Airlines in the Philippines

[Arianespace]

Evodesire wrote

 I don't get it why PR Holding won't buy into Air Philippines Corp. Heard many are quitting because of low salary. Lower than 5J.

PAL Express as AirPhil Express was doing good. I am not against the single branding, but I think they really have to do something with the PR-2P arrangement. Why not copy the Cathay Pacific - Cathay Dragon arrangement.

What's the point of buying? They are owned by the same man. PR Holding was a vehicle in buying PAL in 1992, while GAP (Gatchalian Airline of the Philippines) was bought in 1999. They are two different companies with different corporate cultures.

Like what I said  in the past, PAL Express (turboprops) is part of PAL and PR holdings while Air Philippines is not. PAL has a labor union that keeps peskiring the company for raise being a FSC, while Airphil is built on low cost culture. Salary structure to both companies is different because they are different company to begin with.

Don't confuse it with PAL Express as low cost brand used by Air Philippines Corporation. Because they are different from the airline subsidiary of PAL. If you are more confuse look at the FA's ID's, better yet asked them who their employers are, and their answers will probably surprise you.

[Tigz]

It does make a lot whole sense from the owners(Lucio) perspective that that he pays the PALex crew(AirPhils) less since they are running the domestic and shortleg regional sector. Perhaps taking the concept that if flyers are getting used to 5j service then maybe no need for high salary\high service crew. That's a pity though if in fact it is. As usual, the PALExpress branding is always misleading as everyday folks would always think its owned by PAL. I think the airline should double up the size of the sign "Operated by Air Philippines Corp". The low salary issue is no difference from the North American airlines having their shortleg low density sectors operated by smaller airlines whose aircraft are supplied by the likes of Delta and American. As for PAL, I'm just wondering which domestic is still served 100%PAL aircraft and crew? My hunch is Davao and Cebu to Manila. Good to see this forum active again!

[romantic_guy08]

Tigz wrote

It does make a lot whole sense from the owners(Lucio) perspective that that he pays the PALex crew(AirPhils) less since they are running the domestic and shortleg regional sector. Perhaps taking the concept that if flyers are getting used to 5j service then maybe no need for high salary\high service crew. That's a pity though if in fact it is. As usual, the PALExpress branding is always misleading as everyday folks would always think its owned by PAL. I think the airline should double up the size of the sign "Operated by Air Philippines Corp". The low salary issue is no difference from the North American airlines having their shortleg low density sectors operated by smaller airlines whose aircraft are supplied by the likes of Delta and American. As for PAL, I'm just wondering which domestic is still served 100%PAL aircraft and crew? My hunch is Davao and Cebu to Manila. Good to see this forum active again!

If I'm not mistaken, its only DVO and GES to MNL that is 100% served by PR... their are certain flights to CEB operated by 2P.

[Tigz]

I can understand GES, the widebody is for the high value aquatic product! Its strange though if DVO is an all PAL service while CEB is not. One thing thing is the international baggage allowance carried over to domestic which I suppose if you take westcoast flight to Manila and connect to PALex flight, you don't pay extra. Unlike before when its just one PAL, you are not charge excess on the domestic leg for your international baggage.

[romantic_guy08]

The A321s are getting wireless IFEs...

AeroMod and SITAONAIR sign deal for rapid installation program

MELBOURNE – AeroMod International and SITAONAIR jointly announced a partnership to install SITAONAIR wireless inflight entertainment (IFE) services on Philippine Airlines. The rapid installation program will see AeroMod International deploy a consistent cabin experience across Philippine Airlines fleet and implement the systems in record time.

[maortega15]

Curious to know why the mono class A330's were selected to be refitted with a new cabin and not the ones with business class. Also, what happens to the ones currently with business class? Lastly, has a business class seat been selected? If so, what seat will be used?

[seven13]

are the monoclass really gonna be retrofitted with bi-class set up? didn't arianespace mentioned before that it ain't happening or did I misunderstood it?

[airboy007]

Everyone seems to be mum about that reconfiguration of the 330 mono-class planes.

On the other note though, the upcoming 777s will have the Auralight seats installed on BCL, and will feature the ex3 for its IFE. :)

[Solblanc]

Zodiac aura lite? But isn't that space-inefficient? They could've gone with B/E diamond like KLM or Thomson Vantage (non-XL) like Swiss. You will have people complaining about the 2-3-2 layout. Also, wouldn't this result in a product mismatch with the A350, which is going to get really nice seats?

