PAL boosts US flights with new Boeing planes

SEATTLE – Flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) is beefing up flights to the United States by the end of the year with the delivery of two brand-new Boeing 777-300 ERs to cope with strong demand.

Jaime Bautista, president and COO of PAL, said the airline is adding more flights to the US starting December in time for the Christmas season.

Bautista accepted the airplane leased from Intrepid Aviation last Oct. 28. It is PAL’s seventh Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft.

Intrepid CEO Olaf Sachau said the delivery to PAL underlines the company’s continuous focus on investment in new aircraft on long-term leases with well-established, strong airlines worldwide.

“We are particularly delighted to bring this 777-300 ER to flag carrier of the Philippines during their 75th anniversary year – the longest, continuously operating airline in Asia,” Intrepid president Doug Winter said.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes senior vice president for global marketing and sales John Wojick said Intrepid is cementing its place as a leading wide body lessor by growing its fleet with the Boeing 777.

“We appreciate their confidence in the airplane, which offers superior economics and a memorable passenger experience,” he said.

The 777 is the world’s most successful twin-engine, long haul airplane. The 777-300ER is equipped with the world’s most powerful GE90-115B commercial jet engine, and can seat up to 386 passengers in a three-class configuration with a maximum range of 7,825 nautical miles.

Bautista pointed out another Boeing 777-300 ER would be delivered to PAL before the end of the year.

He said the new airplanes would be used to increase flight frequencies to Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.

Bautista said PAL would double its flights to Los Angeles to twice from once a day and the flights to San Francisco to 14 flights from 11 times a week starting December.

He explained the Airbus A340 aircraft used three times a week for the Manila to San Francisco route would be replaced with the brand new Boeing 777-300 ER.

“With the delivery of these airplanes, we will be operating twice daily to Los Angeles starting December in time for the Christmas season. We will also replace the aircraft A340 flights in San Francisco with these Boeing 777-300 ERs,” he added.

The aircraft change would raise PAL’s seating capacity by 15 to 20 percent as a Boeing 777-300 ER could accommodate as many as 376 passengers compared to the Airbus A340 that could only seat 254.

Bautista explained the airline firm owned by tobacco magnate Lucio Tan would continue to use the Airbus A340 aircraft for the Los Angeles and Cebu route and as backup for aircraft under maintenance and serving other routes such as Honolulu and Australia.

Bautista added PAL is also looking at raising its frequency to New York via Vancouver to five from four times a week early next year.

“The market continues to grow. We have the advantage because we are the non stop carrier from the Philippines to the US,” he said.

PAL’s load factor in Los Angeles and San Francisco is more than 80 percent but only accounts for 40 percent of the market.

“There is more business and there are more tourists. What we want to achieve is also to carry not only Filipinos but also the mainstream market,” Bautista said.

He added PAL expects the delivery of three Airbus A321 NEOs next year as well as three to four A321s and four A350s in 2018.

The Lucio Tan Group bought back the 49 percent interest acquired by diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. in 2012.