Airlines In The Philippines IV

[seven13]

JNC03 wrote

We're looking to start up to 7 new routes this year, we  already announced 3. We need to put them on the board before I can tell you what they are.

We're talking medium to long haul I will give you teaser the one is a big market that we are not yet there.

The fleet will grow from 82 to 90 but you will see growth on Q4 and 2027.



PAL President Richard Nutall interview with Bloomberg

So this means there will be 3 frames of ACF to be delivered this year.

[Evodesire]

Arianespace wrote

And it was also not his idea to put 10 abreast seating on their flagship plane. I wonder whose idea was that?

Wasn't that decision made during Capt. Stan's time? Or was it the family?

[kilohakdog]

Wasn’t that the three remaining secondhand A320s for PALEx?

[ewh1]

Gustavo J Oppenheimer wrote

He also stated that they have clarified their role as a FSC and they are competing with fellow FSCs rather than LCC, 5J. Unlike in the past

Also PAL is ready to increase capacity to China, they're watching closely whether or not the new Visa policy for Chinese tourists would lead to an influx of Chinese travellers

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-02-03/philippine-airlines-president-sees-period-of-growth-video

He did say that there was a bit of nuance to that statement though.

Long Haul = FSC but the advantage of Philippine cost base, (more profit)

Regional= FSC Hybrid. Emphasis on Premium cabins/products, but moderately dense cabins to compete with LCCs,

Domestic = 4 points with premium focus, but the rest competing with LCCs.

Again, the 10 abreast cabins are conflicting to me as I can see it from the business aspect, but from the customer experience aspect, its not a good look. I think post bankruptcy, the family must've gotten scared and/or there was pressure from creditors to densify the cabins, especially with revenge travel occurring at the time. That's why there were all those weird decisions made with the A330s and the A350 configurations. I definitely think there was a directive to maximize revenue, fast, and less of a counterargument to be more strategic long term.

What's also true is that the airline business is a rollercoaster and you need someone who can see past the storm and envision the future.  I think that at some point, they realized they needed a leader with a more long-term global and strategic mindset like that, hence, Richard.

[Arianespace]

He did admit there was "lack of clarity in the past"

Evodesire wrote

Wasn't that decision made during Capt. Stan's time? Or was it the family?

It was family decision to fit A35k with 10ab brought by abnormal demands to North America post covid, a.k.a. revenge travel. That was the mindset. Squeeze more revenue in while its hot. Stan was stating that before Richard did. And now the market is flat for them. Nobody in the family saw that coming.

I however disagree with Richard's statement that North American market is leveling out. By a quite simple logic. United Airlines.

If that argument is true, why on earth was United adding second daily flight in the span of 2 years of their operation in the PI. Air Canada also dispels that argument. And there is still Delta which cannot yet secure their preferred time slot. You are staring at market forces that isn't flat.

I say it levelled out for them because they have competition now to North America which are eating their revenue. I did say before that SFO is PAL crown jewel when it comes to route earnings. When United came its front occupancy dried out. The family really did not see it coming home to roost. It's Richard Nuttall's job now to remedy that.

With that in mind, I still have to see another FSC following PAL footstep dressing their flagship plane in very dense configuration. The very first "FSC to seat 10ab on 35k" truly is something to crow about. I never heard PAL promoting it as such. Personally, I think Richard is ashamed of that family desired configuration. But then again, its their business.

[Solblanc]

If PAL went 9-abreast, they’d lose around 29 seats.

On a fully-booked flight that’s around $29k extra revenue.

That extra capacity at lower costs can make them really competitive in price.

As much as we hate the high-density era, it has made the family money. And as long as they’re hobbled by a NAIA hub which limits their ability to create a premium experience, they’re gonna have a hard time competing on product.

[filipinoavgeek]

https://www.facebook.com/DOTrPH/posts/1240418574889859/

The Philippine Department of Transportation is now planning to require all regional airports to have a minimum of 2,100 meters, to accommodate larger aircraft. I'm not sure if it is practical since some airports, for example Caticlan, cannot be extended further. But hopefully this means all future airports will be affected so that they can be future-proofed.

[Arianespace]

Solblanc wrote

That extra capacity at lower costs can make them really competitive in price.

I think the problem with that thought assumes PAL to have lower ticket costs to North America. It isn't true at all. Thus the gripes on their product because of the inconsistency with its offered seat prices. You pay premium for a direct ride but immobilizes you for the next 16 hours. FSC is never like that.

[Arianespace]

filipinoavgeek wrote

https://www.facebook.com/DOTrPH/posts/1240418574889859/

The Philippine Department of Transportation is now planning to require all regional airports to have a minimum of 2,100 meters, to accommodate larger aircraft. I'm not sure if it is practical since some airports, for example Caticlan, cannot be extended further. But hopefully this means all future airports will be affected so that they can be future-proofed.

DOTr officials nowadays has become dumb. You don't need 2k runway for a320 to work. Basa-basa naman paminsan minsan. Ito oh

https://www.aircraft.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta126/files/2025-01/AC_A320_0624.pdf

In relation to that declaration;



At the senate hearing few days ago, I was astounded to hear PAL saying its more expensive to fly turboprop than jet. They were lying through their teeth. Its hard to watch. Sana sinabi nalang ni PAL EVP Salvador Britanico Jr. na kunti lang ang kikitain nila sa Clark instead of Manila. Maniwala pa ako. Hindi yung magsasabi pa na kung ano ano. That could be the reason why Atty. Mantaring of Cebupac was smiling. Because they can make CEB-CGM/DGT/DPL work while they can't.

