Saturday, July 11, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES [ BusinessWorld Online ]
Lucio C. Tan-led Philippine Airlines (PAL) has transferred all flights to and from Caticlan airport to Kalibo, Aklan, following the lead of budget carrier Cebu Pacific.
In a statement, PAL said it would increase its all-jet service to Kalibo, Aklan to accommodate passengers affected by the suspension of budget unit PAL Express’ direct flights to Caticlan, the entry point to the resort island of Boracay.
Starting Monday, PAL’s service to Kalibo will be thrice-daily, departing Manila morning, noon, and afternoon, using Airbus A320 aircraft.
PAL Express will continue to check-in all Caticlan-bound passengers at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Manila but the Q300 turboprop aircraft will land on Kalibo instead, the airline said. As such, passengers booked on PAL Express flights to Caticlan can take any of the three regular flights to Kalibo. PAL will provide free bus rides to and from Caticlan.
PAL Express’ Cebu-Caticlan flight will also be re-routed to Kalibo, still using the Q300 aircraft.
Zest Airways chief Donald G. Dee, meanwhile, said on Friday the budget carrier will continue flying to Caticlan, except during strong winds or heavy rains.
On Thursday, Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific Air suspended all flights to and from Caticlan until further notice, following the new "one-way landing, one-way takeoff" policy at the airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines imposed the new policy on June 26 following the incident involving a Zest Airways MA60 aircraft that overshot runway 24.
The order requires takeoff toward the sea, and landing at the opposite direction. Before the new rule, pilots could use either runway 06 or 24 for takeoff or landing. With the new policy, runway 06 will be used only for takeoff while runway 24, which is 950 meters long, will only be for landing.
Landing was discouraged at runway 24 because of a 39-meter hill near the end of the runway. The investigation into the Zest Airways incident showed that the plane attempted to land on runway 24 on June 25 but touched down past the landing area marked by white grid lines, while trying to avoid the hill.
The plane’s momentum carried it beyond the runway’s end and on to a grassy area. All 54 passengers and five crew members were unhurt. — Jeremiah F. de Guzman
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