PAL, Singapore Airlines offer more flight options via codeshare deal

BY KHRISCIELLE YALAO

Nov 16, 2023 10:19 AM

  

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Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have recently signed a new codeshare partnership agreement to accommodate more flight options for passengers traveling to and from the Philippines and Singapore, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Through the codesharing agreement, PAL and SIA will be able to offer a wider range of flights between Manila and Singapore, allowing the partner airlines to market and sell tickets to other domestic and international destinations.

Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer Goh Choon Phong (left) and Philippine Airlines President and Chief Operating Officer Captain Stanley K. Ng (right) at the signing of the new codeshare partnership agreement. Photo: Singapore Airlines

The codeshare agreement will commence on SIA and PAL flights between Singapore and Manila, once undergone regulatory approvals.

PAL will codeshare on SIA's flights to Europe, mainly Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, Rome, and Zurich. The European codeshare sectors will gradually be made available in PAL and SIA's sales channels, online websites, and travel agents.

"The partnership is the product of a strengthened relationship with our fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) mainline carrier, Singapore Airlines, and an enduring commitment to expanding our presence in Singapore, a top PAL destination that we have been serving for 58 years and counting.  We also look forward to offering increased connectivity to several cities across Europe, home to many overseas Filipinos and to a growing number of tourist and business travellers whom we invite to discover the wonders of the Philippines," said Captain Stanley K. Ng, PAL president and CEO.

Meanwhile, SIA will codeshare on PAL's flights to 27 places in the Philippines including Bacolod, Basco, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan De Oro, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Laoag, Legazpi, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, San Jose (Antique), Siargao, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga.

“This agreement enables Philippine Airlines and Singapore Airlines to work more closely together, and find ways to offer our customers enhanced travel connections between Singapore and the Philippines. This will support the growing demand for both business and leisure travel between the Philippines and Singapore, and beyond that to our key markets around the world," said SIA CEO Goh Choon Phong.

SIA flights to other destinations in Europe, along with Australia, India, New Zealand, and South Africa, are also on the table for the future expansion of the codeshare agreement.

PAL passes US airport security protocols

by Ariel Fernandez, MB

The Philippine Airlines (PAL) has passed a quality control inspection conducted by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (US TSA).

In a statement, PAL said the inspection includes how it handles airport operations that cover passenger and baggage handling as well as catering procedures.

“Our airline remains compliant with all requirements for our flights between Manila and the United States, as with other routes. The men and women of our flag carrier shall continue to uphold the highest standards of safety and security to protect the flying public,” said PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Capt. Stanley K. Ng. 

The inspection was conducted by the US TSA from August 11 to 12 this year.

PAL operates regular flights from Manila to U.S. destinations like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, New York and Guam.

Ng said they continue to collaborate with the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in order to enhance the security and safety posture of the Philippines’ main airport gateway.

“We continue to liaise with local and foreign regulators to invariably manage and prepare for risks arising from identified vulnerabilities and evolving and emerging threats,” he said.

Turbulence injures PAL passengers, crew

By Benjamin L. Vergara

AT least 12 people were rushed to hospital on Sunday night after Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR113 encountered severe turbulence two hours before its arrival in Manila from Los Angeles.

PAL spokesman Cielo Villaluna confirmed that nine passengers and three crew members were injured.

Villaluna said that as of August 29, one passenger remained confined at the hospital.

She said that PAL shouldered the medical expenses of the affected passengers, most of whom were seniors.

Villaluna said that "upon arrival of the flight in Manila at 10:30 p.m. [on] August 28, the injured passengers and crew were brought immediately to the hospital by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport medical team, accompanied by PAL ground staff."

"This turbulence was not detectable on the aircraft's onboard weather radar station system, hence there was no advance warning. We affirm that safety is our top priority and that Philippine Airlines is fully cooperating with the concerned airport and aviation authorities," Villaluna said.

A passenger who posted his experience on Facebook said that the injured were not wearing seat belts when the incident happened.

The passenger identified as George Angel, also said, "[The] pilot did not even warn passengers of turbulence."

Turbulence can be caused by many different conditions — wind, storms, jet steam and objects near the plane, such as mountain ranges.

PAL plane skids off runway; several flights diverted

PLANE TROUBLE. A Philippine Airlines plane skids off the runaway at Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City on a rainy Friday morning, Dec. 10, 2021. No one was harmed during the incident. 

AT LEAST 34 flights to and from Cebu have been diverted or cancelled after a Philippine Airlines flight from Caticlan, Aklan skidded off the runway upon arrival Friday, December 10, 2021.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) confirmed this, saying the wheels of PAL flight PR 2369 veered into the grass at the side edge of the runway as it arrived from Caticlan, Aklan around 11:40 a.m. It was raining at the time.

GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. spokesperson Edilyth Maribojoc said the plane encountered the issue during the landing.

All the 29 passengers and four crew members on the plane were safe and were taken to Terminal 1.

The aircraft was retrieved and cleared from the runway at 2:18 p.m., said Maribojoc. The runway was opened for operations at 2:38 p.m., she added.

PAL issued an apology over the incident.

“We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the partial blockage of the runway,” it said in a statement.

PAL said its operations teams assisted the passengers and promised to provide assistance.

