The Philippine Star
October 31, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - A tourism industry leader has cautioned the government against rushing the implementation of pocket open skies, saying intensive consultations must first be conducted among affected stakeholders before deciding on the policy.
Consul General Robert Lim Joseph, chairman of the Tourism Educators and Movers Philippines (Team Philippines), said the government should call stakeholders in the aviation, travel and tourism industries to a series of dialogues to get their positions on the matter.
Joseph was reacting to a published report that quoted the Aquino administration as saying that it is studying the possibility of declaring a pocket open skies policy and that an executive order to that effect has already been drafted.
He said declaring pocket open skies would be a major policy decision which requires thorough study and discussions. “We cannot afford to trip on this move since it would affect a vital sector of the economy.”
Joseph warned that once a pocket open skies policy is declared and foreign airlines start flying into the country without restrictions on capacity and type of aircraft, it is hard to take this back, thus the need for utmost caution in considering the plan.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Belmonte cautions vs haste in adopting open skies policy
By Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star) Updated October 23, 2010 12:00 AM
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Belmonte said the government should first improve aviation and tourism infrastructure before Malacañang or Congress could consider such a policy.
He said modernization of tourism and air transport facilities, not liberalization of air policy alone, could be the key to attracting more foreign tourists to the Philippines.
“It think it is the whole system, not only open skies, that should be considered to make us more competitive,” he said.
Belmonte noted that Malaysia has become a major tourist destination in Asia largely because it offers modern, state-of-the-art facilities to visitors.
He suggested that the P15-billion fund for public-private partnerships in President Aquino’s proposed P1.6-trillion 2011 national budget should cover tourism and aviation infrastructure.
The fund is principally intended for toll roads and airports.
The “open skies” issue has come up every now and then because of the still unresolved labor problem plaguing flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL).
Mr. Aquino has repeatedly threatened to consider such a policy if PAL management and the airline’s workers failed to resolve their dispute and the latter declared a strike.
Since national interest was involved, the Department of Labor has decided to assume jurisdiction over the problem, effectively preventing PAL’s workers from striking.
In a recent House budget hearing, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim advocated a “pocket open skies” policy that would open some parts of the country to foreign carriers.
He said when such a policy was adopted in Clark, tourist arrivals at the free port increased significantly.
He said the same is true in Bali, Indonesia and Siem Reap, Cambodia, and in Vietnam.
He did not say though which parts of the country he wanted opened to foreign airlines.
In the same budget hearing, Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez said Chinese tourists from Hong Kong and Macau continued to arrive at the free port in Sta. Ana, Cagayan even in the wake of the bloody Manila hostage-taking incident.
A company in which Benitez has some financial interest operates an integrated leisure and entertainment complex at the free port.
Planeloads of Hong Kong and Macau tourists visit the complex every week, Benitez said.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Belmonte said the government should first improve aviation and tourism infrastructure before Malacañang or Congress could consider such a policy.
He said modernization of tourism and air transport facilities, not liberalization of air policy alone, could be the key to attracting more foreign tourists to the Philippines.
“It think it is the whole system, not only open skies, that should be considered to make us more competitive,” he said.
Belmonte noted that Malaysia has become a major tourist destination in Asia largely because it offers modern, state-of-the-art facilities to visitors.
He suggested that the P15-billion fund for public-private partnerships in President Aquino’s proposed P1.6-trillion 2011 national budget should cover tourism and aviation infrastructure.
The fund is principally intended for toll roads and airports.
The “open skies” issue has come up every now and then because of the still unresolved labor problem plaguing flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL).
Mr. Aquino has repeatedly threatened to consider such a policy if PAL management and the airline’s workers failed to resolve their dispute and the latter declared a strike.
Since national interest was involved, the Department of Labor has decided to assume jurisdiction over the problem, effectively preventing PAL’s workers from striking.
In a recent House budget hearing, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim advocated a “pocket open skies” policy that would open some parts of the country to foreign carriers.
