Flying the Philippine Skies Soon
Month: May 2017
No More PPP for Regional Airports
The Duterte administration has scrapped the public-private partnership (PPP) of five regional airports according to National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). Both the Department of Transportation and Civil Aviation Authority (CAAP) also confirmed the termination of the bidding process for the New Bohol (Panglao), Davao, Iloilo, Laguindingan and Bacolod airports.
“The government, through the implementing agencies, the DOTr and CAAP, decided that the projects would be implemented through other modes,” according to the official statement.
With the termination of the PPP process, NEDA Undersecretary for Investment Programming Rolando Tungpalan said the hard infrastructure would now be funded through general appropriations while other modes of financing and implementation would be considered for the operations and maintenance (O&M) component of the projects which will be decided on ‘later.’
A350-1000 Early Long Flight Proves Its Exclusive Cabin Comfort and Maturity
Airbus Press Release. The A350-1000 completed successfully its first and unique “Early Long Flight” with 310 passengers on board, including 10 Airbus Flight Test crew members and 13 Virgin Atlantic cabin crew. Test aircraft MSN065 took off from and landed in Toulouse on May 11th after a 12 hours flight.
During the long-haul flight the passengers, comprising Airbus employees and cabin crew personnel from Virgin Atlantic Airways – one of the 12 A350-1000 customers – were first to experience the Xtra wide comfort of the A350-1000. The early passengers were invited to try out and test the cabin systems, including air conditioning, lighting, acoustics, in-flight entertainment (IFE), galleys, electrics, washrooms and water waste systems.
Though not part of the technical certification programme, the Early Long Flight allows Airbus to assess cabin environment and systems in-flight and optimise cabin procedures to ensure full maturity at Entry Into Service for its customers.
The intensive A350-1000 certification testing is progressing well and on track to reach Type Certification followed by Entry Into Service in second half of 2017.
The A350-1000 is the latest member of the Airbus leading widebody family, showing high level of commonality with the A350-900 with 95% common systems part numbers and Same Type Rating. As well as having a longer fuselage to accommodate 40 more passengers than the A350-900, the A350-1000 also features a modified wing trailing-edge, new six-wheel main landing gears and more powerful Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. The A350-1000 embodies all of the fuel efficiency and ‘Airspace’ cabin comfort of the original A350-900 – but with extra size perfectly tailored for our customers on some of their busiest long-haul routes. To date 12 customers from five continents have placed orders for a total of 211 A350-1000s.
Source: Airbus.com
Cebgo Launched New Destinations out of CRK and CEB
Cebgo, a subsidiary of Cebu Pacific, recently launched new destinations out of Clark (CRK) and Cebu (CEB).
Cebgo now flies daily from CRK to Caticlan/Boracay and thrice weekly between CRK to Busuanga.
From CEB, Cebgo now flies thrice a week to Busuanga and four times weekly between CEB and Cotabato.
CAPA Analysis: Cebu Pacific To Expand Operations in China
The Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), one of the world’s leading aviation think-tanks, said in a recent report that Cebu Pacific (5J) is expected to expand operations in China with the expected delivery of its brand new A321NEO that will allow the low cost carrier to open new routes and grow capacity.
“Cebu Pacific is particularly keen to use the A321neo to open new routes deeper into China,” CAPA said in its report, noting that the aircrafts will also support plans for its North Asia expansion. Currently 5J has 17 weekly flights to four destinations in China.
“However, it is keen to add new flights to China, both scheduled and charters, in line with expected further rapid growth in the China-Philippines market,” it added.
Based on CAPA analysis, visitor numbers from China grew by approximately 20% in 2016, as China overtook Japan to become the country’s third largest source market for the Philippines. Aside from China, Cebu Pacific is also considering opening a branch office in Japan to help support future capacity growth in both markets.
“Cebu Pacific has expanded in Japan in recent years, adding three destinations for a total of four, and will likely use the A321neo to add capacity and new destinations,” it said in its report.
CAPA said Japan is now Cebu Pacific’s third largest international market after Hong Kong and Singapore, while South Korea is its fourth largest international market.
Cebu Pacific ended 2016 with a fleet of 57 aircraft — up only two from the beginning of the year. Cebu Pacific’s fleet was flat at 47 aircraft, while its turboprop subsidiary Cebgo expanded its fleet from eight to 10 aircraft.
New Puerto Princesa Airport Terminal
- Runway length: 2,600 meters
- Floor Area: 13,000 square meters
- Seat capacity: 1,500
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