Vol. XXI, No. 185 [ Business World Online ]
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
DAVAO CITY — Philippine Airlines (PAL) has increased its Mindanao flights following its acquisition of nine small Bombardier aircraft for its Express brand, as it expects more traffic to tourist sites in the region.
Lawyer Domingo T. Duerme, the company’s vice-president for Mindanao sales, said the airline had decided to add another Davao City-Manila flight after it found out that its five-flights-a-day schedule, which covers 1,560 seats, is overbooked.
Mr. Duerme said PAL would use the 150-seater A-320 airplane for the additional night flight. "There are travelers who will go to Manila at night and report to their office in the morning," he said.
In December, the company added a fifth schedule to its Manila-Davao flight. Mr. Duerme said the latest addition is in response to the competition. PAL is trying to regain its number one position in the domestic market.
The company has also scheduled by June 1 eight other flights to and from Mindanao cities. Three flights are between Cebu and Davao. PAL will use six Q-400 and three Q-300 aircraft. The planes were bought from Bombardier Aerospace of Canada.
The thrice-a-day Cebu-Davao flights, which will use the 72-seater Q-400 aircraft, will also replace the twice-a-day Air Philippines schedule, Mr. Duerme added.
Other scheduled flights in Mindanao that will open on June 1 are between Cebu and General Santos, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Ozamis, Zamboanga and Davao, and Cebu and Butuan. All will use the smaller 50-seater Q-300 aircraft.
Mr. Duerme said the company is looking forward to making more money out of these new flights involving missionary routes. The profitability of missionary routes is in question because of budget air fares.
"This is good for our economy and tourism. This will mean more money for the local economy," he said.
In his visit to the city last week, PAL President Jaime J. Bautista said the company was trying to strengthen its hold on the local market. — CQF
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