Safe And Unsafe Airlines

AEROFLOT OR ANY RUSSIAN AIRLINE

Russian airlines lead the world in crashes and fatalities. The only air disasters in the past ten years that stole the headlines from missing Malaysian Air flights were catastrophic Russian crashes which wiped out the Polish government, a hockey team, and hundreds of vacationers to Egypt.

Aeroflot is Russia’s flag carrier, and it has an ominous record as the airline with the most crashes in the world.

Today Aeroflot is modern and safe and hasn’t had a major incident since 2008, but the list of other Russian airlines, including S7 and Siberian Air and Nordstar, with huge crashes, is too hard to ignore. If you’re flying in or out of Russia, take Finnair.

AIR NEW ZEALAND

Air New Zealand was rated as the safest airline in the world by Skytrax for 2017, the third year in a row they won this prestigious, and important, award.

This is New Zealand’s flag carrier and they have flights to destinations mostly in Asia, but also to the UK, US, Australia, and Canada. The only incident they’ve had is when a flight carrying pilots, technicians, and a safety inspector crashed into the ocean in 2008.

Otherwise, Air New Zealand has never lost a civilian passenger, joining the ranks of Air Canada for the safest airline. With fewer accidents, crashes, and deaths than any other airline, rest easy when you’re traveling on Air New Zealand!

PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES

Pakistan's flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines, is one of the most messed-up airlines in the world. The airline has a near-zero rating fromairlinereviews.com and is in the top 10 least safe airlines in the Skytrax annual review.

The airline has suffered many crashes resulting in fatalities every single year since they were founded in 1947, and when they’re not crashing or blowing up mid-air, they have a long list of minor accidents caused by pilot negligence and lack of ground maintenance.

FINNAIR

Finland’s largest airline and flag carrier has an impeccable safety record.They haven’t had a fatality since 1963, and have had few mishaps and accidents than any other airline in the world since then.

There were a couple of hijackings and attempts at bombing a Finnair airline, but these were all dealt with efficiently by authorities and passengers and crew were unharmed.

Finnair keeps a fleet of modern, well-maintained aircraft crewed by excellent pilots and professional flight attendants. If you’re flying anywhere in Europe, you can’t go wrong with Finnair.

MALAYSIAN AIRLINES

Malaysian Airlines has had a bad decade. Several large airline disasters have captured the world’s media attention, including the disappearance of Flight 370 in 2014.

What seems like such a shock to the world was no surprise to airline safety agencies and industry watchdogs, such as airlinereviews.com. Malaysian Airlines has a history of minor crashes, unsafe maintenance, corporate corruption and half-trained pilots and aircrew.

When several planes went down more recently, it was a culmination of a bad corporate culture that resulted in one of the most unsafe airlines in the world.

BRITISH AIRWAYS

British Airways was founded in 1974 by a government commission and has since grown to become the largest carrier in the UK. British Airways is one of the safest airlines in the world and hasn’t lost a passenger since 1976 when Flight 476 collided with another aircraft on takeoff, hurting 63 people on board.

This is the only time British Airways has had fatalities. Their pilots and crew are top-notch, and thanks to their fantastic skills several notable disasters have been avoided, like when Flight 900 flew through a volcanic ash cloud and the pilots glided the aircraft to a safe landing.

Qr the time a windshield blew out and the pilot was sucked out of the aircraft, but hung on while the co-pilot landed the plane safely. Nobody was hurt.

AIR INDIA

Air India is an Indian government owned airline founded in 1932. It has a dubious safety record, with a habit of exploding in mid-air.

Thankfully modern security screening has drastically reduced airline bombings around the world, but that doesn’t stop things like Air India flights randomly catching fire, or skidding off the runway, or simply driving into parked airplanes at the terminal loading docks.

Skytrax rates Air India as one of the least safe airlines due to a lot of negligence-caused accidents on the part of pilots, aircrew, and ground maintenance.

AIR CANADA

Air Canada has a proud and long history as one of the safest airlines in the world. Canada’s flag carrier was founded in 1937 and has never had a single fatality in all that time. They have flights to 207 cities around the world, making them one of the top 10 largest airlines and one of the top five oldest.

They’ve had the odd mishap, like in 2017 when the pilot accidentally turned off his radio while coming into San Francisco International Airport and landed on a runway full of taxiing airplanes.

This was the most serious incident in the airlines, history, and nobody was hurt. The pilot was suspended and the airline launched a full investigation. Air Canada flights are modern, well-maintained, and professional.

THAI AIRWAYS

Thailand’s national carrier has had a tough run as a world-class airline. They try really, really hard to be safe, but bad things just keep happening. In 2001 an entire wing blew up thanks to a fuel leak, resulting in one death on board.

In 2009 a flight crash-landed on a runway, while another plane dove into a rice paddy in 1998, killing everyone on board. For the most part, Thai Airways is safe, as they’ve had very few fatalities.

It’s just that things keep blowing up or falling off their airplanes, which shows a lack of maintenance and, as is usually the case with airlines from the developing world, corporate corruption which stops new parts and aircraft from reaching the fleet.

CATHAY PACIFIC

Cathay Pacific was one of the most luxurious airlines in the world at one point, winning the coveted “best airline” year after year. It has since fallen from the top spot, replaced by newcomers such as Qatar Airlines and Emirates.

Cathay Pacific still holds on to its stellar safety record, however. Hong Kong’s flag carrier reaches destinations around the world, and its last disaster was in 1972 when a bomb took down a flight, which can’t really be held against the company.

Their airplanes are known to be well-maintained and crewed by professionals, and their customer service is the best in all of Asia!

JETSTAR PACIFIC

Jetstar Pacific is a budget-airline out of Vietnam. Officially called Jetstar Pacific Airlies Joint Stock Aviation Company, this airline is near the bottom of Skytrax’s annual airline safety list.

According to aeroinside.com, which tracks airline incidents, Jetstar Pacific has had numerous safety incidents including tail strikes on takeoff, when the plane rotates the nose up to takeoff, the pilot is supposed to lift the plane off the ground or the tail will smash into the runway, known as a tail strike.

Other reports include landing gear malfunctions, noxious fumes in the cabin, and failure to pass a safety inspection at an Australian airport.

LUFTHANSA

Lufthansa was founded in the 1920s and then regrown after World War II and is one of the largest airlines in the world today. You can catch a Lufthansa flight to pretty much anywhere in Europe, and rest confident that you’ll actually get there alive. The airline isn’t without incidents, however.

Between 1959 and 1993, Lufthansa had several major accidents resulting in fatalities. The past 25 years have been very safe, with no fatalities and very few accidents. Although they are expensive, you’re getting what you pay for when you choose to fly with Lufthansa.

