PAL 100% sure of building $6-B int'l airport

 Economy
Jul 112013
 
PAL 100% sure of building $6-B int'l airport

A Philippine Airlines plane at Bohol’s Tagbilaran Airport. HOAGLAND PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines (PAL) chef executive Ramon Ang revealed Thursday night that the flag carrier is certain of pushing through with the $6 billion development of an international airport to house its planes. “One hundred percent tuloy ‘yung airport development, timing lang,” Ang said. There were reports that the airlines have shelved the project after PAL failed to present it to President Benigno Aquino III last February. The project would help decongest the already crowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. This time, however, Ang is confident that Aquino himself expressed support for the mammoth development but is only hindered by bureaucrats and critics. “Suportado naman ‘yan ng Presidente. Siyempre, may mga little indians diyan na maraming sinasabi kaya ayaw na natin silang kulitin muna,” the tycoon, who also heads food manufacturing firm San Miguel Corporation, said. Ang has been proposing the 2,000-hectare development to build four runways since August in 2012. He also said in previous reports that PAL will buy 54 new Airbus planes working toward acquiring 100 planes, several of which will be long-range crafts. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 According to a report by Malaysian banking firm CIMB Group, the airline company is eyeing Bulacan as a possible location for the new airport.

PAL says remaining Saturday flights to go on as scheduled

 News
Jun 292013
 
PAL says remaining Saturday flights to go on as scheduled

Despite bad weather, the remaining flights of Philippines Airlines and its budget carrier PAL Express on Saturday will go on as scheduled. “This clarification is being issued by PAL amid concerns of possible flight cancellations due to the current weather disturbance,” the flag carrier said in its 7 p.m. advisory. PALex earlier canceled its flights to Catarman and Calbayog. “Tomorrow, passengers are being advised to expect some delays… Passengers will be advised accordingly, should there be flight cancellations,” the advisory said. For more information on PAL flights, please log on to www.philippineairlines.com or call PAL Reservations hotline at 855- 8888. For PALex flights, one may visit flypalexpress.com.ph or call the PALex hotline at 855-9000. Tropical Storm Gorio may hit Metro Manila Sunday morning, PAGASA said. The National Capital Region was placed under Storm Signal no. 2 Saturday afternoon.  — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan

PAL beats PSE deadline on 10% public float rule

 Economy
Jun 272013
 
PAL beats PSE deadline on 10% public float rule

MANILA, Philippines – The parent firm of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) – jointly owned by taipan Lucio Tan and diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) – has complied with the 10-percent minimum public float requirement of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). In a disclosure, PAL Holdings Inc. assistant corporate secretary Ma. Cecilia Pesayco said the company has issued 2.415 billion common shares with a par value of P1 per share, or a total consideration of P2.415 billion to certain investors via private placement. Pesayco said the total amount of the transaction was placed at P2.415 billion or about 34.5 percent of the planned P7- billion increase in the company’s authorized capital to P30 billion from P23 billion. The PSE suspended the trading of seven firms including PAL Holdings last January due to their failure to meet the required minimum public ownership level of 10 percent. It has given these companies until the end of the month to comply with the public float requirement otherwise they would be delisted from the bourse. PAL has a public float of just 0.55 percent. With the private placement, the company’s public float is now over 10 percent. PAL Holdings is seeking the green light from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to beef up its capital stock to comply with PSE’s minimum public ownership requirement. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Pesayco said the additional capital would be sold to investors to comply with the 10-percent minimum public ownership set Read More …

PAL offers business class special from San Francisco and LA to 14 Asian cities

 News
Jun 262013
 
PAL offers business class special from San Francisco and LA to 14 Asian cities

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 7:17 am | Thursday, June 27th, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO—Business class travel for two from San Francisco and Los Angeles to 14 Asian destinations is now available from Philippine Airlines for as low as US$5,388 for a limited period. Included destinations are Manila, Cebu, Macau, Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Denpasar (Bali) and Kuala Lumpur. Roundtrip airfare for two must be purchased between June 24 and July 15, 2013. The special offer requires a minimum stay of three days and a maximum stay of one month. Outbound US travel period is July 16 to Nov. 30, 2013, and travel must be completed by Dec. 14, 2013. Not included in the fare price are fuel surcharge, US government taxes and fees, airport fees and charges, which may all vary according to destination. Fare rules strictly apply. Tickets are valid for sale at PAL ticket offices and travel agents. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: air travel , Airlines , business class fares , special fares Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

PAL shops around for more planes

 Economy
Jun 172013
 
PAL shops around for more planes

MANILA, Philippines – Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is still on the lookout for new aircraft as part of its fleet modernization program. PAL has already ordered around 70 new aircraft that will lower operating costs moving forward, its top official said last week. “Slowly, we are looking at different aircraft types,” PAL president Ramon S. Ang said when asked if the airline is still planning to buy more airplanes. Ang said PAL is also factoring in “good opportunities, good prices and good performance” for further aircraft acquisitions. Since the entry of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) in April 2012, PAL has embarked on a massive refleeting program aimed at acquiring 100 new aircraft to replace its existing fleet. It expects to save as much as $400 million from fuel and maintenance costs per year as part of its refleeting program. PAL entered into a $7-billion contract with Europe’s EADS Group in August for the acquisition of 54 Airbus aircraft consisting of 34 A321ceo, 10 A321neo, and 10 A330-300s, and another $2.5 billion deal in September to exercise an option to buy 10 more A330 aircraft. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Ang, who is also president and chief operating officer of SMC, said PAL’s order is already more than 70 aircraft. Diversified conglomerate SMC owns 49 percent of PAL and is in charge of the airline’s management. “Our investment in PAL and sister airline PAL Express is also an important piece in our overall vision for SMC,” Read More …

