In February 2018, Philippine Airlines achieved a feat no other local airline company ever achieved—securing the coveted 4-Star Global Airline rating from Skytrax.
The recent recognition has put PAL in the same league as 42 other international carriers, whose products and services passed the rating company’s standards.
“This 4-Star rating was the fruit of two years of transformation in fleet, cabins, products, and services that demanded millions of dollars in hard investments, and the concerted efforts of all members of the PAL organization,” said PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista.
But the airline, with its over 8,000 employees, does not plan on sitting on its four stars, as it is now embarking on another two-year journey to get that additional star and become a 5-Star Airline by 2020.
New aircraft
The national carrier further increases its fleet, currently composed of 85 aircraft, with the scheduled arrival of 15 new planes within this year and another six in 2019.
In a press conference in Davao City, Bautista said five Next-Generation Bombardier Q400s—in addition to the five they already have which are servicing their Cebu and Clark operations—and six new Airbus A321neos will start arriving in May. While four Airbus A350-900 trans-oceanic aircraft will be delivered starting in June.
The new Bombardier Q400 turboprop aims to boost PAL’s operations at its hubs in Clark, Cebu, and Davao, as the up to 90-seater aircraft boasts features suitable for inter-island connections.
“The Q400 is the biggest turboprop in production, it can sit 40 percent more than our competition. It also flies 30 percent faster; it has a speed between a turboprop and a jet,” Bombardier head of marketing in Asia-Pacific and China Ross McKeand told Manila Standard.
McKeand continued, “That’s very important for the Philippines, when you’re connecting islands you want to be there as quickly as possible.”
The Q400, McKeand said, can fly up to 1,000 nautical miles and capable of flying internationally.
The Bombardier official further noted the cool temperature inside the aircraft, thanks to its auxiliary power unit that generates air conditioning; the spacious cabin, enough for a 6-foot tall guy to stand up without a hitch; big overhead bins that can transport more carry-on baggage; wide windows that let in more light into the cabin; and comfortable, albeit narrow, seats.
“In summary, we have a bright, technologically advanced, comfortable, fast, and big turboprop.”
PAL aims to increase its current fleet to 100 aircraft by 2020, and to continue its fleet buildup until 2024.
New routes and increased flight frequencies
Coinciding with the arrival of new airplanes, Bautista also announced the company’s multi-hub expansion strategy that aims to improve domestic and international connections, while spreading the benefits of tourism and commercial activity to various regions in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
“We are no longer a Manila-centric airline,” said Bautista. “That means giving priority to our new PAL hubs in Davao, Cebu, and Clark.”
PAL currently flies to 16 domestic and seven international points from Cebu, 14 domestic and one international points from Clark, six domestic points from Davao, and one international destination from Tagbilaran.
Several PAL flights have increased and will increase in frequency within the year, including Davao-Tagbilaran (daily), Cebu-Bangkok (daily) Cebu-Siargao (twice daily), Davao-Clark (daily), Cagayan De Oro-Clark (daily), Cebu-Busuanga (thrice daily), Clark-Busuanga (five times daily), Cebu-Clark (10 times weekly), and additional frequencies between Manila and Dumaguete, CDO, Iloilo, Cebu, Puerto Princesa, and Bacolod starting April or May.
Some of the flight frequency increases, particularly from Manila, are designed to compensate for the impending closure of Boracay.
“We expect Visayas, Mindanao, and Palawan to benefit as we re-direct more flights from China, Korea, and Taiwan to Cebu and Puerto Princesa, with some traffic flowing on to Siargao, Camiguin, Coron, and Butuan,” said Bautista.
Meanwhile, the Airbus A321neos and Airbus A350-900s will be used to service PAL’s existing and new routes, including Manila-New York (non-stop), Manila-New Delhi and Mumbai (non-stop) available by last quarter of 2018, and Manila-Sapporo also scheduled in the last quarter of this year. The A321neos will also be used to develop viable non-stop flights to Australian destinations such as Perth and Brisbane.
The airline is also assessing the request of Tourism secretary Wanda Teo, a Davao resident, to launch international routes directly from Davao International Airport. Bautista said they are currently in talks with an international group for PAL to service flights from Davao to Palau, an archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean. “Palau-Davao is one possibility,” he said.
Better lounges
To further enhance flyers’ experience, PAL will soon unveil its new flagship Mega Lounge, a spacious international lounge at NAIA Terminal 2. The space will showcase modern Filipino design, sumptuous Filipino cuisines, and world-class amenities, such as private work stations and sleeping pods, among others.
New and bigger Mabuhay Lounges are also being constructed at NAIA Terminal 1 and at the new Mactan Cebu Terminal 2.
New products and services
For shoppers on board, more high-quality novelty items are offered at the PAL Boutique.
Sleeping while cruising above 30,000-feet will be more comfortable as the airline will soon replace regular blankets on “certain long-haul flights” with a duvet.
PAL is also adopting the full Amadeus Altea Suite, a complete Passenger Service System that will streamline and improve reservations, inventory, departure control, and flight management.
Same warm service
On top of its fleet buildup and multi-hub expansion strategy, the 77-year-old airline vows to maintain its unique brand of service, dubbed “Buong Pusong Alaga,” that exemplifies the warmth and hospitality of Filipinos.
“New wings, new hubs, new products are good, but they must all be complemented by heartwarming service, inspired by our innate Filipino hospitality,” asserted Bautista.
“Our 4-Star certification is just a stopover point. Together with our partners in government and travel industry, we will work even harder to sustain our hard-won gains and make the next big leap to full 5-Star Global Airline status by year 2020.”