Airlines In The Philippines III

[oninBadz]

I don't think that it will have same impact  as the domestic market is not that sensitive on which aircraft they are on. Maybe a small percentage of the general riding public. A YS-11 with a PR branding , majority of the passengers won't mind or even won't notice.

[frequentflier]

oninBadz wrote

I don't think that it will have same impact  as the domestic market is not that sensitive on which aircraft they are on. Maybe a small percentage of the general riding public. A YS-11 with a PR branding , majority of the passengers won't mind or even won't notice.

I remember the time when not a lot of people fly with Zest Air to Caticlan because of the reputation of their MA60.

[Arianespace]

airline_builder wrote

It is industry knowledge that Airbus is allegedly excellent at "greasing" or giving extra ordinary perks to decently put it to whoever is designated to affix the signature of agreement to purchase.....thus their impressive selling skills and sales when neck and neck with Boeing for an airline.

For whatever grease - it is always an easy road for them when dealing in the Philippines (yes from an extremely reliable source as well)

Like the $7Billion deal?

Only one person is responsible for that. The guy on the right has a new book. This one

[oninBadz]

I guess people are more on the airline reputation and not the specific aircraft itself. Like during the time of the Flight 5J 387 crash, most passengers preferred to take the Grand Air even if they operated aircrafts which are also as old as those of DC-9. When AP was still operating B737-200 passengers still patronized them and did not mind the aircraft even CEB was already an Airbus airline. PR is a solid branding, regardless of which aircraft they will operate as long as people will see the sunriser on its tail and Philippines on the fuselage, filipinos will always patronize it.

[Solblanc]

Btw, are there any details out on the A321 refurb?

The regular A321s don’t have a cabin flex option, so they don’t have much flexibility to increase economy pitch without removing rows. In the same vein, if they try to add a mid-cabin lavatory like in the NEO, it’ll also cost more than just the 4 seats in a cabin flex Neo.

[airline_builder]

Solblanc wrote

Btw, are there any details out on the A321 refurb?

The regular A321s don’t have a cabin flex option, so they don’t have much flexibility to increase economy pitch without removing rows. In the same vein, if they try to add a mid-cabin lavatory like in the NEO, it’ll also cost more than just the 4 seats in a cabin flex Neo.

Given the supply and aircraft availability dilemma globally - best thing for PAL is to keep and maintain their aircraft for the time being. Have these planes refurbished and reconfigured like what they plan for the 321ceos, across the board the same hard products. As for configuration - to compete and have strong after sales. Increase the seat pitch, stop cramping the LCC way. They can take the high road the returns may have marginal decreased but marginally increasing too along the way as people will start patronizing it more once again.

[Evodesire]

Most likely they will reduce the number of seats. AFAIK, it will be similar to the A321NXs. Not sure only if they will be reducing the number of business class seats to compensate for those that will be removed to accommodate another lavatory.

[PAL 747]

Uh oh. Nobody likes a flight termination, but per PAL's timetable, the Macau flight will be served until Aug 29, 2024.

Any reason why PAL's ending Macau?

[xzibit31]

PAL 747 wrote

Uh oh. Nobody likes a flight termination, but per PAL's timetable, the Macau flight will be served until Aug 29, 2024.

Any reason why PAL's ending Macau?

as per email that the wifey got, its due to operational requirements daw. We all know what that means....

[seven13]

CAN has been halted too until end of summer schedule.

My only guess is to increase PAL’s schedule integrity. Meaning less cancelations due to unscheduled maintenance  of the A321s. So if 1 airframe goes offline unscheduled, the most will be a flight delay instead of a cancelation

[airline_builder]

PAL 747 wrote

Uh oh. Nobody likes a flight termination, but per PAL's timetable, the Macau flight will be served until Aug 29, 2024.

Any reason why PAL's ending Macau?

flight terminations will become an ongoing thing if the executives refuse to start to be on their toes in addressing the "real" PAL situation - I think they are just happy the money is coming in regardless of what is in actuality the usual businessmen of having their cake and eating it too - typical of those who have no value to what PAL is all about.

We all must be reminded every time - PAL is not just an airline we patronize as enthusiasts apart from it being a flag carrier - PAL is a HERITAGE to the Philippine history it must not reach the point of Air India though financially on its way now but lost its historical value, and worst - Alitalia - totally erased.

[Evodesire]

Until PAL gets a direct competitor in the Philippines. The Gokongweis are now venturing to cater to the high-end market with their Nustar project in Cebu. We've always known the Gokonweis in serving the low to middle-end market. While Cebu Pacific has no plans of flying direct US flights, it is not far from happening that the Gokonweis might create a legacy airline with a totally different branding.

[Solblanc]

Evodesire wrote

Until PAL gets a direct competitor in the Philippines. The Gokongweis are now venturing to cater to the high-end market with their Nustar project in Cebu. We've always known the Gokonweis in serving the low to middle-end market. While Cebu Pacific has no plans of flying direct US flights, it is not far from happening that the Gokonweis might create a legacy airline with a totally different branding.

The highest-yielding market is Manila, though, and even though Cebu Pacific has a large slot portfolio, it’ll be very difficult to carve up space for a decent route network for a second full-service airline, because any growth will have to come at the expense of Cebu Pacific’s other slots.

NMIA won’t be coming online anytime soon, and the last piece of the NSCR that’s supposed to connect Valenzuela to Solis hasn’t even been bid out yet due to ROW issues, so it’s unlikely that Clark will be connected to the city in this decade. So slumming it out at NAIA is all one can do

[AB350]

Most likely PAL will need to removed Y seats if they are going to add a third lavatory before doors 3 (either L3 or R3), along with a row behind doors 2 to add space for BCL seat pitch while maintaining 30-31" pitch in ECY. The capacity will drop to between 185~194 (Depending on the LOPA), gonna missed those Economy Comfort seats that had 34" pitch and 110V AC Power port!

