Airlines in the Philippines

[Eurest]

AC's YYZ-HKG has 4 polar routes depending on weather patterns. The least frequent one involves going up over Greenland to the North pole then down into Mongolia towards HKG
This is the longest one distance wise.

DL's DTW-PVG and JFK-NRT is the other frequent common polar route taker.
DTW-HKG/ICN also frequenntly go polar.

DXB/AUH-SFO/LAX are the other ones that routinely take the Polar route as well as DXB-SEA and EWR-HKG.
DXB-LAX is currently the longest polar route flight.

There are numerous considerations flying polar that flight crew need to get used to.
You have to get used to switching from magnetic to true north.
You'll also have to monitor your fuel temps never to go at -47, always staying at -43 or higher.
That's why you'll see polar flights going as low as FL260 so you're in warmer air even though the B77W/77L is comfortable at FL370.
Over at AC, dispatch was always wary to never route at areas of -65 for longer than 90 mins.
Even during the days when JetA was very expensive, polar flights will always be at Mach 0.84 to get heat over the wings.
When for normal flights you're usually at Mach 0.82 to conserve fuel.
You also have to be wary that when you're starting to use fuel from the belly tanks they will be colder than from your wings.

I suspect before PR starts with the polar validation flight as well as the reactions and recovery exercise, there will be familiarization runs to YKS and VVO, which have been mentioned in the press conveniently as these two airports are near the vectors for the MNL-JFK polar routings.

It's all about ABERI, DEVID, RAMEL, NIKIN & ORVIT

DL usually takes NIKIN & ORVIT on JFK-NRT and DTW-ICN, so I suspect PR will too

[tigz]

Yes, the Russian alternate airports are key! And your answers makes me think you are either with flight dispatch or cockpit crew and specially being familiar with fuel temperatures and those vectors\airways. Reminds of the SR-71 and the special fluids it uses to avoid freezing at high altitude. Its a bit concerning sometimes when you know where you are during flight and understanding the mechanics of the aircraft when over the polar cap region. I havie some racing thoughts if the fuel line freezes and deprives the engine and if there's enough altitude for the aircraft to glide to nearest alternate!

[fuzion_051]

Hi guys newcomer here. I'd just like to know how are PR's loads doing for PR126/127? They must be doing good as I've read recently that they switched it to 77W. I'm also curious about ET's loads here in MNL. Are they tapping transit pax and to where?

[fd20]

I've actually read an article on CAPA stating that PAL is doing quite well in JFK, with majority of passengers on PR126 heading to New York (and not Vancouver). Not sure about Ethiopian though, but I'm also curious.

[seven13]

Airboy007 wrote

Crew schedules just got released.

Next month, we will see MNL-DXB-KWI-DXB-MNL, MNL-DXB-JED-DXB-MNL, MNL-AUH-DOH-AUH-MNL

Anyways any update on this?

I saw the JED and DOH connectors briefly on GDS slated for December, but PR's current W16 timetable does not show it any more and it no longer appears on GDS as well.


Here's an update from airlineroute

Philippine Airlines to Add Jeddah / Kuwait Service from Jan 2016
by JL
Posted at 0530GMT 06NOV15

Philippine Airlines this week opened reservation for planned service to Jeddah and Kuwait City, previously reported on Airline Route on 09OCT15. However, both destinations will be served from January 2016, instead of proposed December 2015.

Planned schedule as follow.

eff 01JAN16 Manila – Dubai – Kuwait City 4 weekly
PR658 MNL2200 – 0330+1DXB0545+1 – 0655+1KWI 330 x246
PR659 KWI1510 – 1810DXB1940 – 0815+1MNL 330 x357

eff 02JAN16 Manila – Dubai – Jeddah 3 weekly
PR658 MNL2200 – 0330+1DXB0545+1 – 0815+1JED 330 4
PR658 MNL2230 – 0400+1DXB0615+1 – 0815+1JED 330 26

PR659 JED1415 – 1815DXB1945 – 0820+1MNL 330 357

Jeddah was last served in 2000. PR also operated this routing until April 1998

[Seven13]

DAS2015 should be starting now until the 12th. Is anybody expecting any announcement for or from PR, AIrbus and/Boeing?

[Eurest]

If any members of the board of PR are in Dubai, there might be a strong chance, especially if its JJB. Otherwise we could see a repeat of 2012 wherein the announcements were made a few weeks after Farnborough 2012 which occurred in July but the 54 plane order was announced in August if my memory serves we well.

BTW, why is there a seven13 and a Seven13?

