Airlines In The Philippines III

[Solblanc]

Airbus has already bent backwards several times to accommodate PAL. They may be happy with a locked-in A35K order to ensure that they don’t need a 77X. They can’t really spare many A320 family slots as those are very much in demand.

Unless PAL really wants a 330neo, Airbus won’t have any slots for anything anytime soon

[seven13]

Would anybody have an idea why 8783, 8789, 7779 haven’t been flying? Are they under maintenance or doing costs rationalization again?

[Evodesire]

Most likely both maintenance and cost rationalization again.

[Evodesire]

Cebu Pacific is opening Manila to Sapporo this January 2025. This must be a slap on PAL as I do know that PAL wanted to reinstate their MNL-CTS flights but they do not have enough planes to do so. If Cebu Pacific opens MNL-DMM, that will be another huge slap on PAL.

I feel so sorry for PAL. Even their crew feels they have been left way behind by Cebu Pacific. Too bad that the one on top making the decisions and calling the shots doesnt know much about aviation. Instead of entrusting her executives to do run the airline, she uses them as figureheads while she works behind the curtains. What a sad state.

[Arianespace]

Evodesire wrote

Cebu Pacific is opening Manila to Sapporo this January 2025. This must be a slap on PAL as I do know that PAL wanted to reinstate their MNL-CTS flights but they do not have enough planes to do so. If Cebu Pacific opens MNL-DMM, that will be another huge slap on PAL.

If I remember it right. half of CEB widebodies is really earmarked for Middle East operations. Right now 3 planes are doing rotations to DXB. Perhaps when they receive the 9th and 10th we can see flights to KSA

[Solblanc]

If I remember correctly as well, Cebpac delayed the launch of other routes when PAL beat them to it with 414-seater aircraft. Now that PAL is pulling out, there’s an opening for them.

[xzibit31]

5J has significantly expanded its flight offerings from Davao (DVO), introducing new routes to Puerto Princesa (PPS), Caticlan (MPH), Tacloban (TAC), Hong Kong (HKG), and Don Mueang (DMK).

With these additions, Cebu Pacific now operates flights to 16 destinations from DVO. The airline has already stationed and deployed two of the ten Airbus A320neo aircraft planned for this expansion in DVO.

This move raises the question of how Philippine Airlines (PAL) will respond to CEB's growing dominance in Davao, particularly as 5J continues to strengthen its presence in the city.

[Evodesire]

Not only in Davao but in all other hubs. PAL's main weakness is its BOD and the matriarch playing "The Last Emperor" running everything from behind the curtains. This all leads to their situation now where they lack planes and fielding old planes which are compromising customer experience. Their only saving grace is the cabin crew, in which they are getting sick and tired already. The Tans dont really see their employees as assets, but as their slaves.

[Evodesire]

Arianespace wrote

Evodesire wrote

Cebu Pacific is opening Manila to Sapporo this January 2025. This must be a slap on PAL as I do know that PAL wanted to reinstate their MNL-CTS flights but they do not have enough planes to do so. If Cebu Pacific opens MNL-DMM, that will be another huge slap on PAL.

If I remember it right. half of CEB widebodies is really earmarked for Middle East operations. Right now 3 planes are doing rotations to DXB. Perhaps when they receive the 9th and 10th we can see flights to KSA

I hope to see them fly DMM, RUH and DOH.

[xzibit31]

Evodesire wrote

Not only in Davao but in all other hubs. PAL's main weakness is its BOD and the matriarch playing "The Last Emperor" running everything from behind the curtains. This all leads to their situation now where they lack planes and fielding old planes which are compromising customer experience. Their only saving grace is the cabin crew, in which they are getting sick and tired already. The Tans dont really see their employees as assets, but as their slaves.

This is what we bisaya call the "inato" way of doing business. They are treating PR as if its a "sari-sari" store.

The BOD is more of a reactive type, which is really bad for business.

[Evodesire]

xzibit31 wrote

Evodesire wrote

Not only in Davao but in all other hubs. PAL's main weakness is its BOD and the matriarch playing "The Last Emperor" running everything from behind the curtains. This all leads to their situation now where they lack planes and fielding old planes which are compromising customer experience. Their only saving grace is the cabin crew, in which they are getting sick and tired already. The Tans dont really see their employees as assets, but as their slaves.

This is what we bisaya call the "inato" way of doing business. They are treating PR as if its a "sari-sari" store.

The BOD is more of a reactive type, which is really bad for business.

Reactive and aristocratic type. A total recipe for disaster.