EGYPTAIR

Egyptair is Egypt’s national airline, with flights to nearly a hundred countries around the world. It’s also rated by Skytrax as one of the ten least safe airlines.

Even if you discount the company’s disasters, such as Flight 804 flying into the Mediterranean in 2016, or Flight 990 flying head-first into the Atlantic in the 90s, you still have an airline with a long history of mishaps.

In 2016 a plan caught fire while sitting on the runway. Another’s engine fell off during takeoff. There have been multiple hijackings of Egyptair flights in recent years, which makes for an uncomfortable vacation.

EMIRATES

Emirates has a decent safety record. They’ve never had a fatality on any of their flights, although they have had several mishaps on takeoff and landing.In 2004, and again in 2009, Emirates flights ran out of runway and plowed through landing lights and fences.

Nobody was hurt, but come on, really?In both cases, the investigators blamed the pilots for not lifting off and blamed Emirates for not giving the pilots enough rest between flights.

The odds of such an exciting start to your travels are rare, so instead sit back and enjoy Emirates world-famous comfort and service.

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES

Philippine Airlines is the flag carrier of The Philippines and is also one of the safest Filipino-operated airlines.Unfortunately, they aren’t the safest in the world, with a string of accidents, most of them minor.

Philippine Airlines flights have also been targeted by terrorists in the past, with al-Qaeda blowing up an airliner in 2007, and local extremists knocking down local propeller-driven craft now and again.

For the most part, you’ll survive your flight with these guys, but they still remain accident prone. Engines seize up mid-flight, landing gear doesn’t retract, planes fall off the runway, minor stuff.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES

Asian-based airlines seem to have a fantastic safety record. Eva, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines are all represented in the top 10 safest airlines in the world.Singapore Airlines isn’t without incidents, however.

In 1991 Pakistani militants hijacked Flight 117, until Singapore Special Forces stormed the aircraft and freed all the passengers while dispatching all the terrorists.

In 2000, Flight 006 took off from the wrong runway in Taiwan and crashed into some construction equipment, and 86 people lost their lives. There haven’t been any other fatalities in the airline's history and they’ve had an accident-free 18 years!

CHINA AIR

China Airlines is the largest air carrier in China and is partially government owned. If you’re heading to China, chances are you’ll end up booked on a China Air flight.

They fly to more than a hundred cities around the world, and is considered the 10th largest airline in the world! China Air also has one of the worst safety records of all the major airlines, with more than 30 catastrophic crashes and hundreds of minor accidents.

Most of their pilots are well-trained and come from a military background, but it seems that the aircraft themselves are not well maintained, and the company tends to skimp on spending the money necessary to keep their fleet safe.

EVA AIR

Eva Air is a Taiwanese airline launched in 1989. They have one of the best safety records of all the Asian airlines, and to date has not had a single aircraft incident or passenger fatality.If you’re flying Eva Air you can rest assured that you’re in good hands.

I’ve never flown Eva, but passenger reviews online tell a story of friendly, professional treatment, comfortable flights and average food.If you’re heading anywhere in Asia, try Eva Air. At the very least you’ll get there alive.

CUBANA

Cubana Airlines is considered one of the most accident-prone airlines in the world, with an accident rating 60 times higher than British Airways! Cubana is Cuba’s national airline, wholly owned by the Communist government.

It was founded in 1930 as a subsidiary of Pan-Am Airlines, but after Castro’s takeover, it was nationalized. Today it is known as Crashbana by Cubans and Mexicans.

In 2018 it had a catastrophic crash with 107 fatalities, which came only a year after another crash, which was eight months after another crash. If you must go to Cuba, fly on Air Canada.

JAPAN AIRLINES

Japan Airlines is one of the safest airlines in the world, having only one catastrophic accident in its history. That was when Flight 123 flew face-first into a mountain back in 1985, taking 520 passengers with it.

The company has since fired all of its kamikaze pilots and passengers can expect a relatively comfortable flight. I’ve flown JAL several times and was once even upgraded to first class, the only time in my traveling career, so I have a soft spot for them.

According to airlinerratings.com, JAL has a 7.2 out of 10 rating, making them one of the top 10 safest in the world!


Tourism Observer

PHILIPPINES: Philippines AirAsia Opens More Routes

Philippines AirAsia launched services between Cebu (CEB) and Hangzhou (HGH) on 18 May.

The LCC will operate the 2,243-kilometre airport pair twice-weekly, with flights departing Cebu late in the evening on Mondays and Fridays before returning from Hangzhou in the early hours on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Flights will be operated by the carrier’s A320 fleet and there is no direct competition. OAG schedules show that the airline previously operated this route three times weekly for a short season between 24 January and 18 March 2017.

The Cebu link is the carrier’s only current connection to Hangzhou.

Philippines AirAsia launched twice-weekly flights (Mondays and Fridays) between Cebu and Hangzhou.

The 2,243-kilometre sector will be operated by A320s and faces no direct competition.

The LCC previously operated this route for a short period between January and March 2017.

On 10 May Cebu welcomed the inaugural Philippines AirAsia arrival from Shenzhen, with a musical accompaniment.

The first outbound flight to the Chinese city had departed late the previous night. The LCC will operate this 1,745-kilometre sector daily and faces no incumbent competition.

Two days later on 11 May, Cebu celebrated Philippines AirAsia’s first flight to Clark.

This domestic link will be operated daily with A320s and faces incumbent competition in the form of Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines, which both offer 10 flights per week.

Philippines AirAsia commenced two new links in the past week with the launch of flights from Cebu (CEB) to Shenzhen (SZX) on 9 May, and from Clark (CRK) to Cebu on 11 May.

The LCC will operate daily services with A320s on both the 1,745-kilometre Chinese sector, and on the 657-kilometre domestic link.

There is no direct competition on the Cebu-Shenzhen route, but Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines both already operate 10 weekly flights on the Clark-Cebu connection.

Philippines AirAsia will operate to three Chinese destinations from Cebu this summer, with Shanghai Pudong and Hangzhou also being served. It will provide seven domestic destinations from Clark in S18.

Philippines AirAsia launched flights between Manila (MNL) and Jakarta (CGK). The carrier will operate the 2,784-kilometre airport pair daily using its fleet of A320s.

The route is already well served, with Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines also offering daily services.

Philippines AirAsia CEO, Captain Dexter Comendador, said of the new service: AirAsia is a product of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and we are so proud to be part of this region we call home.

We are thrilled to add another ASEAN destination into our ever growing network. With this launch, Philippines AirAsia now serves 17 destinations from Manila, with an 18th to Denpasar launching on 19 January, a route that the carrier will operate four times weekly.

There were celebrations at Bangkok Don Mueang to mark Philippines AirAsia’s first service from Manila.