Cebu Pacific, PAL eye Iloilo-Korea flights

 Economy
Jun 142013
 
Cebu Pacific, PAL eye Iloilo-Korea flights

MANILA, Philippines – Flag carriers Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines are looking into the possibility of offering direct flights from Iloilo to Korea, the firms’ representatives said on Friday. PAL Iloilo Area Manager Juancho Demaguila said the company’s general sales agent is now considering an Iloilo to Korea flight due to the influx of Korean tourists coming to Iloilo to travel and study. Meanwhile, Rosalie Gamutan, senior supervisor of Cebu Pacific, said the budget carrier is also planning to offer the same flights following its launch last year of direct flights from Iloilo to Hong Kong and Singapore. Overseas Filipino workers  from Western Visayas are expected to benefit from the direct flights, along with tourists from the region. The two airline companies are also reportedly studying the possibility of having direct flights from Iloilo to Xiamen, China and Japan to boost tourism in the country.

PAL to remain listed – Ang

 Economy
Jun 052013
 
PAL to remain listed – Ang

MANILA, Philippines – National carrier PAL Holdings Inc., partly-owned by conglormerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC), will remain a listed company, its top executive said. PAL, Asia’s oldest airline, is preparing a share sale through Philippine National Bank (PNB), president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said. “I think we will comply [with the public float rule],” he said. “That is what our partner wants, to keep it listed,” Ang said, adding that the share sale will be facilitated by PNB, which is owned by PAL’s controlling shareholder, taipan Lucio Tan. In January, the Philippine Stock Exchange suspended the trading of seven firms including PAL due to their failure to meet the required minimum public ownership level of 10 percent. To date, PAL has a public float of just 0.55 percent. The PSE said listed firms that fail to increase their public ownership level to at least 10 percent will have their shares delisted starting June 30, 2013. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 In May last year, diversifying conglomerate SMC bought a 49-percent stake in PAL for about $500 million. SMC also gained management control of the airline. Since the entry of SMC last year, PAL has embarked on a massive re-fleeting program aimed at acquiring 100 new aircraft to replace its existing fleet. It expects to save as much as $400 million from fuel and maintenance costs per year as part of its re-fleeting program. Meanwhile, Ang said SMC is still pursuing plans to put Read More …

PAL flights to New York to start once US lifts ban

 Economy
May 012013
 
PAL flights to New York to start once US lifts ban

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines will soon be able to mount flights to New York once the United States Federal Aviation Administration lifts its ban on additional flights from the Philippines. The ban comes after the US FAA downgraded the country’s standing as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization, placing the Philippines in Category 2 or unsafe status. After a five-day audit early this year, ICAO found out that the country managed to address and resolved its safety concerns, seen to bring the Philippines back to Category 1 status. “With the lifting of the US FAA sanction, we can go to New York already,” PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang said. PAL currently flies to Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Ang said that according to a meeting of civil aviation authorities in Brussels, Belgium, the 27-nation European Union, which also imposed a similar sanction, is likely to lift its own three-year ban on Philippine air carriers “within the year.” 

Cebu Pac now has more aircraft than PAL

 Economy
Mar 122013
 
Cebu Pac now has more aircraft than PAL

MANILA, Philippines – Publicly-held budget carrier Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) now has more aircraft that rival national flag carrier Philippines Airlines (PAL). Cebu Pacific accepted the delivery of its 43rd aircraft last March 7 from the Airbus facility in Hamburg, Germany. The airline’s new Airbus A320 is the second of its kind in the Philippines equipped with Sharklets, a new fuel-saving wing tip device.  “Cebu Pacific now operates the largest Airbus fleet in the Philippines,” the company said in a statement. The airline’s fleet now includes 25 Airbus A320, 10 A319 aircraft and eight ATR 72-500 aircraft. Cebu Pacific is scheduled to take the delivery of 51 more aircraft consisting of 17 A320, 30 Airbus A321neo, and four more A330-300 between 2013 and 2021 With this fleet, the low cost carrier is set to add flights during the Holy Week period to accommodate demand, and provide more opportunities for travel. It will mount an additional daily flight from Manila to Hong Kong from March 20 to 30, 2013. There will also be an additional flight from Manila to Legazpi on March 27 to 28, as well as an additional flight from Manila to Naga on March 28 and 30. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Travelers bound for Puerto Princesa from Manila may also book seats on the airline’s additional flight on March 29. Cebu Pacific operates the most extensive network in the Philippines with 34 domestic and 21 international destinations and hubs in Manila, Cebu, Read More …

Phl confident of passing ICAO audit next week

 Economy
Feb 132013
 
Phl confident of passing ICAO audit next week

MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino administration is confident that the Philippines would pass the audit to be conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) scheduled on Monday. Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya told participants of the Philippine Economic Briefing titled “Good Governance is Good Economics: Achieving Investment Grade” that the Philippine government has addressed all the safety concerns raised by ICAO. “We are confident that it (safety concern) has been addressed. Of course there is a certain area whether it has been fully closed or is the auditing merely just checking if we are going in the right direction though not fully accomplished,” Abaya stressed. He pointed that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is prepared for the audit to be conducted by ICAO on Feb. 18. “We are continuously preparing for our audit by ICAO on February 18. Monday is a big day for us, we will be audited for the Category 1, Category 2 efforts,” Abaya said during the open forum. In 2008, the safety rating of the Philippines was downgraded by the US Federal Aviation Administration upon the recommendation of the ICAO to Category 2 from Category 1. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Category 2 indicates that the FAA had assessed that the Philippines’ civil aviation authority had failed to comply with ICAO safety standards for the oversight of air carrier operations. While in Category 2, Philippine air carriers are permitted to continue current operations to the US under heightened FAA Read More …

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