The airline carrier said safety is its top priority and it is fully cooperating with the airport and aviation authorities conducting an investigation on the incident. (FVQ, JOB)

PAL reminds arriving passengers of revised quarantine protocols starting Feb. 1

by Richa Noriega, Manila Bulletin

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) reminded arriving passengers to observe the revised quarantine protocols in line with the latest resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) starting Feb. 1.

((JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN))

The government has imposed conditions on some foreign nationals allowed entry into the country, including having valid and existing visas as well as COVID-19 testing at a quarantine facility on the sixth day from their date of arrival.

PAL urged the passengers to register on the Electronic Case Investigation Form (e-CIF) as early as three days before their flight to Manila.

The airline encouraged non-Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to pre-book a hotel accredited by tourism and health agencies for a six-night accommodation.

Passengers are also advised to present their QR code, Affidavit of Undertaking, and the Traze App. In addition, the sign the declaration and waiver form indicating that they are healthy and fit to travel.

Upon the arrival, passengers must accomplish the health declaration form, arrival card, and Bureau of Customs (BoC) form.

On the sixth day of quarantine, the RT-PCR testing will be administered.

If the passenger tests positive, an assessment will be made by the quarantine officer to determine the appropriate next steps.

A passenger who tests negative may obtain the Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ) medical certificate via quarantinecertificate.com. by emailing the BoQ.

PAL said at any point from day of arrival until Day 5, passengers showing symptoms shall inform their hotel of their condition.

The hotel shall inform the health agency for assessment, medical management and testing.

Once the passengers are cleared, they may call up relatives or local government units (LGU) to pick them up or arrange their transportation.

OFWs may contact the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration or their local manning agencies.

“Please complete your 14-day quarantine or self-isolation under the monitoring of your local government unit (LGU) or Barangay Health Emergency Response Team,” PAL added.

Philippine Airlines becomes Philippines' first 4-star airline

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The Philippine Airlines has been certified as a 4-star airline by Skytrax, a London-based international air transport rating organization.

MANILA - Philippine Airlines has been certified as the country's first 4-star airline, the flag carrier said Thursday.

PAL joined 42 other 4-star airlines on the list of Skytrax, a London-based international air transport rating organization.

"PAL achieved this coveted rating after Skytrax conducted a rigorous audit of the airline's inflight and on ground service for both international and domestic flights and noted major enhancements on its end-to-end passenger experience and distinct whole-hearted service called Buong Pusong Alaga," the flag carrier said in a statement.

PAL chairman and chief executive officer Lucio Tan called the accreditation a "big win for the Philippines."

“We are elated by this recognition which is a victory for the more than seven thousand members of the Philippine Airlines family. Our achievement is the country's achievement and we share this with all Filipinos around the globe," Tan said in a statement.

Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted said the rating "recognizes the great improvements that the airline has introduced over the last 2 years."

"New and retrofitted aircraft have played an important part in the quality improvement process, and this looks set to develop further when Philippine Airlines introduces the A350 into their fleet. We look for consistency of quality in the 4-Star rating, and we look to Philippine Airlines to ensure this is duly delivered to customers," he said.

PAL placed 67th in Skytrax's Top 100 Airlines in 2017, a 16-notch increase from its 83rd place in 2016.

Up, Up and Away

Re-published column of mine in MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR dated March 14,2014 with friendly permission of my publisher Marietta F. Siongco.

I think, I was at the age of 11 or so, when my first trip by plane took me to Holland. Later, I joined several journeys with German Foreign Aid, International YMCA and other institutions. For the first time, in 1976, I stepped on Philippine soil - just for two days only before heading to Japan. Of course (!), I flew with Philippine Airlines.

Since experiencing several negativism with other airlines during the 1980s, I kept on flying with flag carrier PAL - though really many times PLANE was ALWAYS LATE. A trip back from Davao to Manila could become a nightmare. Several times I missed by international connecting flight.

But I enjoyed the "Mabuhay Miles" as frequent flyer, especially when I observed that PAL has lowered the redemption values on selected PAL international and domestic flights. I also enjoyed treats while taking my pleasure in the comfort and luxury at selected hotels in Hong Kong or Singapore,

Today, while writing this piece, the MIRROR headlines, that PAL Express, sister company of this country's flag carrier, begins suspending most of its inter-islands domestic flights across Visayas and Mindanao. As MIRROR readers could learn via Judy Quiros' article: the Davao-Manila-Davao flights will be the only one that would remain. PAL for its part said the move is also seen to improve PAL's performance, because it is expected to save about $300 million in operating costs annually. Let's wait and see, how the improvement of PAL's performance looks like.

Sometine 2010, reports said already, that PAL mentioned weak passengerdemand mainly pulled down revenues to $1.36 billion. During that time, the airline assured stockholders and the public that it continued to look for ways of improving its financial condition and results of operations. It seems, that Philippine Airlg to ines is still on a long way from sustainable profitability.

By the way: the country's leading low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific took delivery of its third brandnew Airbus 330 aircraft being on service for Cebu and Davao guests especially during the now summer season. It's amazing to learn, that Cebu Pacific strengthens its domestic network with additional daily frequences from Manila to Bacolod, Zamboanga and other dometic destinations. Here is the thing: Airbus' fuel-saving technology allows to keep fares low. Just to mention one reason ... .

One more thing: I love to fly with Cebu Pacific, because mostly all flights are on time or even before arriving schedule.