The assembled dignitaries included Dexter Comendador, CEO Philippines AirAsia and Kajorndet Apichartrakul, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand. The LCC will operate this 2,200-kilometre sector daily with its A320s.

Philippines AirAsia launched a new link between Manila (MNL) and Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK). The 2,200-kilometre connection will link the capital cities of the Philippines and Thailand with daily flights operated by A320s.

There is no direct competition, but schedules show that multiple carriers including Philippine Airlines and Thai Airways will operate a combined 46 weekly flights from Manila to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi during the week commencing 24 April.

AirAsia is a product of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and we are so proud to be part of this region we call home, said Dexter Comendador, CEO Philippines AirAsia.

We are the only airline that carries I love Asean painted on our aircraft including the ASEAN logo.

AirAsia loves Asean is a commitment to help bridge communities and economies as we move toward even greater integration and mutual understanding.

Kajorndet Apichartrakul, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand, said: We want to bring people across the Asean region closer together and further expand our Asean footprint to serve more and more communities.

We have 100% load for this inaugural flight and we hope to do more inter-Asean routes to serve every Filipino traveller’s needs and enable them to connect, do business and build socio-economic ties with neighbouring economies.

Celebrations were had at Clark Airport to herald the start of Philippines AirAsia’s new routes to Ilo Ilo, Puerto Princesa, and Tacloban, with the festivities also including a cake cutting ceremony.

Seen conducting the cutting of the baked creation are: Carol Uy, Regional Director of DOT III; Alexander Cauguiran, President CEO of Clark International Airport Corporation; and Darren Acorda, Chief Pilot Training and Standards Captain, AirAsia.

There were also celebrations at Tacloban Airport to welcome the inaugural Philippines AirAsia service from Clark on 2 February.

The following day, the carrier launched two more domestic destinations from Clark to Ilo Ilo and Puerto Princesa.

The airline faces no direct competition on the Ilo Ilo and Tacloban routes, but the connection from Clark to Puerto Princesa is already operated three times weekly by Philippine Airlines.

Philippines AirAsia this week launched three domestic links from Clark (CRK), beginning services to Tacloban (TAC) on 2 February, followed by Ilo Ilo (ILO) and Puerto Princesa (PPS) the following day.

The 653-kilometre route to Tacloban will be served four times weekly, while the 542- and 636-kilometre links to Ilo Ilo and Puerto Princesa will be operated three times weekly.

All three routes will be operated using the airline’s fleet of A320s.

Only the Clark to Puerto Princesa airport pair will face direct competition, with Philippine Airlines already serving this route with three weekly services.

These new routes mean that Philippines AirAsia has doubled its domestic connections from Clark, with the LCC already serving Davao, Kalibo and Caticlan from the airport.


Tourism Observer

PHILIPPINES: Foreign Tourists Drugged In Manila,Their Credit Cards Used To Make Transactions

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel alert for the Philippines on Friday after several reported cases of con artists drugging foreign tourists in Manila and using their credit cards to make transactions.

In the notice, the ministry urged Taiwanese people traveling to the Philippines to stay on high alert and to avoid strangers who come up to them to start a conversation.

The ministry said that Taiwan's representative office in the Philippines has recently received several reports of Taiwanese tourists being drugged by scammers, who stole credit cards from the victims while they were unconscious.

The victims all reported similar situations, in which a gang of three to four Filipinos approached them when they were alone and invited them to restaurants, drugging them into deep sleep to steal their credit cards or other valuable belongings, the ministry said.

The latest case reported to Taiwan's representative office in Manila involved a Taiwanese woman who was in the Philippines to receive vocational training, according to a source.

It occurred on June 24, when the woman was approached by three other women and one man at a shopping mall and was later drugged by the conmen and remained unconscious for 24 hours, the source said.

After returning to Taiwan, the victim found unauthorized charges on her credit card during the period when she was unconscious, the source said.

The ministry warned that such scams are more likely to occur at popular tourist destinations in Metro Manila, such as the Mall of Asia, Rizal Park, the Malate district and Burgos Street.

The ministry said the representative office has reported the cases to the Philippine police and asked them to take actions to ensure the safety of foreign travelers.



Tourism Observer
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PHILIPPINES: Philippine Airlines To Fly To Kuala Lumpur After Three Years

Philippine Airlines (PAL) resumed daily service to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 8, 2017 after three years.

With investment opportunities in Malaysia's service and manufacturing sectors, the PAL route will provide direct access to new business opportunities. Close to 800,000 Overseas Filipino Workers are employed in Malaysia.

The resumption of PAL flights between Manila and Kuala Lumpur will help foster economic and cultural ties between the Philippines and Malaysia. Most importantly, it addresses the clamor for a direct service between the two capital cities, said PAL President and COO Jaime J. Bautista.

Through PAL flights and code-share partners, we can carry passenger traffic from Kuala Lumpur to China, Japan, South Pacific and North America and thus enhance our ASEAN network, he added.

As the airport operator, we are always committed towards building a strong relationship with our partner airlines to support its growth, not only in Malaysia but globally. Our mission here at Malaysia Airports is to create joyful experiences for all our stakeholders.

Therefore, we will ensure that Philippines Airlines operations will receive Malaysia Airports’ fullest support for any airport facilities and services needed at the terminal, shared Malaysia Airports Senior General Manager Zainol Mohd Isa.

The decision to return to Kuala Lumpur comes after PAL and Malaysia Airlines expanded their code-share arrangement. The enhancements include code-sharing on 12 domestic Malaysian destinations and nine domestic Philippine destinations.

The points are:

Malaysia - Alor Setar, Johor Bahru, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Labuan (Sabah), Langkawi, Miri (Sarawak), Penang, Sibu (Sarawak), Tawau (Sabah).

Philippines - Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Caticlan.

Passengers may book on Business Class or Economy Class to any of these destinations. Lounge access is also available to Business Class passengers.

Current frequent flyer baggage benefits of Mabuhay Miles and Enrich members are also extended.

Code-share passengers traveling between terminals in Manila can avail of PAL's free transfer services.

Passengers can choose from any of the daily Manila-Kuala Lumpur flight timings.

PR 525 departs Manila every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 7:25 AM and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 11:00 AM local time; the return flight – PR526 – leaves Kuala Lumpur on the same days at 12:10 PM local time, and touches down in Manila at 3:50 PM.

PR 527 leaves Manila on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 11:30 AM and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 3:00 PM local time; the return service – PR528 – departs Kuala Lumpur on the same days at 4:00 PM local time and touches down in Manila at 7:30 PM.

PAL is deploying the Airbus A321 on the route. The 199-seater aircraft has 12 seats in business class, 18 in premium economy and 169 in regular economy.