He said when such a policy was adopted in Clark, tourist arrivals at the free port increased significantly.
He said the same is true in Bali, Indonesia and Siem Reap, Cambodia, and in Vietnam.
He did not say though which parts of the country he wanted opened to foreign airlines.
In the same budget hearing, Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez said Chinese tourists from Hong Kong and Macau continued to arrive at the free port in Sta. Ana, Cagayan even in the wake of the bloody Manila hostage-taking incident.
A company in which Benitez has some financial interest operates an integrated leisure and entertainment complex at the free port.
Planeloads of Hong Kong and Macau tourists visit the complex every week, Benitez said.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Air China orders four Boeing 777-300 ER long-haul airliners
September 30, 2010
Air China is to launch more direct long-haul routes to meet the increasing demand.
Air China has ordered four Boeing 777-300ER long-haul airliners for $1.1 billion, the US aeronautics giant said in a statement.
Boeing said China’s flagship carrier plans to use the airliners to expand its international routes.
Marlin Dailey, vice president for sales and marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, called it “a great day in the history of our long and enduring partnership with Air China”.
“Today’s order of 777s also underscores Air China’s confidence in the world’s most successful twin-engine, long-haul airplane,” he said in the statement.
Air China’s vice president, Fan Cheng, was quoted as saying the 777-300ER “will be the backbone of our long-haul international fleet.”
“The airplane’s high efficiency and performance features will enable Air China to launch more direct long-haul routes to meet the increasing demand of our passengers,” he said according to the Boeing statement.
The twin engine, wide-bodied Boeing 777-300ER can carry 365 passengers over distances of up to 14,685 kilometres, according to Boeing.
Air China is to launch more direct long-haul routes to meet the increasing demand.
Air China has ordered four Boeing 777-300ER long-haul airliners for $1.1 billion, the US aeronautics giant said in a statement.
Boeing said China’s flagship carrier plans to use the airliners to expand its international routes.
Marlin Dailey, vice president for sales and marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, called it “a great day in the history of our long and enduring partnership with Air China”.
“Today’s order of 777s also underscores Air China’s confidence in the world’s most successful twin-engine, long-haul airplane,” he said in the statement.
Air China’s vice president, Fan Cheng, was quoted as saying the 777-300ER “will be the backbone of our long-haul international fleet.”
“The airplane’s high efficiency and performance features will enable Air China to launch more direct long-haul routes to meet the increasing demand of our passengers,” he said according to the Boeing statement.
The twin engine, wide-bodied Boeing 777-300ER can carry 365 passengers over distances of up to 14,685 kilometres, according to Boeing.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Air New Zealand confident 2011 earnings will improve
Manila Bulletin
September 27, 2010
WELLINGTON - National carrier Air New Zealand is optimistic its operating earnings would improve in 2011, as the global airline industry was showing signs of recovery.
While the company's earnings will still sensitive to economic conditions and costs such as fuel, the company predicted operating earnings would rise in the year to June 2011, Air New Zealand Chairman John Palmer said in speech notes prepared for the annual shareholders meeting.
The company would increase capacity across its network in the coming year, Mr Palmer said.
Air New Zealand also said it would continue to look at opportunities across its network to partner with other airlines.
September 27, 2010
WELLINGTON - National carrier Air New Zealand is optimistic its operating earnings would improve in 2011, as the global airline industry was showing signs of recovery.
While the company's earnings will still sensitive to economic conditions and costs such as fuel, the company predicted operating earnings would rise in the year to June 2011, Air New Zealand Chairman John Palmer said in speech notes prepared for the annual shareholders meeting.
The company would increase capacity across its network in the coming year, Mr Palmer said.
Air New Zealand also said it would continue to look at opportunities across its network to partner with other airlines.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
JAL Ties Up with American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and China Airlines
Manila Bulletin
September 26, 2010, 1:54pm
Japan Airlines (JAL) has forged bilateral agreements with American Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and China Airlines, to begin offering codeshare flights from the new international terminal at Haneda, scheduled to open on October 21, 2010.
