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AFTER a
hiatus of 10 years, flag carrier Philippine Airlines
(PAL) resumed its flights to Boracay via Caticlan on
Monday, introducing the PAL Express, a new low-fare
service to eventually fly out of some provincial points
currently without service or not fully served by other
players.
In 1998
PAL ceased operating out of some so-called missionary
routes when it was placed under a 10-year receivership.
This
time, with only a year left to get out of its
receivership, PAL has forged a joint agreement with its
sister company Air Philippines to operate a total of 12
flights daily from Manila to Caticlan with a
50-seater Bombardier Q300 turbo-prop aircraft.
Eventually, the fleet would be joined by the larger Q400
seating 76 passengers. Both aircraft can land and take
off even on unprepared airstrips.
The Q
stands for “quiet” due to the patented suppression
system that reduces cabin noise and vibration levels
less than those of jetliners.
PAL is
reassuming its traditional mandate of providing quality,
affordable service to outlying communities with PAL
Express, which historically has spurred development of
these outlying areas, said PAL president Jaime Bautista.
“PAL
Express allows us to offer a low-fare yet high-value
alternative in many trunklines and tourist routes such
as here in Caticlan,” he added.
Other
PAL officials on board the maiden flight included Deputy
Chief Executive Officer Henry So Uy and Assistant Vice
President for Sales Antonio Herrera.
He said
PAL is introducing the P88-plus offer of a one way
ticket ride to Boracay—made possible because the new
aircraft consumes less fuel and has low maintenance,
Bautista said.
The
entry of PAL to the Boracay destination comes at a time
when four or five other carriers are servicing the area,
catering to thousands of tourists drawn to its white
beaches every day.
Already, Caticlan is having problems of where to park
the additional number of aircraft, and at the same time,
accommodate the tourists in its small air terminal which
cal barely hold 200 persons.
The
terminal is hot and humid and its six small electric
fans and two airconditioning units barely cool the
place.
PAL
Express will dramatically expand its network over the
next two months, with service scheduled to be launched
on 22 routes.
Thirteen
of those new routes come from PAL Express’ main hub Cebu,
where operations start May 19 with services to five
points, Caticlan, Bacolod, Tacloban, Butuan and General
Santos.
PAL’s
move to launch Pal Express, a sub-brand, is the first
time in its 67-year history. It will soon acquire a
fleet of six Bombardier Q400 and three Q300 turbo-prop
to mostly island destinations and secondary routes
throughout the archipelago.
From its
modern hub at the Centennial Terminal 2 at the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport, PAL serves 43 online
destinations—17 domestic and 26 international points in
13 countries and territories. |