Wireless inflight entertainment can be enjoyed while flying onboard the A321 by downloading the myPAL Player app for free. This will allow passengers to stream movies, TV shows and music from their personal electronic devices. Passengers also have meal options - Asian, Western or Halal meals. Generous free baggage allowance form part of the flight offerings.

The PAL service enables travelers from KL to enjoy Manila for several days and connect to any of PAL's 28 domestic and 42 international destinations.

PHILIPPINES: Martial Law Cost The Philippines Tourism Dearly

Davao City, a prime tourism destination in Mindanao, has reported losses reaching P20 million from the cancellations of bookings in hotel rooms and event spaces, due
to the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

GeneRose Tecson, Davao City’s provincial tourism officer, said: During our meeting last Saturday, May 27, with various leaders from Davao’s tourism industry, the hotels and convention venues pegged revenue losses at P20 million due to cancellations of hotel rooms and events.

She added, the bigger hotels, of course, experienced more cancellations because their clientele comes from outside Mindanao. But we are hoping that these cancellations convert into rebookings once the situation has normalized.

She said the cancellations were from domestic travelers, Koreans and some Japanese. But we have had people calling our office from all over the world asking about the situation in Davao, which, of course, is business as usual.

Tecson believes the situation will improve soon: We are expecting a group of no less than 50 pax from the local government of Nanning, China, from June 8 to 10. They will be holding a trade and cultural show on June 9. She stressed that, despite the martial- law declaration in Mindanao, the group has not canceled its trip.

This developed as the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday expressed confidence that the industry will be able to withstand the current adverse impact of the martial-law declaration in Mindanao and rebound when the situation has settled.

The agency is also working on informing foreign tourists of alternative destinations to Mindanao, according to its news statement.

This is just a temporary setback,said Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo as she met with industry stakeholders at the DOT office on Monday. We express full confidence in our Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP] and Philippine National Police [PNP] to completely return Marawi City to normalcy.

Clashes between government troops and the Maute Group, a rebel group said to have some ties to Islamic jihadists, are ongoing in Marawi City despite President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

Martial law was declared on May 23, after the government troops’ operation to extract Isnilon Hapilon, who heads the Abu Sayyaf, from Marawi City was foiled.

Resorts even in Cebu, and local carriers reported to the DOT cancellations in bookings by foreign tourists. (See, “Tourism industry hit by martial-law declaration” in the BusinessMirror, May 30, 2017.

On his part, Jay Aldeguer, president and CEO of Cebu-based The Islands Group, which has hotels in Cebu and Palawan, said: So far the effect of martial law has not yet taken place yet on the retail side. Our hotels have not had cancellations except for a couple in Palawan.

So far, only our Davao outlet Island Souvenirs has seen a drop in sales. Most travelers may have already arrived, therefore, the minimal effect.

But he added, We do, however, see some effect in the coming months due to the reported cancellations of hotels and resorts. If this goes on for more than a month, two things can happen; either it continues to make headlines and scare travelers off or people forget there is a crisis going on in an isolated part of the country.

Sadly there has been so many of terror incidents all over the world that people are beginning to accept and are moving on quicker. If this happens, then the tourism industry won’t be as affected.

The DOT has tried to remain optimistic in the face of the cancellations of hotel and resort bookings. Although cancellations have been reported, we want to inform our visitors of the wide selection of alternative destinations in Mindanao and elsewhere in the country, Teo said.

She reiterated that Mindanao can recover and regain its visitors, citing Davao City’s tourist arrivals of 459,104 for the first quarter of 2017, which is 13-percent higher from the same period last year. The DOT projects visitor arrivals in Region 12 (Davao region) to reach 3.7 million this year.

Foreign travelers, especially from South Korea and Japan, have been canceling their trips to Manila and Cebu because of the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

As this developed, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said it continues to monitor the situation and safety of tourists nationwide, as a team prepares to leave for Seoul on Thursday to clarify the issues concerning martial law with Korean tour operators and travel agencies.

Flag carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific Airways (CEB), also confirmed canceled bookings on scheduled flights from South Korea and Japan to Manila and Cebu.

President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, after government troops clashed with a local rebel group, called the Maute, in Marawi City. The joint military and police operation was to capture Isnilon Hapilon, head of the Abu Sayyaf Group, which has ties to ISIS.

Cancellation of bookings by foreigners was expected to happen,” Tourism Assistant Secretary and Spokesman Frederick M. Alegre told said. But we continue to monitor the situation and have asked our regional directors to keep tourists safe, he said.

The agency received reports of the cancellations when its officials, led by Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo, met with industry stakeholders on Monday at the DOT office in Makati City.

The stakeholders included representatives from the local airlines, hotels and tour operators in Cebu and Manila, among others.

He declined to say, however, how much losses the local industry stakeholders had reported from this new crisis.

Many of these establishments are just starting to recover after travel advisories, issued by foreign governments against Central Visayas right before Holy Week, led to booking cancellations by many foreign tour groups.

In a text message, PAL President Jaime Bautista confirmed the drop in bookings…mostly from Japan, Korea, and the local market as a knee-jerk reaction to the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

But we expect this to stabilize as more updates from the government are coming in.

He added: Advisory of assurance from the DOT and the government is much appreciated, so we hope to have this from the government.

He also said the drop in flight bookings are from foreign passengers flying in to Manila and Cebu.

Two hotels in Cebu, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan and Quest Cebu, received requests mostly from Koreans, and a little of Japanese for cancellation of P1.5 million worth of bookings, a hotel source said.

But when we explain to them how far Mindanao is from Cebu, they no longer insist on canceling their bookings.

Only 5 percent to 10 percent of those who requested cancellations opted to postpone their trips to a later date, which we have allowed them to do.

Both hotels are owned by the Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corp. The source said no reports of cancellations have been received in its Alabang property, Crimson Hotel. Korean tourists usually stay about three to four days in the Philippines.

Cebu Pacific, meanwhile, said only 5 percent of its clients who have confirmed bookings to Mindanao have decided to rebook their flights to Mindanao to a later date or to another destination.

Charo Logarta-Lagamon, CEB director of Communications, said, When we’re asked if the flights to Mindanao are pushing through, we say yes, and they usually push through with their flights. Those who ask if it’s safe to fly there, however, we have to just tell them to take the usual precautions as advised by the government, like bringing a valid ID and such.

CEB flies to 14 destinations in Mindanao, but not to Marawi nor Iligan City.

She declined to disclose cancellations by foreign passengers, but said, any cancellations are expected owing to the martial-law declaration.

But we expect to make up for these during other peak periods. Aviation sources said the airline received canceled bookings from Korean group tours going on its scheduled flights to Manila and Cebu.

