PAL studying plan to buy new turboprops

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines (PAL) is studying a plan to purchase new turboprops to replace its old small aircraft. 

PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said the flag carrier is looking to replace its old turboprops within the next two years. 

“We are still working on (it) because we are now operating nine turboprop aircraft. We’re working on replacement for the older ones so we can provide better passenger experience,” he said. 

He said the airline estimates it would spend about $20 million for each new turboprop aircraft to be replaced.

As the new administration wants airlines to transfer their turboprops to the Clark International Airport from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to decongest the main international gateway, PAL is also studying the transfer of its turboprops and the use of Clark for its domestic flights.

“We’re working on it. The reason why the government wants us to move some of flights to Clark is because we want to decongest Manila to prevent inconvenience to the passengers,” Bautista said.

PAL currently serves 30 domestic points such as Bacolod, Basco, Butuan, Busuanga, Cagayan, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Laoag, Legazpi, Manila, Masbate, Naga, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Surigao, Tablas, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga.

Not all of PAL’s domestic flights would be transferred to Clark though, as the airline would still have to see the proposal’s impact to passengers and operations. 

Bautista said PAL would present its position and work with the government on the matter.

Earlier, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said he would ask airlines to move their turboprops to Clark in line with efforts to decongest NAIA. 

In 2015, NAIA’s four terminals served 36.7 million passengers, above its annual maximum capacity of 35 million.

Earlier this year, PAL acquired six A350-900 aircraft to be utilized for long-haul flights.

The first A350 is expected to be delivered by 2018 and the carrier is studying four locations in Europe such as Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg in Germany, Rome in Italy and Paris in France, to use the new aircraft.

For this year, PAL is expanding its fleet with the addition of seven new aircraft composed of five Airbus 321s and two Boeing 777-300 ERs. 

PAL has so far, taken delivery of two Airbus 321s for this year.

By next year, the carrier will be taking delivery of two Airbus 321 aircraft with new engine options.

PAL currently has more than 70 aircraft and has flights to over 40 international destinations.