PAL transfers domestic flights to PAL Express

MANILA, Philippines - National flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), jointly owned by taipan Lucio Tan and diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC), has streamlined its operations by focusing on international routes and transferring almost all of its domestic flights to its wholly-owned subsidiary.

PAL president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said PAL and PAL Express (formerly Airphil Express) have expanded their code sharing agreement wherein bulk of the national flag carrier’s domestic flights would be transferred to its affiliate.

“It is a code share agreement between PAL and PAL Express,” Ang said in a text message.

In a separate statement, the PAL chief said the expanded code share would allow PAL to continue to expand its network and optimize its existing fleet and resources while giving customers more choices in terms of destinations, flights, and schedules.

Ang assured customers that both airlines would share the same exceptional standards of safety and customer service.

“This is being done to allow the flag carrier to service more routes and ensure seamless connectivity between stops while awaiting delivery of PAL’s new Airbus aircraft to complete its fleet,” he explained.

PAL has broadened its route network through code sharing with PAL Express for flights to Basco, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan De Oro, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cotabato, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Kalibo, Legazpi, Masbate, Naga, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Surigao, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, Zamboanga, Puerto Princesa, Cagayan to Davao, Cebu to Busuanga, Butuan, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Davao, Iloilo, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Iloilo to Puerto Prinsesa, Zamboanga to Davao, Jolo, and Tawi-Tawi.

It has also airline partners for its international codeshare flights such as Cathay Pacific for Cebu to Hong Kong flights, Etihad Airways for Manila to Abu Dhabi flights, Gulf Air for Manila to Bahrain flights, Qatar Airways for Manila to Doha flights, Emirates for Manila to Dubai flights, and Malaysia Airlines for Manila to Kuala Lumpur flights.

Starting Aug. 1, PAL has transferred all its domestic flights except Cebu, Davao, and Kalibo to PAL Express. Flights to Bacolod, Iloilo, Laoag, Tagbilaran, and General Santos were also transferred to PAL Express.

Last March, PAL dropped the Airphil Express brand and revived the PAL Express brand as part of efforts to help the low cost carrier (LCC) improve and align its service standards and product offerings with PAL.

PAL Express used to be the low-cost regional airline brand of PAL. However, it ceased operations in March of 2010 and transferred all service to Airphil Express. It operates a fleet of Airbus A320s as well as Bombardier Q300 and the 70-seater Bombardier Q400.

Since the entry of SMC with the infusion of $500 million through SMC Equity Investments Inc., PAL announced a major re fleeting program involving the acquisition of 100 aircraft. It has so far acquired 64 aircraft from Airbus in a deal worth close to $10 billion.

Ang announced last July 10 that PAL is preparing for the much awaited return to popular European destinations as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Rome, and Madrid after the European Union lifted the ban imposed in April of 2010 after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) addressed major safety concerns.

According to him, the airline is looking at resuming flights to European destinations starting September or October this year.

In March of 2010, the 27-member European Commission imposed a ban on Philippine carriers from European airspace for the failure of CAAP to reform the country’s civil aviation system.