Alegre, meanwhile, said he will be heading a delegation to Seoul that will meet with Korean tour operators and travel agencies, in a bid to reassure them that it is safe to travel in other parts of the Philippines not covered by martial law.

The Philippines is targeting 6.5 million foreign visitor arrivals in 2017, although unofficially, it is eyeing 8 million due to the commitment of the Beijing government to send 1 million tourists to the Philippines this year.

In the first two months of the year, 1.2 million foreign visitors arrived in the Philippines, up 10.88 percent from the same period last year.

Koreans continue to be the top visitor market, accounting for 25.2 percent of the total arrivals for the period, while the Japanese accounted for 8.7 percent of the total volume.

PHILIPPINES: Philippine Airlines Flights To Abu Dhabi Suspended, A340 Fleet Phased Out In 2018.

Philippine Airlines will be suspending flights between Manila and Abu Dhabi starting July 8 this year until further notice. This temporary cancellation of service is "being carried out as PAL undertakes route assessment initiatives", the airline said in a statement.

Those who have already booked tickets on the Manila-Abu Dhabi-Manila route may either rebook their flights to the Manila-Dubai-Manila route, or get their tickets refunded, the airline said.

Those who opt for the Manila-Dubai-Manila route will be transported by road to Abu Dhabi, and vice versa.

The Philippine Airlines fleet composed of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft from four families (excluding PAL Express fleet): Airbus A320, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, its flagship Boeing 777, and it has the Airbus A350 on order. As of 2 January 2017, there were 55 aircraft registered in the PAL fleet.

Due to the excessive orders of Airbus A321neo, PAL is considering converting some of the orders for the A321neoLR variant.

The Airbus A320-200 aircraft currently flies in South East, and East Asia, Australasia, Micronesia and Domestic destinations.

It primarily serves short haul flights and some medium haul flights especially in Manila-Darwin-Brisbane route and vice versa, and Manila-Cairns-Auckland route and vice versa.

Philippine Airlines took delivery of its first Airbus A320 on 5 August 1997. The airline received 25 Airbus A320's since 1997 with the latest delivery in 2012.

Since the airline bought Airbus A321-200's and Airbus A321neo's, they announced the full retirement of the A320's once the orders of the Airbus A321neo's will be completed. It is gradually being transferred to its subsidiary PAL Express.

The Airbus A321 is the main workhorse aircraft for the short haul flights that serves South East, East Asia, Pacific (Guam), and Domestic destinations. They are sometimes deployed in Manila-Darwin-Brisbane route and vice versa, and Manila-Cairns-Auckland route and vice versa.

On 28 August 2012, Philippine Airlines ordered 27 Airbus A321-200 equipped with 2x IAE V2533-A5 engines, and 30 Airbus A321neo's. The first Airbus A321ceo (Current Engine Option) was delivered last Aurgust 2013.

Since 1 May 2016, 4 aircraft were transferred to its subsidiary PAL Express. On 29 March 2015, the airline added another 2 A321neo on its order. The Airbus A321neo will be delivered starting 2017. Both types of A321 will replace the ageing A320 fleet.

The A330's are primarily deployed in Middle East, Australia, and South East and East Asia routes like the cities of Dubai, Riyadh, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, and many more cities. They are also deployed in Honolulu and domestic flights like Puerto Princesa, General Santos City, Davao (flights starting with 1 (ie PR 1811/1812) and Cebu.

Philippine Airlines introduced the Airbus A330-300 in July 30, 1997, with the delivery of their first aircraft (F-OHZM).

Philippine Airlines bought eight Airbus A330-300 in order to fill the gaps that the Airbus A300B4 will leave during its gradual retirement. In 2012, Philippine Airlines ordered 20 Airbus A330-300HGW, but later reduced to 15.

The newer A330 HGW's uses a pair of Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines unlike those classic A330's which uses a pair of General Electric CF6-80E1. The last classic A330's was retired on August 31, 2014.

The Airbus A340 is primarily used on North American, Europe, and Australian routes particularly the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Sydney, and Melbourne. Also they are sometimes deployed on Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, and domestic flights especially Cebu and Davao

Philippine Airlines bought four A340-200 and a four A340-300 making it with a total of eight. It was placed in order to fill the gaps of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 during its retirement in 1996 and 1998 respectively.

In that same year, Philippine Airlines took their first delivery of their A340 on 19 July with the A340-300's while on 10 November is their A340-200's. Before the Philippine Airlines took delivery of their A340-200's, they leased it to Cathay Pacific in 1994. when they completed the order of their A330-300 and A340-300's, the Airbus A340-200 were later sold to Airbus in 1999.

In 2013, Philippine Airlines leased and later bought six more Airbus A340-300 from Iberia as the replacement aircraft of their older A340-300's. On November 2014, the older A340's was retired.

Last 2016, PAL President, Mr. Jaime Bautista announced that they will buy six A350-900 with plus six option as the replacement aircraft of the ageing A340 fleet.

The A340 fleet will be phased out in 2018.

In 2016, Philippine Airlines placed an initial order of six Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The first aircraft will be delivered in late 2018.

On 9 April 2016, Philippine Airlines (PAL) finalised the purchase agreement with Airbus covering the firm order of six A350-900s, plus six options. The contract firms up a Memorandum of Understanding announced during the 2016 Singapore Airshow.

The A350-900, which will have a three-class configuration, are planned to deploy on new routes to North America and Europe. The A350-900 will replace the ageing Airbus A340-300.

The Boeing 777-300ER are primarily used in North American destinations such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto, and New York City. Sometimes, they are deployed in Asian and Australian routes like Bangkok, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, and Melbourne.

In 2009, Philippine Airlines leased 2 Boeing 777-300ER to replace the former flagship Boeing 747-400 from GECAS. The first aircraft was delivered in 2009. In 12 March 2007, Philippine Airlines finalised the purchase agreement with Boeing covering the firm order of 2 Boeing 777-300ER, plus 2 options.

The first PAL-owned aircraft was delivered in 20 June 2012 being it as the third Boeing 777-300ER for the airline.

The purchase of the Boeing 777s effectively cancel the B747 orders. In December 2016, the airline leased 2 more B777s from Intrepid Aviation to fulfill the gaps the A340 will leave during the retirement.

In March 2017, a further 2 B777s was leased from Intrepid Aviation to complement with the upcoming A350s.

The entire Philippine Airlines fleet of Airbus and Boeing jets were formerly maintained in-house at the PAL Technical Center, which consisted of two hangars. The hangars contained an engine overhaul shop, two engine test cells and test shops.

The responsibility of maintaining the fleet, as well as all the facilities, was subsequently transferred in 2000 to Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP), a joint venture of Hamburg-based Lufthansa Technik AG, a leading maintenance provider in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, and Macro Asia Corporation, one of the Philippines' leading providers of aviation support services and catering for foreign airlines, owned by Lucio Tan, the majority owner of PAL.

