It was time again to keep abreast of the times and see how the air industry has developed for us in the Asia Pacific. From the last time I attended the Asian Airports Summit in Singapore last year and just last month, things have been going fast in Asia.
The first Singapore Air Show last February 17-24 was an astounding success. Held at a brand new 30-hectare site that houses the Changi Exhibition center and a multi-dimension aircraft parking apron, 800 companies from 42 countries showcased their best aviation products – a great and varied mixture of military and civil aerospace systems.
On the first day, Jakarta-based LCC, Lion Air bought 56 Boeing 737-900ERs worth $4.4 billion. Shortly after, Korean Airlines announced new orders for three more 525-passenger Airbus 380s for $1 billion for a total of eight A380s. Air Garuda, likewise signed up for a purchase 4 Boeing 777-300ERs and confirmed orders for 7 Boeing 737-800s. By this time, Air India would have received its fifth Boeing 777-200LR. Air India has placed this long range 777 in the Delhi-New York route.
In the arena of the Jumbo, Singapore Airlines continues to be the only airline in the world flying the Airbus 380. By now, the third A380 would have arrived at Singapore. With this development, one can see how the economic center of gravity had moved towards the Asia Pacific Region.
From all the fora I have attended on Airports and Airlines, as well as from extensive discussions on aviation developments, it is very clear that by 2025, it will be the Asia Pacific that will be number one in aviation traffic. With all the recent purchase of commercial aircraft and new and different types of airlines literally sprouting in the region, it will be the time for the 3.5 billion people of Asia to travel and be ‘one with the world’. I will discuss more on this, in the next issues.
In the future of air travel, “Skunk Works” of Lockheed Martin, that came up with the SR-71 Mach 3 Strategic Reconnaissance Aircraft during the Cold War, is already advertising the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QSST) for the future air traveler.
Closer To Home
We have had two new visitors to our Airport recently. One was a Swiss Challenger 604 REGA Air Ambulance that responded to a multinational card member who was involved in a vehicle accident in Cebu south. The other one is a PEAC-chartered AIRMAK Antonov 12 Freighter flying the Cebu-Clark route six times weekly, in sync with the UPS intra-Asia hub at Clark.
Last February 29, Mr. Jaime J Bautista, PAL CEO, Mr. Yngente, VP for Airport Services, Mr. Ismael Augusto S. Gozun, ExA and Mr. Jun Pilapil met with the members of the MCIAA Board, and discussed the airline’s development, re-fleeting program and the new concepts in their international routes and connections. Early in January, Captain Medina, CEO of Air Philippines and SVP Marketing and Sales, Mr. Reuben N. Pengson, discussed the progress of their LCC operations, using the B737s and the new Bombardier advance Q300/ Q400 turbo-props in the expanding domestic hubs.
We now have 74 International flights weekly, the highest so far, and we look towards reaching 80 flights weekly by year end. Again nothing can be out of reach for members that act as a team, working for everyone’s benefit...towards the dream.
danfrancia@mactan-cebuairport.com.ph