Airlines in the Philippines

[Arianespace]

Back in service tonight. Just left LAX after PR113. Meanwhile, 503 is arriving 12nn also today.

[Unbreakable]

Just arrived in MNL :)

PR now has 2x A359s and 3x A32Ns

[B77Wflyer]

This happened earlier this morning a Xiamen Air Boeing 737-85C with registration B-5498 suffered a runway excursion while landing at RWY 24. No injuries where reported however traffic in MNL has been affected with some flights being cancelled.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/a-plane-belonging-to-chinas-xiamen-airlines-crash-lands-in-manila#main-content

[B77Wflyer]

Solblanc wrote

It is sorta curious that they spent all that money to refurbish the A330s, when the only high-yielding medium-haul route they have is SYD and maybe HNL. They could've gotten cheaper flat J seats without aisle access, similar to the A321 NEO (or even the other A330s), and also not bothered with premium Y. They could've thrown the money on refurbishing the 77Ws instead.

Now there's a product mismatch. When the A350s start LHR, how will they sell premium economy fares on the kangaroo route? And what will be the policy for holders of premium economy tickets that end up on a flight without a W cabin?

The A321NEOs also have 168 seats, which is still more seats than Jetblue mint A321s. Could they not have added a small W cabin there? And why go for diamond J seats, when they could have gone for regular Thompson Vantage for a similar cabin, like jetblue? It would've enabled at least some of the J passengers to have direct aisle access and keep a product consistent with the A330s.

I guess the only winners will be the Y passengers, as the Y product will at least be consistent throughout the planes that they will send to Australia.

Good point why bother to add Premium Economy on the A330 when thet will eventually removed it when the A321neo take over the MNL-SYD market.  Also Sydney is an ideal market for PE with only a few airline offering it on the kangaroo route. And why not added a small PE cabin on the A321neo they can just give a number of seat a bit more legroom and market as PE or do what Icelandair with there Economy Comfort by blocking the middle seat which isn't that difficult. I have a lot of questions with regards to PAL strategy in the kangaroo route also the logic of adding as much capacity due to there relatively low load factor of 69% when the average  is 85%. Only time will tell if PAL will succeed with using narrow-body aircraft in key market like SYD or maybe eventually MEL?

[Arianespace]

Personally, the comfort of the A321N is better than the A330. You simply have more legroom in Y.

[B77Wflyer]

PAL will deployed there A350-900 to Sydney and Melbourne from December 2018 to January 2019. Note this is all subject to changed.  

A350-900 will be operating 5 of the 7 weekly flights between Manila to Melbourne from DEC1 to JAN1. replacing the A330-300.

PR207 MNL1645 – 0405+1MEL 359 137
PR207 MNL1645 – 0405+1MEL 333 5
PR209 MNL2110 – 0830+1MEL 359 26
PR209 MNL2110 – 0830+1MEL 333 4

PR208 MEL0550 – 1105MNL 359 124
PR208 MEL0550 – 1105MNL 333 6
PR210 MEL1015 – 1530MNL 359 37
PR210 MEL1015 – 1530MNL 333 5

Meanwhile the A350-900 will operate 3 of the 11 weekly flights between Manila and Sydney. Also from JAN1 to DEC1

PR213 MNL1050 – 2200SYD 333 37
PR213 MNL1050 – 2200SYD 359 1
PR213 MNL1050 – 2200SYD 321 x137
PR211 MNL2230 – 1005+1SYD 359 45
PR211 MNL2230 – 1005+1SYD 333 26

PR214 SYD0600 – 1115MNL 321 x124
PR214 SYD0600 – 1115MNL 333 14
PR214 SYD0600 – 1115MNL 359 2
PR212 SYD1150 – 1650MNL 359 56
PR212 SYD1150 – 1650MNL 333 37

Information courtesy of routeonline:
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/280131/philippine-airlines-adds-a350-australia-service-in-nw18/

[arema]

A curious question. Since A350s will be used in several flights to both MEL and SYD this December, will this not affect JFK and LHR? I know LHR is daily and JFK is 5x a week. With only 4 A350s, i am wondering how they will rotate the equipment. Or maybe use 77W on some LHR and JFK flights?

[Crash& Burn]

I think LHR frequencies will be reduced in the meantime until all A350s are in service.

[Crash& Burn]

PR 720 will be CXLD on Sep 04 / 06 / 11 / 13 and will not operate every Mo/We/Sa effective 17Sep-27Oct2018

[Arianespace]

LHR would work though in a 340 for the lean months of Sept. It still is 80%+LF but I guess they already moved on.

[B77Wflyer]

Arianespace wrote

LHR would work though in a 340 for the lean months of Sept. It still is 80%+LF but I guess they already moved on.

Couldn't confirm yet if this is accurate but Business Traveller has an article about PAL using there A350-900 between Manila to London Heathrow this September 15 rather then October 28. Waiting for updates at Routeonline!

https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2018/08/22/philippine-airlines-brings-forward-a350-deployment-to-london/

[Crash& Burn]

It’s confirmed. A350 service to LHR starts Sept. 15.

[Crash& Burn]

Building up ETOPs capability and experience for crew with the BKK and some HND flights before they commence LHR and JFK.

[Unbreakable]

Sharing album of being onboard RP-C3503 business class with shots of the Business class bathroom and Premium economy.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fXeDNeu46YDR6N668

[xzibit31]

Here is a video taken by the father-in-law of my brother on the actual bird strike of PR1814 at DVO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5o0E5l_mxY&feature=share

(sorry. i dont know how to upload a video here.)

[B77Wflyer]

I've Check Flightradar 24 and notice that PAL A340 fleet have been not so active are they accelerating the fleet retirement later this year or maybe 2019? JBB stayted that the last A340 would be retired in 2021 however maybe they changed there minds!

[Solblanc]

There's a lot of seasonal reductions for September and October. I doubt that they can do without the A340s once the peak Christmas season kicks in.

[B77Wflyer]

Solblanc wrote

There's a lot of seasonal reductions for September and October. I doubt that they can do without the A340s once the peak Christmas season kicks in.

I've read from ch-aviation that PAL aims to retire the A340 by 2021. Maybe PAL decided to conduct additional maintenance on them during seasonal reductions to ready them for Christmas season.

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/64417-philippine-airlines-aims-to-retire-a340s-by-2021-bautista

[Solblanc]

CAPA is reporting that PAL is in negotiations to join an alliance. Which isn’t really new.

We all know that alliance membership entails costs for PAL. Will they finally take the plunge? What is making them reconsider their previous independent stance?

[seven13]

I don’t know if this has been taken up already.
I’m wondering why is it that PR is not codesharing with alot of airlines? Does it have to do with the ASA of PH and a foreign country? Let’s say PR and LH for FRA or PR and AZ for FCO/MXP; IB with MAD/BCN, NZ for AKL?