LTP currently maintains an 8-bay hangar and workshops occupying 110,000 square meters in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Currently, some of the A320 fleet are being handled by PAL Express Maintenance and Engineering, including all A321 aircraft that are already delivered and those to be delivered.

PAL Express is the budget arm of PAL and has overtaken PAL last 2012 in domestic seats second only to Cebu Pacific (5J)

PHILIPPINES: About Palawan

Palawan is an island province of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Puerto Princesa and it is the largest province in terms of land area. It is considered as the last frontier of the Philippines.

Palawan officially the Province of Palawan is an archipelagic province of the Philippines that is located in the Mimaropa region. It is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. Its capital is the City of Puerto Princesa, but it is governed independently from the province as a highly urbanized city.

The islands of Palawan stretch between Mindoro in the northeast and Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island (09°30′N 118°30′E), measuring 450 kilometres (280 mi) long, and 50 kilometres (31 mi) wide.

The island of Palawan stretches from Mindoro to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea in the northwest and Sulu Sea in the southeast. Palawan is considered to be the Philippines' last ecological frontier. The province boasts many splendid beaches and resorts and it is where the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River two of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, are located.

Cities and Towns

Puerto Princesa - the island's administrative capital
Quezon - It is where the Tabon man lived a long time ago. Some referred to Tabon Cave as the cradle of Philippine civilization.
Busuanga
Coron - wreck diving
El Nido - major tourist destination with parties, limestone cliffs, lagoons, and beautiful beaches away from the main town
Port Barton - quiet town with a great beach
Sabang - town with a long underground river in the National Park
San Jose
Brooke's Point Mostly fishing and farming, but some beautiful scenery
Roxas
Taytay

Other destinations

Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park
Aborlan - a rural university town
San Vicente - town on the northwest edge of Palawan comprising several barangays and islands. It has one of the longest beaches in the world, the cream-coloured "long beach" which is 14km long and at some places up to 80m wide. With the near completion of an airport in the city, some are saying the beach could rival Boracay.
Calauit - game preserve and wildlife sanctuary
Narra - The Rice Granary of Palawan.
Palawan Butterfly Garden - located at South of Puerto Princesa

The province has two types of climate. The first, which occurs in the northern and southern extremities and the entire western coast, has two distinct seasons – six months dry and six months wet. The other, which prevails in the eastern coast, has a short dry season of one to three months and no pronounced rainy period during the rest of the year.

The southern part of the province is virtually free from tropical depressions but northern Palawan experiences torrential rains during the months of July and August. Summer months serve as peak season for Palawan. Sea voyages are most favorable from March to early June when the seas are calm. The average maximum temperature is 31 °C (88 °F) with little variation all year.

The predominant religion in Palawan is Roman Catholicism. In 2014, the Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Prinsesa had a 68% adherence while the Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay (Northern Palawan) had an 88% adherence.One of the religious orders that had a significant mission in the islands is the Order of Augustinian Recollects.

The island of Palawan is divided into two Apostolic Vicariates: the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa in Southern Palawan and the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay in Northern Palawan.

While the formerly Muslim majority population in Mindanao was reduced to 40% as a result of the influx of Christian Filipino settlers in the 20th century, as of 2015 Muslims were reported by the Routledge Handbook of Southeast Asian Democratization as forming an "overwhelming majority" in Palawan, as well as the Sulu Archipelago.

However, other sources had earlier reported a 50-50 split between Muslims and Christians—with Muslims concentrated mostly in the south of Palawan.

There are 52 languages and dialects in the province, with Tagalog being spoken by more than 50 percent of the people. Other languages are Cuyonon (26.27 percent), Hiligaynon (19 percent), and Palawano (4.0 percent).

Language

Palawan is home to dozens of local languages, since the island is home to numerous indigenous gatherer hunter groups.

Until a few decades ago the most widely spoken language was Cuyonan, which became prominent as a trade language as a result of the favored economic status enjoyed by the nearby island of Cuyo under American colonialism.

Today, Tagalog is also widely spoken as the result of a massive influx of immigrants, from Luzon, over the past half-century. The Philippine government in 2005 officially changed the administrative designation of Palawan to be a member of region IVB, an area recognized as Tagalog-speaking.

However, this decision was later reversed, partly as a result of lobbying by the many Cebuano immigrants from Mindanao; many speak English and a group of expatriate Swiss also operate a shortwave radio network using Swiss-German!

Attractions

Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary

A game reserve and wildlife sanctuary of exotic African animals and endangered endemic animals of Palawan. The reserve was established on August 31, 1976 by virtue of the Presidential Decree No.1578, this was initiated in response to the appeal of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to help save African wildlife when former President Ferdinand Marcos attended the 3rd World Conference in Kenya.

By virtue of the Republic Act 7611 (SEP), administrative jurisdiction of DENR was given to the local government of Palawan, effective December 31, 1993. Management of the area is the responsibility of the Office of the Palawan Council of Sustainable Development (PCSD). It is located in Calauit Island in Busuanga.

Seven lakes surrounded by craggy limestone cliffs attract hundreds of nature lovers to Coron Reefs in Northern Palawan, near the town of Coron. Busuanga Island, whose main town is Coron, is the jump-off point for numerous dive operators. The principal dive sites are 12 World War II Japanese shipwrecks sunk on September 24, 1944 by US Navy action.

They range in depth from the surface to 40 meters. This large variety offers exciting wreck exploration for enthusiasts, from novice divers and snorkelers and recreational divers to experienced TEC divers. The aquatic views from the sunken Japanese warships off Coron Island are listed in Forbes Traveler Magazine's top 10 best scuba sites in the world.

- El Nido Marine Reserve Park
- El Nido, Palawan
- The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.
- Whitetip reef shark at the Tubbataha Reef.

The January 2008 issue of international magazine Travel + Leisure, published by the American Express Co. (which partnered with Conservation International) listed El Nido's sister hotel resorts El Nido Lagen Island and El Nido Miniloc Island in Miniloc and Lagen Islands as "conservation-minded places on a mission to protect the local environment".

Travel + Leisure's 20 Favorite Green Hotels scored El Nido Resort's protection of Palawan's giant clam gardens and the re-introduction of endangered Philippine cockatoos: "8. El Nido Resorts, Philippines: Guest cottages on stilts are set above the crystalline ocean. The resorts are active in both reef and island conservation."

Malampaya Sound Land and Seascape Protected Area

Located in the Municipality of Taytay, this important ecological and economic zone is a watershed and fishing ground, and the habitat of Bottle-nosed and Irrawaddy dolphins. UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park

This park features a large limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia.

