potential direct flights to Manila

[malchard888]

The following editorial looks encouraging for the future and maybe British Airways might also be considering the route with all the extra slots they are getting courtesy of BMI -

MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel Corp.-led flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is considering flights to London’s Heathrow airport once the country’s carriers are finally allowed to fly back to European Union member states.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas said the country’s oldest airline could have flights to the United Kingdom as part of its route expansion.

“Yes, PAL can fly to Heathrow because there are still unused frequencies,” Roxas said in an interview.

Roxas said the matter was discussed with the Lord Mayor of London Alderman David Wootton, who was in Manila for a visit last week.

There are currently no direct flights between any point in Europe and the Philippines. Earlier this year, Air France/KLM stopped its direct service between Manila and Amsterdam after complaining about high airline taxes that targeted foreign carriers with long-haul flights out of the country.

The Amsterdam service is now served out of Manila via Hong Kong.

Shortly after announcing San Miguel’s acquisition of a controlling stake in PAL, the conglomerate’s president and chief operating officer, Ramon S. Ang, said one of the top priorities in bringing the airline back to profitability was the expansion of its fleet and route.

He said the company would restore flights to Europe and expand its operations in the United States as a way to offset what the company has lost in domestic market share to budget carriers.

Ang said PAL would invest $1 billion for the acquisition of 100 new planes as it adds new routes. However, flights to the US would not be possible until the Philippines gets back its Category 1 status with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The country is currently on a blacklist of countries whose carriers are banned from flying to European Union member states.

Amid high fuel prices, PAL’s direct parent firm, PAL Holdings, posted a total comprehensive loss for the nine months of its fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2011, of P3.6 billion, as passenger and cargo revenues declined 13 percent.—Paolo G. Montecillo

[benjy]

I heard about the long haul taxation...but didnt realise KLM had stopped the service shame i went on that route on my first visit and i must admit it was faultless aport fro the trolley dolly smashing the drinks cart into my lanky legs as i was sleeping!

[malchard888]

I heard about the long haul taxation...but didnt realise KLM had stopped the service shame i went on that route on my first visit and i must admit it was faultless aport fro the trolley dolly smashing the drinks cart into my lanky legs as i was sleeping!

Maybe the Phil government will wake up and realise the tourist potential if they are more realistic about local taxes charged to European carriers. Direct flights from the Uk would be a dream come true for so many i'm sure.

[lastlid]

Interesting.

[malchard888]

I didnt realise Philippine Airlines were on the EU banned list,presumably over air safety concerns so I guess thats why they charge high taxes for European Airlines as a tit for tat measure, rather short sighted I feel.

[irishman12]

That depends what you class as a direct flight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_flight

[RickyR]

It's questionable whether the EU Blacklisting for aircraft/airlines registered in the Philippines will be removed anytime soon. The problems stem from the Civil Aviation Authority there, and seem to be taking longer to sort out than was hoped.
I'm sure PAL would make a success of a flight direct to the UK though if they could operate it, and would probably be one of few airlines that actually could make money from a Phil-European direct flight.

As for encouraging tourism, the Philippines really doesn't seem interested in doing that, except for the token efforts.

[gWaPito]

If it does happen again ( I believe Silk air being one of previous airlines providing this service ) the cost will be out of the majorities reach...unless you are a regular business class user..the approximate cost back then for bog standard economy was £1700. The taxation won't be going away.

[Jamesey]

I don't think there has ever been a proper direct flight (non stop) from London to Manila, due to the distance. The KLM one used to stop in KL and I think the old BA one used to stop in HK.

But with Boeing's new Dreamliner, a non stop flight should now be possible.

[RickyR]

Yep, the BA flight was via Hong Kong. The 747-400 and above, 777ER and the new dreamliner are all capable of doing the route direct.

[Dedworth]

I don't think there has ever been a proper direct flight (non stop) from London to Manila, due to the distance. The KLM one used to stop in KL and I think the old BA one used to stop in HK.

But with Boeing's new Dreamliner, a non stop flight should now be possible.

Was the KLM one stopping in Kuala Lumpur some years ago cos the one they've just discontinued was non stop A'dam to Manila ?

[Bluebirdjones]

Not sure if it was Ded.....on the last two occasions I got the KLM flight Amsterdam - Manila, it touched down at Guangzhou on both the outwards & inward journeys.

Can't remember people getting on/off, only a horde of Chinese women cleaners boarding the plane and sweeping thru it like a swarm of locusts

[Dedworth]

Not sure if it was Ded.....on the last two occasions I got the KLM flight Amsterdam - Manila, it touched down at Guangzhou on both the outwards & inward journeys.

Can't remember people getting on/off, only a horde of Chinese women cleaners boarding the plane and sweeping thru it like a swarm of locusts

Mrs D was on it mid March - according to this the last non stop one was 25/3/12

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/to...-europe-flight