped landing slots.

[Arianespace]

justhorace wrote

I still disagree. And I think CAB was pressured to issue a ruling given the media mileage this issue had received and the public pronouncements made by Secretary Dizon. Anyway, Air Asia Move can still appeal.

Air Asia has an elaborate corporate structure, and Move is a separate corporate person that is in a different line of business and is not the authorized agent of Air Asia in a sense that would put it under the jurisdiction of CAB. At least that's how I understand it. There was a deliberate business decision on Air Asia's to create Move and our institutions should have a clear-cut scope of powers to enable certainty in business and industry. This is another instance where intrusion by another government agency isn't helping as it will create confusion for OTAs. I still think that DTI was the right agency to hear this case, but the whole issue was preempted by the DOTR Secretary's public comments.

Anyway, I don't have skin in this game, but it's an interesting story to follow as it will have repercussions for OTAs.

You seem to have the same idea with Mr. Fernandes.

The ₱6-million penalty against AirAsia MOVE, the online booking arm of Malaysia-based Capital A Berhad, for its alleged misleading and overpriced fares is “unfair,” according to the conglomerate’s head honcho Tony Fernandes.

In a press conference on Wednesday, July 9, Fernandes said the company has yet to pay the penalty to the government.

“I was taken a little bit aback by the reaction, and I wish people had gotten both sides of the story,” Fernandes said.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/07/09/airasia-chief-hits-unfair-fine-over-overcharging-allegations

Well, both sides of the story was heard. ₱6-million penalty stand and until they pay it, their chances of booking passengers dim by the day.

[airline_builder]

They are asking it back to renegotiate to a higher bidder since it is an extremely in demand airport slot - either to QR or an american airline