Tubbataha Reef Marine Park (1993)

The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 332 km2, including the North and South Reefs. It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species; the North Islet serving as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100 m perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands.

Ursula Island

This game refuge and bird sanctuary is situated near the Municipality of Brooke's Point in southern Palawan. The islet is a migratory and wintering ground for shorebirds and seabirds.

Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary

This 1,983-hectare (4,900-acre) protected area located in the municipality of Narra is a nesting ground of the endemic Philippine cockatoo or katala. It also harbors other rare bird species and marine turtles.

Entering Palawan

Puerto Princesa International Airport is the main gateway to Palawan, major airlines serve international and domestic flights; Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Zest have flights to and from Manila and Cebu, PAL Express (Air Philippines) have flights to and from Busuanga.

El Nido Airport, charter flights are provided by Island Transvoyager Inc. (ITI) while Seasonal flights are offered by SEAIR.

A new community airport is near completion in San Vicente.

International

- Puerto Princesa International Airport, Puerto Princesa

National Airport

San Vicente Airport
Francisco B. Reyes Airport, Coron (Busuanga Island)
El Nido Airport, El Nido

Community Airports

Cuyo Airport, Magsaysay
Taytay Airport, Taytay
Del Pilar Airport, Roxas
Bugsuk (Bonbon) Airport, Balabac (Bugsuk Island)
Tagbita Airport, Rizal
Balabac Airport, Balabac
Rio Tuba Airport, Bataraza

Cheapest option while getting around is the local jeepney, tricycles are also available. Getting from one island to another is possible; daily boat trips are available. Car and van rentals are also available.

Tabon Caves in Quezon. The Caves were the discovery site of the skull cap remains of the Tabon Man estimated to be 22,000 years old. Explore its 138 hectares of rugged cliffs and deep slopes and breathtaking sea view.

What To Do

Try to eat Tamilok food

1) Hike The Taraw Peak

2) Get wet at Nagkalit kalit Falls

PHILIPPINES: Manny Pacquiao To Attract Foreign Tourists To The Philippines

It's more fun in the Philippines—and it will soon be up to boxing icon and lawmaker Manny Pacquiao to prove it to foreign tourists.

The House Committee on Tourism on Thursday approved a proposal to designate the boxer-senator as spokesperson for the Department of Tourism's (DOT) upcoming campaign to promote Philippine attractions here and abroad.

"Senator Pacquiao's international stature is a big boost to the tourism industry of the country. His endorsement would create a lot of impact, especially in the social media," said 1-PACMAN Representative Enrico Pineda in a statement.

Pineda earlier suggested Pacquiao as tourism ambassador, citing his international popularity, and the possibility that Pacquiao might lend his services to the DOT for free.

The decision to designate Pacquiao as the country's endorser was one of several issues discussed regarding the plans and programs of DOT, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and Tourism Promotions Board (TPB).

In November, the DOT said it will spend P650 million to revise and "upscale" in 2017 the "It's More Fun in the Philippines" campaign, which started in 2012, as it allegedly failed to generate enough visitor arrivals.

Advertising and marketing firm McCann Worldgroup, which won the bidding for the project, will handle the conceptualization and implementation of the new campaign Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said.

"The P650 million is not only for the tag line itself; that includes all the media placements all over the world," DOT Undersecretary Kat de Castro said.

According to the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group, data from DOT showed that the number of visitors to the country consistently increased from January 2012 to December 2015, reaching 5,360,682 visitors in 2015.

In 2016, the DOT's latest data from January to August showed that the country welcomed at least 4.04 million tourists, 12.59 percent (452,011) higher than the number of tourists received in the same period in 2015.

PHILIPPINES: Terminal Fees With Airline Ticket Prices For Intergration

THE Philippines Department of Tourism (DoT) disclosed earlier this week that major airlines operating in the country have agreed, in principle, to the integration of terminal fees into departing passengers’ airline ticket payments.

DoT secretary Wanda Teo said the consensus transpired during the third consultation meeting held at the NTO’s headquarters, attended by officials of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAP) and airline executives.

If all goes to plan, the domestic passenger service charge (DPSC), commonly known as the terminal fee, will be collected by airlines as part of ticket payments in an effort to ease the queuing and delays at Philippine airport terminals.

“We are working together with the different airlines and our partner government agencies in making it easier for the traveling public. And we do that by integrating the various fees that are collected,” said DoT undersecretary for development planning, Benito Bengzon Jr.

He noted, however, that adequate lead time is required before getting the word out, which includes at least a month for IATA to prepare to ensure "the level of acceptance and support would be higher”.

But local air carriers and the CAAP board must first agree with the terms and conditions in the memorandum of agreement presented by the DoT.

“Hopefully, once we finalise the memorandum we can have the principals all sign the document, and we can make that big announcement, which I am sure the traveling public would appreciate,” Bengzon added.

Local carriers, including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Sea Air, SkyJet, Air Juan, and AirAsia are expected to submit the draft memorandum of agreement in time for CAAP’s board meeting to be held next week.

If approved, the plan would be implemented at all airports under the CAAP’s management. There are 81 CAAP terminals, but only 38 of which are performing commercial operations and collecting terminal fees.

“These initiatives address the long-standing choke points that beset tourism growth, such as physical airport capacity, travel facilitation and passenger mobility,” commented Teo.

PHILIPPINES: European Union Lifts Safety Ban on Philippine Carriers

With the hard work shown by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and aviation authorities, all Philippine carriers are now free from the blacklist after the European Union decided to lift the ban on all airlines in the Philippines.

On Thursday, June 25, the European Union announced to lift the ban. The safety ban prevents all Philippine carriers to fly above the European air space. These airlines will join with the Philippines' leading airlines: Philippine Airlines, which was lifted by EU on July 2013, and Cebu Pacific, which was lifted by EU last year.

Airlines that are now allowed to fly to Europe includes AirAsia, AirAsia Zest, PAL Express, Island Aviation, Magnum Air or SkyJet Airlines, Southeast Asian Airlines International and Cebgo (formerly Tigerair Philippines).

“After 5 years of hard work, we are finally able to release the airlines certified in the Philippines from the European Air Safety List. The Philippines is an important country with a sizeable and rapidly growing aviation sector,” European Union Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc said.

“Today’s result can serve as an example for other countries which have difficulty to match their safety oversight capabilities with the growth of their industry,” Bulc added.

According to EU Chargé d’ Affaires, Lubomir Frebort, "it is the first time for the entire aviation sector of one country to be removed from the air safety list or the list of banned airlines in Europe."