[seven13]

I was using my mobile phone when I posted the last post; it showed that I was logged in and just posted regarding DAS, but it was me :)

I'm just hoping if PR will not be announcing their longhaul orders this DAS at least, maybe, the business class maker for its upcoming 2 77W this 3Q 2016 would be announced.

[Eurest]

That's good to know, I was worried someone might have been catfishing you

The 615 seater is finally here!



58J/557Y

Destined for CPH, KUL, BKK, and LGW

I doubt we'll see this in MNL in the near future as the separation for the Super would wreak havoc on MNL's air congestion

Unless EK go for a 1AM arrival and a 3:30AM departure?
Though I doubt the many overnighting CX widebodies would make the A380 viable in T3

The other consideration for such a high density configuration is loading and unloading 615 pax and their luggage. This beasts must be such a huge headache for ground dispatch as well as immigration and customs on the airports.

[tigz]

Looking back about a year ago it was pretty symbolic for this  Arab airline landing this behemoth at Naia as part of Airbus propaganda; the aircraft steered by a certain Capt. Desederio, a Filipino. What I understood from that was 2 other gates were rendered unusable to accommodate the wingspan. And yes that paper I was reading was hopeful of a regular service by this airline using this 4-engine giant about this time of the year. Of course understandably its not happening. I don't think there's enough ICQ to be put on duty, nor the govt can afford to pay for working on the wee hours to process the pax.

[seven13]

Ha! Dem officials can't work efficiently on peak arrival hours/departure hours, what more on processing 615 passengers coming from a flight plus several others....

[Eurest]

PR signs an MoU at DAS 2015!

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/philippine-airlines-selects-pratt--whitneys-purepower-engines-for-a320neo-family-aircraft-300174676.html

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DUBAI AIR SHOW -- Philippine Airlines (PAL), the Philippine flag carrier, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Pratt & Whitney to power its order of 15 firm plus 15 purchase right A321neo aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2017. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

"We pride ourselves on the fact that we embrace innovative technology within our aircraft fleet," said Jaime Bautista, president and chief operating officer, Philippine Airlines.  "The A321neo aircraft with PurePower engines helps us keep our fleet young and modern. With these aircraft, we will be able to reduce our fuel burn and subsequent operating cost, which is great news for our business."

"Philippine Airlines recognizes Pratt & Whitney's industry-leading technology, which will provide them exceptional service for many years," said Greg Gernhardt, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. "The PurePower engine has set the precedent in our industry for its fuel burn advantage through delivering a greater than 16 percent fuel burn improvement."

Not the announcement everyone was expecting, and PR had previously signed an LoI with P&W for the GTF.
The deal moves from an LoI into a MoU and should soon be finalized into a firm order.

[tigz]

And some news goes to......cheers to Boeing for 75 737Max courtesy of jet airways! No major coup on the wide bodies but certainly MAS is dousing cold water on the A380, which after all the hooplah!, said couldn't sustain its long haul operations. This may have to do with its recent widebody misfortunes but nonetheless sending an uncomfortable signal to the A380 current and future operators.

[seven13]

I was checking PR's website looking for the engines of the current A321s, it's IAE. Now that they selected P&W for the NEOs, wouldn't it add costs to maintenance? I do hope these 15 NEOS will be equipped with better hard products.

Question, are the NEOS different from the LR version? Or they're one and the same?

[Eurest]

The A321 NEO LR's will use the same engine, just have a higher MTOW and 3 ACT's that differs it from the vanilla A321NEO

It is not optimal to operate the CEOs and the NEOs together but, having NEOs with CFM Leap 1A and CEOs with CFM 56s would still present the same maintenance inefficiency issues as there will be not much similarity in parts

Much like in choosing the IAE V2500 for the A321CEOs, PR is choosing what the industry regards as the better option.

The GTF is already outperforming its initial specs and is in-line for a PIP already while the LEAP-1A is having to overcome a 2% fuel burn short fall.
In terms of maintenance, no one is sure how cost effective either engines will be to maintain as they will be using relatively new technology.
So the PW is safer as its' exceeding marks while the CFM is falling short

5J will also have the PW1100Gs on their A321NEOs, despite being a CFM56 user

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=no-philippine-carrier-in-star-alliance-for-now-&id=118321

Frankly, Alliances are outdated. Alliances do not provide much for members, just ask KE and DL or QF and CX or SQ and the other *A carriers.

It's all about codeshares and JV
UA/NH & JL/AA for transpacific
UA/LH & DL/KLM-AF & AA/BA for transatlantic
QF & EK for OZ-EU

Alliances are not very beneficial for the smaller carriers. Look at DL, abusing CI, KE and SV to fly their non-revenue reward pax.
The same reason why SQ is cold towards its *A partners, it doesn't want to fly their frequent fliers on their flights as it eats their margins.
If PR would join an Alliance, it would fill its planes with nonrevs from alliance partners FF.
Better to engage in codeshares like WS, EY and NH

What PR needs is to get into the Etihad Equity Alliance or the IAG group.