Turboprops are highly efficient planes on short flights, particularly on short-to-medium routes under two hours as compared to A320 or B737. Its a fact. Not some fallacy created cost instrument. For a comparative EU and US 30 minute flight, it only takes 20 passengers of the Q400s with a base fare of US$100 to break even according to the manufacturer's brochure published in 2016.

They could have invited Mond Ortiz there. He subscribes to that same idea as mine.

Meanwhile, Sen. Legarda is harping on San Jose airport she help improved where no airlines intend to fly. That is basic example of ill-conceived priorities. Politician's priority that is. The idea is there but applied incorrectly. We have lots of that palpak politician project instead of what DOTr wanted. Funds should have gone to Siargao where they need it most. But Loren put it in her home town for her future legacy.

[Bluejay]

The third A320 for PAL Express equipped with sharklets

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18CLLpikn9/

[JNC03]

El Al announced the opening of nine new destinations over the coming year.

The airline will begin operating direct flights to Hanoi, Seoul and Manila with three weekly flights to each destination.

The flights will operate on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Ticket sales for Hanoi will open today at noon on the airline's website and through travel agents, for flights beginning in October 2026 – starting at $899 for a round-trip ticket. Sales for Seoul are expected to begin in May for flights starting in March 2027, and details regarding Manila sales will be released later


https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/02/08/el-al-announces-nine-new-destinations-asia-europe/

[Arianespace]

It seems their route now is via Turkey instead of Saudi Arabia

[Arianespace]

El Al frequency is still 3x per week on a B789 starting 1Q of 2027

[Arianespace]

Gustavo J Oppenheimer wrote

Also PAL is ready to increase capacity to China, they're watching closely whether or not the new Visa policy for Chinese tourists would lead to an influx of Chinese travellers

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-02-03/philippine-airlines-president-sees-period-of-growth-video

Kiss and Kick diplomacy
Nuttall may have to kiss China goodbye now as senate intensifies conflict with Chinese Embassy in PH
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/02/10/2506977/senate-adopts-resolution-vs-china-diplomats

Where can you find a country where diplomacy and foreign policy is implemented by Legislature. Only in the Philippines. Majority of our senators has now become morons. I did not expect our government to come this low. And expect their 1.2b people to come here for tourism.

[Solblanc]

Arianespace wrote

Gustavo J Oppenheimer wrote

Also PAL is ready to increase capacity to China, they're watching closely whether or not the new Visa policy for Chinese tourists would lead to an influx of Chinese travellers

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-02-03/philippine-airlines-president-sees-period-of-growth-video

Kiss and Kick diplomacy
Nuttall may have to kiss China goodbye now as senate intensifies conflict with Chinese Embassy in PH
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/02/10/2506977/senate-adopts-resolution-vs-china-diplomats

Where can you find a country where diplomacy and foreign policy is implemented by Legislature. Only in the Philippines. Majority of our senators has now become morons. I did not expect our government to come this low. And expect their 1.2b people to come here for tourism.

Every democracy has legislatures making resolutions about other countries. China gets these things all the time from other countries. This will blow over.

That being said, di naman dapat pinatulan kasi. Easier to ignore the noise than to just make it bigger. But that’s democracy for you.

[Arianespace]

DFA is now putting up damage control. Senate forgot we are hosting ASEAN this year. And this includes ASEAN-CHINA summit. This early we are already making enemy of our guest. Not good.

Navy and Coast Guard personnel turned diplomat Rogelio Villanueva Jr. has been appointed as Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson for maritime affairs on Monday.
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/308467/ex-navy-pcg-personnel-turned-envoy-named-new-dfa-maritime-affairs-spox

Isip isip kasi paminsan minsan.

[romantic_guy08]

Took the high density A333 from ICN last night and that plane is very uncomfortable.

Seats are cramped and hard. Seat width are tight making it difficult to move without hitting the person sitting next to you.

Seats are also hard and very uncomfortable. And again NO IFE... feels really like an LCC...

[ewh1]

Air Canada just placed an order for 8 A350-1000s with 8 options. Given the political climate, not surprised at all

https://youtu.be/qz5_Vu_byfc?si=Nye28njd3YF6irxY

https://www.aircanada.com/media/a-new-era-in-long-haul-air-canada-to-acquire-airbus-a350-1000-widebody-aircraft-to-support-international-network-growth/

Some teasers in the map include a lot of new SEA non stops from Toronto, which one person surmised in the comments on a.net included what looked like it could be YYZ-MNL.

Already though, the rumor mill is hot with some insiders saying this will have a 400pax configuration making it a strong possibility we have the next 3-4-3 Economy customer

[filipinoavgeek]

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1370174191442814
By the way, MNL has a special visitor today

[romantic_guy08]

Nice to note that the A359 is now flying to LAX...

Should be a welcome change to some of the problematic 77Ws...

3501 doing 112 today.