The European Union's decision was due to the positive results of the EU Assessment Team's evaluation of each airline in the Philippines last April. While airlines compete largely in the domestic market, the EU decision will still benefit them, according to Eric Apolonio, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

PHILIPPINES: Philippine Airlines Leases Two Boeing 777-300ER

National flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, through the Centre for Aviation, announced that it will lease two additional Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from Intrepid Aviation. The airline is looking into ordering about four to six next generation airliners such as the Airbus A350-900 XWB.

“Today we celebrate our growing partnership with both Intrepid Aviation,” Philippine Airlines President and Chief Operating Officer, Jaime J. Bautista said at the Paris Air Show. "These additional 777-300ERs will help us continue to expand our long haul markets efficiently and economically, while providing our passengers with our signature Filipino service in the beautiful 777 interior.”

According to the aviation think tank, Philippine Airlines will likely utilize the two new Boeing 777 on flights from Manila to San Francisco and Los Angeles which will result to an all-Boeing 777-300ER operation. However, the airline is also considering of placing both aircraft on the Manila-Vancouver-New York route but will not be able to operate an all-Boeing 777 flights to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines has been operating six Boeing 777-300ER from 2008, the year when the Philippines' air safety rating was downgraded. This forced the airline not to operate the aircraft to some U.S. destinations, but operating it to several international destinations.

Philippine Airlines is also eyeing to order four to six new generation Airbus A350-900 XWB and also considers the Boeing 787-9. This will allow the airline to further expand its international flights in New York and London.

PAL is now finalizing its wide body fleet plan which sees the entire fleet of the Airbus A340-300 to be replaced entirely by 2018. The Boeing 787-9 and the Airbus A350-900 XWB came out as one of the best replacements. However, the airline is still studying the capabilities of both aircraft.

London and New York could be served by an A350 or 787 as the market continues to grow. Philippine Airlines recently adjusted its London schedule to an afternoon departure for Manila. This move will benefit connecting passengers traveling to Manila before the flight to London.

PHILIPPINES: Philippine Airlines Profits Improve

Due to the improving Philippine market, aircraft delivery deferral, and lowering fuel prices, Philippine Airlines returned in the black, according to the Centre for Aviation. The aviation think tank said that the outlook for Philippine Airlines improved seeing a small profit in 2014.

“The Philippine flag carrier returned in the black in 2014 with a small profit and should be able to turn a more sizeable profit in 2015 following a profitable first quarter,” CAPA - Centre for Aviation said.

According to CAPA, PAL Holdings reported a net profit of P127.3 million in 2014 compared to a loss of P12.9 billion in 2013. In early May, the airline reported a net profit of P3.711 billion for the first quarter of 2015.

The Lucio Tan Group recently deferred the delivery dates of its Airbus A321 aircraft orders. The airline is supposed to accept 10 Airbus A321 deliveries in 2015, but decided to take only five aircraft. This move will avert a potential return of overcapacity in the domestic and international sector.

Philippine Airlines booked an operating profit of P2.373 billion in 2014 compared to an operating loss of P6.455 billion in 2013. The airline also reported an operating profit of P3.158 billion in the first quarter of 2015 compared to an operating loss of P801 million in the same time in 2014.

Less flights means more aircraft costs on the ground.

Centre for Aviation also sees an underutilization of Philippine Airlines' 15 Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Philippine Airlines currently operates eight Airbus A330 aircraft configured in an all-economy layout and seven aircraft configured in a two-class layout.

PAL's new management team determined that the airline only needs seven or eight of the Airbus A330-300 aircraft currently on its fleet. The Airbus A330's utilization hours are only around 9 hours per day or 63 hours per week with 77 more hours to stay on the ground per week.

However, "PAL has since been able to improve utilization of the A330 fleet by starting to use the type on the Honolulu, Melbourne and Sydney routes," according to CAPA. PAL currently operates its Airbus A330s on all of its Middle East routes, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Cebu, General Santos, and Davao.

PHILIPPINES: Philippine Airlines Starting Manila To Jeddah In 2016

World Class carrier, Philippine Airliines, has added two new cities to its expanding global network with the launch of new services from its home base of Manila to Kuwait City and Jeddah via Dubai starting in January 2016.

The new service will operate 4 times each week to Dubai lnd three times weekly to Jeddah using a wide bodied Airbus A330 aircraft.

Philippine Airlines has a world famous friendly service and competitive prices to many destinations world-wide.

PHILIPPINES: Philippine Airlines Now Flying To Auckland

The new flights will operate four times a week from the home base of Philippine Airlines in Manila to Auckland, with an intermediate stop in the Australian resort city of Cairns, using a 156-seater Airbus A320 aircraft.

Late night Flights leave Manila on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday at 2315, with a scheduled arrival in Auckland at 1630 the next day. The return flights leave Auckland in the evening on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 1930 and arrive Manila at 0330 the next day.

Auckland is PAL’s 38th international destination and the airline continues to expand its presence in the region with another new service starting 18 December from Manila to Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. PAL also has regular services to Darwin, Brisbane and Melbourne.

More and more passengers are choosing to fly with Philippine Airlines as their unique combination of competitive fares and friendly on-board service makes them a great alternative to flying with heavily advertised airlines whose services depend upon connections through airports in the Gulf region.

We recommend giving Philippine Airlines a try next time you are heading down south

PHILIPPINES: Philippine Airlines Set To Order A350s

Philippine Airlines
Type Scheduled Carrier
Base Manila
Aircraft 61
Destinations 69
Routes 90
Daily Flights 268

Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila) has chosen the A350-900 as a replacement for its outgoing fleet of A340-300s CAPA has said. According to the report, the Filipino carrier is "close" to committing to at least six A350-900s for delivery from 2017.

Of the order, an undisclosed number will be High Gross Weight variants which will enable PAL to start non-stop flights to the eastern part of the United States - New York JFK and Chicago O'Hare in particular. Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) has reportedly told PAL that it does not require the A350-900ULR which Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi) is acquiring for its planned resumption of ultra longhaul operations in 2018.

A formal announcement is expected by the end of the current year.

Philippine Airlines' widebody fleet currently consists of fifteen A330-300s, six A340-300s, and six B777-300(ER)s.

PHILIPPINES: Turbulence On Hawaii-Philippines Flight

Philippine Airlines says 15 passengers sustained minor injuries during turbulence on a flight from Hawaii to Manila. Medical and airline personnel helped them after the plane landed safely at Manila's airport.

The airline said in a statement that Flight PR101 carrying 132 passengers left Honolulu at 12:06 p.m. Friday and the Airbus 340 experienced clear air turbulence en route. Such turbulence is not associated with clouds and cannot be detected visually or by conventional weather radar.

A DZBB radio reporter tweeted pictures of passengers in wheelchairs. One of them, identified as Abuena Castillo, held an ice pack on her head. She was quoted as saying that the plane suddenly fell and rose, throwing her off her seat.