[seven13]

I see. Let's hope that these new technologies will indeed bring in better performances.
-----------

Speaking of alliances, I'm too not a fan of PR joining an alliance but would love to see codeshare flights with other airlines. NH and EY is a good start followed by TK with GF, GA, VN and MH in the portfolio already. It would be great if PR gets invited to the EY Equity Alliance and EY is willing to invest into PR.

[tigz]

As expected its quite this time at Dubai other than Vietjets 21A321neos and 9ceos for a total of 30, while Boeing romped up the press by disclosing Jet Airways as the previously undisclosed 75 737max customers. No, nada for PAL on its widebody so nothing is in the bag yet for the long rangers.

[Eurest]

Yet more inconsistencies with PH media

http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/11/12/1520842/pal-profit-soars-p6.1-b

http://www.mb.com.ph/pal-profit-soars-to-p6-55b/

This should help PR get lower lease rates or better financing for future fleet acquisition

What's promising for PR though is the fact that

Increase in number of passengers by 30.0 percent mainly for Americas, Australia, Japan and Middle East routes

NY was the only add'l flight that was added for Americas right? PR always had the second flights for LAX and SFO so the increase in pax is promising more so that they're now using a 376 seat B77W and a 264 seat A343 instead of the previous B744 ad 313 seat A343

Australia and Middle East only recently added flights, so we now see that it was indeed demand that prompted SYD going daily as well as new 1 stoppers from DXB

JPN is an interesting case as NH & PR already conntrolled 66% of PH-JP market

All of this was done without A380s or seatback IFEs for the A330 and A321

So I guess CAPA was wrong when they wrote in 2014 that "more losses are likely in 2015"


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No, nada for PAL on its widebody so nothing is in the bag yet for the long rangers.

I think it was important for PR to secure the engine MoU first for the A321NEOs as they will be delivered starting in 2017

The 2+6 widebodies are not for late 2017 and 2018

There will be more chances for PR to make announcements, if they go Boeing, wouldn't it be nice for Obama to make a sideline announcement at APEC?

I'm secretly hoping the 30% increased pax flown on International routes makes PR reconsider the B748i
Why are gorgeous planes like the A345 and B748i so few?

[seven13]

PR112 is still on 4X a week but it's operating the whole year unlike PR114 on 3X a week on peak travel season only. Previously, these 2 flights operate during peak travel season only.

With PR126 slated to be a nonstop flight soon after all administrative works are done, I'm crossing my fingers that more passengers will take it and PR can sustain it profitably and hopefully, we'll see a daily service very soon.

With regards to SYD, the daily service aims to resume the Kangaroo route it once operated. Do you mean to include that in the "demand" you were referring to or just a demand for travel to/from SYD (excluding the Kangaroo route concept)? If the Kangaroo concept is disregarded, do you think PR could sustain a daily service to/from it relying only on other passengers connecting and originating here in Manila?

How I wish we could expand more into the Japanese market like new service to CTS and other big Japanese cities or star new service out from KLO.

On a different note, on recent months, notice how Chinese carriers both Mainland and Taiwan are extremely aggressive in expanding their network? On A.net I found the following:
---CA is (re)starting PEKYUL then onto HAV, CTU-CDG; then PEKAKL; has a pending application on PVGMAN   and BCN
---HU had applied for PEKYYC and PVGBRU, is starting XIY-SYD, XIY-FCO, PEK-MAN, PEK-TLV
---MU is expanding operations to JFK, new service to ORD and BNE
---MF to SYD from XMN and FOC, soon to add MEL service
---BCA is seeking entitlement to BHX
On the Taiwanese side, BR is very aggressive with a second MNL service and new CEB service next year; newly launched IAH and an upcoming IAD and ORD. 3X daily to SFO, 2X to JFK; Possible MXP and BCN;
this does not yet include CX's new services to ORD, ZRH, BOS, DUS, MAN and MAD.

I guess I cannot find everything that I found but I find it extremely aggressive. It's like we have the ME3 on the west and the Chinese on the East. I hope these expansions will have a little effect on the market(s) PR serves and they'll be able to maintain and grow operations in the coming months.

[tigz]

I wouldn't be surprised to see a resurgence of the 747 family. We don't know what's in store with Boeings R&D but with the A380 now fading from hype and steam( no orders from last two yrs) something is bound to happen . I like the 748i much better than the behemoth from airbus.