Including new codeshare flights with American to 6 destinations in the United States via San Francisco and with Air France to 14 cities in Europe via Paris, JAL is set to expand its international network from Haneda to offer customers a wider range of travel choices and more convenience.
There will be 13 daily JAL-operated flights on 10 international routes out of Haneda from October 31, 2010.
Additionally, JAL's international network springing from the newest terminal will cover eleven destinations when it places its ˜JL' indicator on American's new daily New York flight come January 2011.
JAL will also market Cathay Pacific's twice daily flights to Hong Kong and China Airlines' twice daily flights to Taipei (Songshan).
Together with an increase in the number of flights on the Haneda--Seoul (Gimpo) and Haneda--Shanghai (Hongqiao) routes operated by existing codeshare partners Korean Air and China Eastern respectively, JAL will soon offer its customers up to 22 daily flights a day from Haneda, reaching out to 11 cities around the world.
As part of its codeshare agreement with American Airlines, JAL customers can connect easily to 6 destinations in the United States namely Dallas, Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, New York, and Honolulu from JAL's Haneda--San Francisco flight.
Customers bound for Europe can also enjoy the convenience of traveling through Haneda airport, with JAL's daily flight to Paris – the only Europe-bound flight from the new terminal.
Under an expanded agreement with long-term bilateral partner Air France, passengers can connect with ease from JAL's Haneda–Paris flight to Marseilles and Toulouse – new destinations on JAL's network map, as well as 12 other European cities of Stockholm, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Lyon, Nice, Munich, Berlin, Prague, Warsaw and Istanbul.
Customers will be able to arrive in most of the local cities in France, Germany, Spain or North Europe early in the day just before noon.
JAL will continue to operate a daily flight from Narita Airport to Paris, where customers can also connect on existing codeshare flights with Air France to key points around Europe. (EHL)
September 26, 2010, 1:54pm
Japan Airlines (JAL) has forged bilateral agreements with American Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and China Airlines, to begin offering codeshare flights from the new international terminal at Haneda, scheduled to open on October 21, 2010.
Including new codeshare flights with American to 6 destinations in the United States via San Francisco and with Air France to 14 cities in Europe via Paris, JAL is set to expand its international network from Haneda to offer customers a wider range of travel choices and more convenience.
There will be 13 daily JAL-operated flights on 10 international routes out of Haneda from October 31, 2010.
Additionally, JAL's international network springing from the newest terminal will cover eleven destinations when it places its ˜JL' indicator on American's new daily New York flight come January 2011.
JAL will also market Cathay Pacific's twice daily flights to Hong Kong and China Airlines' twice daily flights to Taipei (Songshan).
Together with an increase in the number of flights on the Haneda--Seoul (Gimpo) and Haneda--Shanghai (Hongqiao) routes operated by existing codeshare partners Korean Air and China Eastern respectively, JAL will soon offer its customers up to 22 daily flights a day from Haneda, reaching out to 11 cities around the world.
As part of its codeshare agreement with American Airlines, JAL customers can connect easily to 6 destinations in the United States namely Dallas, Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, New York, and Honolulu from JAL's Haneda--San Francisco flight.
Customers bound for Europe can also enjoy the convenience of traveling through Haneda airport, with JAL's daily flight to Paris – the only Europe-bound flight from the new terminal.
Under an expanded agreement with long-term bilateral partner Air France, passengers can connect with ease from JAL's Haneda–Paris flight to Marseilles and Toulouse – new destinations on JAL's network map, as well as 12 other European cities of Stockholm, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Lyon, Nice, Munich, Berlin, Prague, Warsaw and Istanbul.
Customers will be able to arrive in most of the local cities in France, Germany, Spain or North Europe early in the day just before noon.
JAL will continue to operate a daily flight from Narita Airport to Paris, where customers can also connect on existing codeshare flights with Air France to key points around Europe. (EHL)
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