On the other hand, I've flown J in Turkish, which I believe uses the same seat, and it is actually quite comfy and roomy. Turkish supplies you with a mattress pad to make the bed more comfortable. And the soft product is also very well done, with the food being better than Qatar in J. Of course, I always take the window seat, so I've never been disturbed. I'd rather clamber over someone than be clambered over lol.

So, the question will be, will the existing 777s be refitted with the Aura Lite product? The Recaros are almost flat, but they don't have an ottoman. It does make a difference.


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On a separate note, there is quite a big exodus of flights to CRK. If PAL is moving those flights out, it means that they're going to be using their NAIA slots for something. The question is what? New routes? More frequencies?

[Arianespace]

What exodus?

Caticlan will soon be served with A321 jets, negating the use of props. As for other flight cancellations, all due to equipment upgrade. But there will soon be flights in Clark to serve Central Luzon. Remember the Tacloban back-fire? Yeah, it just poke Tugade.

And speaking of A321, 2P now got 3 of 6. There goes the circus. Have fun!

[Tigz]

Yep, read that facebook notice too from on some flights to Caticlan now based out of Clark and a flight each for Tuguegarao, Legazpi and Cebu. Of course there was a barage of concerns on transfers to NAIA. Not sure if this pushing thru citing Tacloban but another post on the other forum seems to indicate Caticlan cancellations out of Manila. If ite equipment upgrade, Caticlan is not ready now to receive those stretched A320s isn't it? Doesn't add up!

[Tigz]

Yep, read that facebook notice too from on some flights to Caticlan now based out of Clark and a flight each for Tuguegarao, Legazpi and Cebu. Of course there was a barage of concerns on transfers to NAIA. Not sure if this pushing thru citing Tacloban but another post on the other forum seems to indicate Caticlan cancellations out of Manila. If ite equipment upgrade, Caticlan is not ready now to receive those stretched A320s isn't it? Doesn't add up!

[romantic_guy08]

RP-C7778 now in final assembly (I presume)

[seven13]

I'm quite curious. As of late, PR102 and PR104 do get a mix of A340 and B777 operation meanwhile PR118/PR126(YVR) consistently gets the B777. I was wondering as to why YVR gets a consistent hard product vs LAX and SFO? Is it because of seat allocation for JFK or the demand for YVR/JFK/YYZ requires consistent B777 operations? Your thoughts on this?

Oh and PR recently signed a MOU with LY. Would this pave the way for MNL-TLV-FCO (as others will call it pilgrimage routing)?  

[Richard]

How soon will A321s fly to Catalan, as far as I know they need a 2.100 m. runway which was only prolonged to 1.800 m. so far ?
And if these A321s fly there, they can only load 2/3ds capacity until the runway is stretched to 21.00 m. length, right ?

[Arianespace]

Actually the runway is ready. You don't need the entire 2.1km stretch for takeoff unless you want to fly 3000nm away, i.e. Perth. So 1.8km is just fine for SIN, ICN, and NRT. The tarmac however can only accommodate one jet at a time, as compared to three or four turboprops. So its roughly the same capacity pending completion of the new tarmac. And its night rated too. But perhaps you don't know about that yet.

[Richard]

Any idea when the new terminal and apron will be completed and open for traffic? Looking at the current construction pace, I believe it will take another 2 years before full traffic can be implemented. What do you think Arianespace?

[Arianespace]

Hopefully next year when the expropriation cases are terminated. Because right now, developers hands are tied with the injunctions. They can't even build the terminal. This is what happens when you put landowners blind.

So you see how difficult its gonna be when they start contemplating NAIA Terminal 5?

[Richard]

So there are expropriation cases at Catalan too? Jesus, I didn´t know that. No wonder terminal construction has not picked up yet. I hope they get those cases in favor of the National Interest for a new airport done quickly.

Caticlan can be the Nations show-place gateway. Truly an international competitive architectural design with state-of-the-art technical guidance.

I sure hope other secondary airports soon up for PPP biddings don´t have the same objectives that need to be fought as court cases. What a terrible delay for Philippine aviation and further economic development.

[Tigz]

I thought SMC would work out a semi-permanent passenger shelter at the existing apron and bus-off the pax to the new tarmac at the other end where the jets are parked. So this new ramp can just be classified as a remote stand pending the new terminal. Of course pax will need to add lead time but that shouldn't be an issue.