[Arianespace]

xzibit31 wrote

5J has significantly expanded its flight offerings from Davao (DVO), introducing new routes to Puerto Princesa (PPS), Caticlan (MPH), Tacloban (TAC), Hong Kong (HKG), and Don Mueang (DMK).

With these additions, Cebu Pacific now operates flights to 16 destinations from DVO. The airline has already stationed and deployed two of the ten Airbus A320neo aircraft planned for this expansion in DVO.

This move raises the question of how Philippine Airlines (PAL) will respond to CEB's growing dominance in Davao, particularly as 5J continues to strengthen its presence in the city.

True. They just upgraded 2 A321services to A330 in DVO. Wait when you see a 330 parked there. How can you compete on that?

In almost all regional points, CEB has significantly expanded services, from CEB, DVO, ILO. CRK and ZAM.

PAL can't compete on that. In fact, GAP and APG market share are dwindling fast as CEB slowly grows its fleet to unimaginable size. That is the brilliance of its expat CEO Michael Szucs, which Lance couldn't do himself.

Unlike PAL, when Michael talks the BOD listens.

[Solblanc]

5J is increasing DXB frequencies! Looks like the point to point traffic is really increasing.

Won’t 5J be tempted to extend some of those flights to Europe? They might be able to pull off a self-connecting kangaroo route for cheap

[xzibit31]

Solblanc wrote

5J is increasing DXB frequencies! Looks like the point to point traffic is really increasing.

Won’t 5J be tempted to extend some of those flights to Europe? They might be able to pull off a self-connecting kangaroo route for cheap

"My dream for 5J is to introduce wider seats, similar to those found in J-class, in a few rows at the front of their aircraft (excluding ATRs). I’m sure many passengers would be willing to pay a premium for this upgrade, especially on flights that are 3 hours or more. This could significantly enhance the overall passenger experience and offer a comfortable, affordable alternative to premium cabins."

[Evodesire]

I have not lost my optimism that Cebu Air may open a long-haul subsidiary in time. As for now, they are concentrating on destinations within a 4-hour flight from the Philippines, except for a few Middle Eastern and Australian destinations.

PAL is a hopeless case because of the Tans. Wait until more foreign carriers enter the country, directly competing with PAL, and Cebu Air Inc. realizes a golden opportunity for transpacific flights.

[airline_builder]

Evodesire wrote

I have not lost my optimism that Cebu Air may open a long-haul subsidiary in time. As for now, they are concentrating on destinations within a 4-hour flight from the Philippines, except for a few Middle Eastern and Australian destinations.

PAL is a hopeless case because of the Tans. Wait until more foreign carriers enter the country, directly competing with PAL, and Cebu Air Inc. realizes a golden opportunity for transpacific flights.

which AIR CANADA is looking at it already

[xzibit31]

 Air Asia pulling out of DVO Jan 2025.

Last flight will be Jan 22, 2025.

[Arianespace]

A validation of my post above.


https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241111-z2nw24

Updated the post for everyone to see what was really happening.

Based on actual observations, when APG drops a destination, ie GES, DGT, and ZAM, CEB replaces the lost flight and add another. While I notices this with APG, same strategy appears to be working too with PAL route, ie GES and PAG. How can you come back with that aggressiveness?

[Arianespace]

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime J. Bautista met with Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman and discussed the proposal to add more direct flights between the two countries.

Bautista said additional direct flights between the Philippines and Canada will bolster trade, tourism and economic ties between the countries.

Air Canada was reported to have been eyeing additional direct flights between the Philippines and Canada as part of its Asia-Pacific route expansion, and Bautista said the move will pave the way for the recovery of the air transport between the two countries.
https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/5/more-ph-canada-direct-flights

This is late because I don't have the real story just yet. Proposal to add flight requires "use" of existing ones. ACA did not even have a single flight. So this is not true.

The real story was Amb. Hartman asked assistance from DOTr Sec. JJB for accommodation of ACA flight to MNL which has been pending for almost 3 years now. The not talked about issue, slot allocation, as the coordinator in Australia wont yield. Like the United story, they were given slot which they are not prepared to accept.

[xzibit31]

Arianespace wrote

A validation of my post above.


https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241111-z2nw24

Updated the post for everyone to see what was really happening.

Based on actual observations, when APG drops a destination, ie GES, DGT, and ZAM, CEB replaces the lost flight and add another. While I notices this with APG, same strategy appears to be working too with PAL route, ie GES and PAG. How can you come back with that aggressiveness?

Thats a way to go kill an airline...