Alpha Aviation Group Acquires A330 Full Flight Simulator

The Airbus A330/340 Full Flight Simulator will be based in Clark, Philippines. The newest investment was made to support the wide body segment, lower the cost of training of domestic and regional airlines. This type of simulator will be the first wide body simulator in the Philippines and the latest simulator with Airbus A340 functionality built globally. It will simulate all the functions of a real Airbus A330 aircraft and has the flexibility to change to Airbus A340 layout when required by an airline.

The Airbus A330/340 Full Flight simulator will serve as an invaluable training tool for Alpha Aviation Group Philippines’ domestic and foreign cadets and airline partners.

Alpha Aviation Group is well positioned to assist the regional airlines in their aggressive expansion plans. The latest investment is a commitment from AAG to continue supporting the regional airline industry. The announcement was made at the launch of another simulator investment by Alpha Aviation Group Philippines, another multi-million-dollar Airbus A320 Fixed Base Simulator.

Alpha Aviation Group’s Regional Director Cristopher Magdangal said: “The acquisition of a new Airbus A330 Full Flight Simulator signifies AAG’s promise to extend its airline services offering to include the wide body segment. The A340 functionality will make this device unique in the region in the next decade, enhances the position of the Philippines becoming a global aviation training hub and positions AAG as a training center of excellence.”

Cebu Pacific Ends Flights to Kuwait, Doha & Riyadh

Cebu Pacific will stop flying to Kuwait on June 13, Doha on July 1 and Riyadh on July 2 due to increase competition on these routes. 

Flying the Philippine Skies Soon

Taking off this December 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 ordered 32 Airbus 321NEOs

“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

Image Source: Dept. of Transportation

Image Source: Cebu Pacific

Image Source: Cebu Pacific

Image Source: Palawan Provincial Information Office

Image Source: Cebu Pacific

Image Source: Palawan Provincial Information Office

Image Source: Palawan Provincial Information Office

Image Source: Palawan Provincial Information Office

Image Source: Palawan Provincial Information Office

Image Source: Palawan Provincial Information Office 

Airlines Flying to Australia By Capacity

Jumpacked Airlines

All Nippon Airways (Japan) tops the list which has flown the most packed planes at 91% average capacity.  ANA is followed by American Airlines at 88%, closely followed by Delta Air Lines (USA) at 87% seat utilization over the past four years.

Half Empty Planes

Air Niugini (Papua New Guinea) averages 54%, while Philippine carriers Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have an average capacity of 59.5% and 60.1% respectively.

Australian carrier Qantas is at number 19 and flies at an average of 79.9% capacity.

1 All Nippon Airways 91.3%

2. American Airlines 87.7%

3. Delta Air Lines 87.3%

4. Cathay Pacific Airways 86.5%

5. British Airways 85.6%

6. Etihad Airways 85.3%

7. Japan Airlines 84.3%

8. Aerolineas Argentinas 83.9%

9. Air Canada 82.6%

10. Qatar Airways 82.4%

11. Fiji Airways 81.8%

12. Air New Zealand 81.5%

13. United Airlines 81.4%

14. China Eastern Airlines 80.8%

15. China Southern Airlines 80.5%

16. Singapore Airlines 80.5%

17. Korean Air 80.3%

18. Air China 80.3%

19. Qantas Airways 79.9%

20. LAN Airlines 78.7%

21. Jetstar 78.3%

22. Virgin Atlantic Airways 78.1%

23. Vietnam Airlines 76.7%

24. Emirates 76.7%

25. Tigerair 76.5%

26. China Airlines 76.2%

27. Xiamen Airlines 76.1%

28. Jetstar Asia 76.0%

29. Asiana Airlines 75.9%

30. Virgin Australia 75.8%

31. Hawaiian Airlines 75.5%

32. AirAsia X 75.1%

33. Air Caledonie International 74.7%

34. Scoot 74.5%

35. Air Caledonie 74.1%

36. Garuda Indonesia 73.0%

37. Silk Air 72.9%

38. South African Airways 72.9%

39. Indonesia AirAsia 72.9%

40. Air India 72.1%

41. Air Mauritius 72.0%

42. Malaysia Airlines 71.8%

43. Thai Airways International 70.0%

44. Royal Brunei Airlines 69.1%

45. Sichuan Airlines 68.4%

46. Indonesia AirAsia Extra 67.4%

47. Malindo Air 63.6%

48. Air Vanuatu 62.3%

49. Philippine Airlines 60.1%

50. Cebu Pacific Air 59.5%

51. Air Niugini 54.1%

Source: finder.com.au, bitre.gov.au.

Cebu Pacific’s Brand New A330 (RP-C3348)

To be delivered as RP-C3348. Image source: DN280