Additionally I really think both PAL and GAP should consider either leasing or buying additional A321-231 (even the Non-Sharklet version), which could be operated by GAP, 6~8 will be needed for domestic ops while the A321s with Sharklets are returned to mainline PAL for international flights over 2.3+ hours.

[Evodesire]

Solblanc wrote

The highest-yielding market is Manila, though, and even though Cebu Pacific has a large slot portfolio, it’ll be very difficult to carve up space for a decent route network for a second full-service airline, because any growth will have to come at the expense of Cebu Pacific’s other slots.

NMIA won’t be coming online anytime soon, and the last piece of the NSCR that’s supposed to connect Valenzuela to Solis hasn’t even been bid out yet due to ROW issues, so it’s unlikely that Clark will be connected to the city in this decade. So slumming it out at NAIA is all one can do

I don't see it though happening anytime soon. But I am not discounting the possibility of the Gokongweis having their own legacy airline brand. And if it happens like 5 years from now and so, I don't think they will operate under a Cebu Pacific branding, but a totally different one. Just like ANA. That is also if they really feel that there is more opportunities outside the LCC envelope that PAL is underserving.

[airline_builder]

AB350 wrote

Most likely PAL will need to removed Y seats if they are going to add a third lavatory before doors 3 (either L3 or R3), along with a row behind doors 2 to add space for BCL seat pitch while maintaining 30-31" pitch in ECY. The capacity will drop to between 185~194 (Depending on the LOPA), gonna missed those Economy Comfort seats that had 34" pitch and 110V AC Power port!

Additionally I really think both PAL and GAP should consider either leasing or buying additional A321-231 (even the Non-Sharklet version), which could be operated by GAP, 6~8 will be needed for domestic ops while the A321s with Sharklets are returned to mainline PAL for international flights over 2.3+ hours.

Yes, PAL needs to sacrifice the stockholder's receivables to say the least - reduce the number of economy seats - quit cramping people in a tight space before they start realizing the fact - if they are getting same S*#T from a "supposed" legacy carrier might as well patronize a LCC at least you know exactly what you are getting sans the disappointment.

[dashalvin]

Hi Ariane! What's your take on 5J upgrading their CEB-DPL-CEB to A320 5x/weekly going daily by July 20 then by October 27 they'll add 4x/weekly ATR on top of DAILY A320?

The provincial tourism has released 2023 tourism figures with over 11k foreigners not sure if these were arrivals or nos. accomodated in hotels and lodging establishments. The highest I can remember foreign tourist arrivals was over 3k prior to Del Torchio event.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1osJSzfbSbyNCmMv/?mibextid=oFDknk

[Arianespace]

"Barkadahan package" flights, which used to be service by GAP every Summer (off-school). I guess GAP can't serve them anymore. Perhaps due to operational issues.

And perhaps this is part of the answer too!

THE private operator of Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Aboitiz InfraCapital GMCAC (AGMCAC) is reducing the transfer time for passengers with connecting flights through its new transfer service—Cebu Connect.

“With Cebu Connect, we are further enhancing vital airline connections. This initiative will reduce transfer times significantly – from 90 minutes to 60 minutes for international connections and from 60 minutes to 35 minutes for domestic ones – making travel more seamless and enjoyable for our fellow Filipinos and tourists,” said Cosette Canilao, president and chief executive officer of Aboitiz InfraCapital, at the Cebu Connect launching on Wednesday, June, 19, 2024.

Passengers with connecting flights will no longer need to pick-up their baggage from the baggage claim but instead head to a designated gate where necessary security clearances will be done, allowing them to seamlessly proceed to their next flight.
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/mcia-launches-seamless-transfers-in-t1-t2

Way better than NAIA transfer. My relatives use MCIA for transpac flights.

[Arianespace]

oninBadz wrote

I guess people are more on the airline reputation and not the specific aircraft itself. Like during the time of the Flight 5J 387 crash, most passengers preferred to take the Grand Air even if they operated aircrafts which are also as old as those of DC-9. When AP was still operating B737-200 passengers still patronized them and did not mind the aircraft even CEB was already an Airbus airline. PR is a solid branding, regardless of which aircraft they will operate as long as people will see the sunriser on its tail and Philippines on the fuselage, filipinos will always patronize it.

Don't guess. Its a FACT. Most people invest in reputation, as this survey suggest.

Philippine Airlines emerged as one of the country’s top 50 trusted consumer brands in a survey conducted by Marketing Communications firms Campaign360 and Milieu Insight.

PAL placed tenth in the Philippine component of the Southeast Asia survey, and is also the only travel brand in the top 10 scoring high on quality of services, buying experience, customer service and trustworthiness

The Philippines’ ‘top 10’ are: Samsung, Shopee, Jollibee, Watsons, GCash, Lazada, McDonald’s, Netflix, Apple and Philippine Airlines.
https://manilastandard.net/transport/314461908/pal-emerges-as-a-trusted-ph-brand.html

[ewh1]

Side note on the ex-Garuda B777-300ER.

Was looking at a trip report online and It looks like AVOD is working now, at least in Economy, and that they switched all the economy upholstery to PAL's standard fabric and colors (no brown). Its so weird that they didn't prioritize redoing everything all at once instead of the piecemeal speed since acquiring it.

Maybe a good analogy of the slow-decision making process that we've been talking on here? Its interesting because in all the interviews i've listened with Capt. Stan, it seems like he wants to create a proactive and collaborative organization that isn't afraid of some discourse if its to improve the organization. Seems like that dream might be an age away...