FLAG-CARRIER Philippine Airlines said it is currently studying the possibility of launching international flights out of Davao City.
Dr. Jaime Bautista, Philippine Airlines president and chief operating officer, said during a press conference at Marco Polo Davao Thursday, April 12, that some of the destinations include Hong Kong, Japan, and Palau.
"Davao to Hong Kong is quite difficult due to slots problem. The airport at Hong Kong is a congested airport and therefore difficult to get slots," he said.
Bautista said they are now looking into the possibility of launching flights between Davao City and one point in Japan, either Narita or Haneda. However, for Haneda, they also face the same issue with Hong Kong International Airport, which is the availability of slots.
He also said a business group in Palau has asked them to look into launching flights between the island and Mindanao.
"It is not far from Davao and maybe we can use the Bombardier Q400NG...Palau-Davao is one possibility," Bautista said.
He said theree is also a possibility for them to open up charter flights from Korea, China, and Taiwan.
"[Department of Tourism] Secretary Wanda Teo challenged us to consider international routes from Davao, and we are working on the needed market evaluations. We will unveil such plans in the coming months," Bautista said.
Expansion
As the airline is set to receive new planes in the coming years, Philippine Airlines has set its eyes in developing its hubs outside of Manila -- Clark, Cebu, and Davao.
"Philippine Airlines is no longer just a Manila-centric airline. The future of Philippine aviation lies in the new economic centers of the country, here in Mindanao, in the Visayas and in other parts of Luzon. That means giving priority to our new PAL hubs: Davao, Cebu and Clark. New hubs mean new hopes for a growing economy," Dr. Jaime J. Bautista, Philippine Airlines president and chief operating officer, said during a press conference at Marco Polo Davao yesterday.
He added that the airline's route and fleet expansion will focus on the three hubs.
"We are now increasing our Davao-Bohol flights to daily, and we plan to increase Davao-Clark flights in the coming months," Bautista said.
He added that later this month, the airline will be adding flights from Clark to Busuanga and Cebu, and they are looking at daily Clark to Cagayan de Oro later on.
This year five additional Next Generation Bombardier Q400s, six Airbus 321neos, and four Airbus 350-900 are set to be delivered this year that will allow the airline to introduce new routes and hike flight frequencies.
"More routes will open as we take delivery of new airplanes. Our current fleet of 85 aircraft is already the largest in Philippine history. We are aiming for 100 aircraft by 2020, which places us in the league of a major carrier," Bautists said.
Philippine Airlines' 2018 expansion includes the Manila non-stop New York (John F. Kennedy Airport) starting on October 28 and will utilizing its A350-900; Manila non-stop to New Delhi and Mumbai (Bombay) by last quarter of 2018, which may be operated by the A321neo; and Manila to Sapporo (Chitose) by last quarter of 2018, which may also be served by the A321neo.