Manila Bulletin
February 25, 2012
by: Jasmine Wang and Kyunghee Park (BLOOMBERG)
Singapore Airlines Ltd., the world's second-biggest carrier by market value, cut freighter capacity by 20 percent because of slumping demand and higher fuel prices.
The cuts took effect recently and will continue into the next operating season, which starts in late March, the carrier said in a statement yesterday. The reductions mainly affect long-haul routes, it said without elaboration.
The airline, which has a fleet of 13 Boeing Co. 747-400 freighters, is paring services as the European debt cisis saps demand for electronics, auto parts and other goods made in China. The carrier filled 58.5 percent of cargo space last month, the lowest amount since April 2009, according to data compiled by Boomberg.
"It's good to see excess capacity being removed from the sector," said Robert Bruce, head of Singapore research at CLSA Ltd., Still, it "can be turned on again very quickly" as the carrier isn't parking or retiring planes, he said
The airline, which generates about 20 percent of sales from freight, had a $40 million ($32 million) operating loss in its cargo unit in the quarter ended December. The unit filled 64.7 percent of capacity in the quarter, compared with the 69.2 percent needed to cover its costs.
The break-even target was 8 percentage points higher than a year earlier because of lower rates and higher fuel costs, the airline said in a Feb. 2 statement. The price of jet fuel has jumped 9.1 percent in the past year in Singapore trading.
"The depressed demand that we are seeing across all markets gives us little reason to be optimistic about the near-term outlook," SIA Cargo President Tan Kai Ping said in yesterday's announcement. The carrier doesn't expect any improvement in the first half, he said.
Singapore Air fell 0.6 percent to S$10.94 at close in Singapore yesterday before the announcement. It has slumped 22 percent in the past year. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., has fallen 15 percent Hong Kong.
Cathay, the largest international air-cargo carrier, has been "cutting capacity aggressively" on North America and European routes, it said this month. The carrier expects the cargo slump to extend into the second half, Chief Execusive Officer John Slosar said Feb. 13.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
AirPhil Adds 4 Clark Flights
Manila Bulletin
February 24, 2012
Airphil Express is making Clark one of its major hubs in its on-going expansion growing program this year.
Starting March 29 this year, the country's fastest-growing budget carrier is launching four new routes from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark to Cebu, Davao, Kalibo, Aklan and Puerto Princes, Palawan. This will increase to 32 Airphil Express's total domestic destinations.
"With its highly improved road network and increasing flights, Clark is setting out to become a natural entry point to major tourist destionation and a major hub for business and tourism in the country," says Alfredo Herrera, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Airphil Express.
Herrera said that by operating out of Clark, Airphil Express would be able to target emerging population centers in Pampanga and Central Luzon." It goes hand in hand with our commitment to help spur growth for the country's economy via the promotion of local tourism in the area," he adds.
The new routes would kick off under this new flights schedule-Clark to Cebu route (v.v.) every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; Clark to Kalibro route (v.v.) every Monday,Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; and Clark to Puerto Prinsesa route (v.v.) every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Airphil Express is establishing a separate transfer hub at Clark to serve the immense volume of passengers that are expected to be shuttling to and from the area. The newly opened routes from Clark is also expected to allow for more visitors, who often travel for the purpose of business and leisure, to take advantage of Airphil Expess en route to enjoying resource-rich destinations in Clark and the nearby areas.
February 24, 2012
Airphil Express is making Clark one of its major hubs in its on-going expansion growing program this year.
Starting March 29 this year, the country's fastest-growing budget carrier is launching four new routes from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark to Cebu, Davao, Kalibo, Aklan and Puerto Princes, Palawan. This will increase to 32 Airphil Express's total domestic destinations.
"With its highly improved road network and increasing flights, Clark is setting out to become a natural entry point to major tourist destionation and a major hub for business and tourism in the country," says Alfredo Herrera, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Airphil Express.
Herrera said that by operating out of Clark, Airphil Express would be able to target emerging population centers in Pampanga and Central Luzon." It goes hand in hand with our commitment to help spur growth for the country's economy via the promotion of local tourism in the area," he adds.
The new routes would kick off under this new flights schedule-Clark to Cebu route (v.v.) every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; Clark to Kalibro route (v.v.) every Monday,Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; and Clark to Puerto Prinsesa route (v.v.) every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Airphil Express is establishing a separate transfer hub at Clark to serve the immense volume of passengers that are expected to be shuttling to and from the area. The newly opened routes from Clark is also expected to allow for more visitors, who often travel for the purpose of business and leisure, to take advantage of Airphil Expess en route to enjoying resource-rich destinations in Clark and the nearby areas.
Clark Airport Begins Terminal Expansion
Manila Bulletin
February 24, 2012
Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) has secured a P1-billion loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to fiance the Phase II expansion of the passenger terminal and other support facilities at the Clark International Airport (CIA).
CIAC President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano and LBP President and CEO Gilda Pico led the signing of the P1-billion loan at the Land Bank of the Philippines main office in Malate, Manila.
"The Land Bank and CIAC have strengthened (their) partnership and we continue to support CIAC's vision for the development of Clark Airport as the premier gateway of the country," Pico stressed. She said "this will contribute in the government's national development which will benefit the whole country by making Clark Airport as the premier gateway."
"Rest assured that we at land bank will continue to support the plans and programs of ciac," Pico added.
For his part, Luciano said "this manifests the continued support and confidence of land bank by granting us a loan facility for the expansion of our Passenger Terminal at Clark Airport."
Luciano also disclosed the slated domestic operations of air Asia Philippines on March 28 and Airphil Express on March 29, 2012.
"In January alone this year, there have been a 37 percent growth of our international flights at the airport, and we expect this to further grow due to the slated domestic flights," he added.
Air Asia will commence Clark-Davao and Clark-Kalibo domestic flights and Airphil Express will start Clark-Davao, Clark-Kalibo, Clark-Cebu and Clark Puerto Prinsesa
The P1-billion loan will be used for the expansion of the Phase II of the Passenger Terminal of the Clark International Airport to meet the demands of passenger growth due to the increase of international and domestic flights this year.
Luciano said that CIAC is slated to start on March 5,2012 the bidding of the Phase II Expansion of the P360 million Passenger Terminal that would further accommodate the growth numbers of passengers at the airport.
The loan will also be used for the improvement other support infrastructure facilities such as the navigational equipments which are vital for the operations of the airport and the remaining funds would be utilized for CIAC's working capital.
February 24, 2012
Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) has secured a P1-billion loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to fiance the Phase II expansion of the passenger terminal and other support facilities at the Clark International Airport (CIA).
CIAC President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano and LBP President and CEO Gilda Pico led the signing of the P1-billion loan at the Land Bank of the Philippines main office in Malate, Manila.
"The Land Bank and CIAC have strengthened (their) partnership and we continue to support CIAC's vision for the development of Clark Airport as the premier gateway of the country," Pico stressed. She said "this will contribute in the government's national development which will benefit the whole country by making Clark Airport as the premier gateway."
"Rest assured that we at land bank will continue to support the plans and programs of ciac," Pico added.
For his part, Luciano said "this manifests the continued support and confidence of land bank by granting us a loan facility for the expansion of our Passenger Terminal at Clark Airport."
Luciano also disclosed the slated domestic operations of air Asia Philippines on March 28 and Airphil Express on March 29, 2012.
"In January alone this year, there have been a 37 percent growth of our international flights at the airport, and we expect this to further grow due to the slated domestic flights," he added.
Air Asia will commence Clark-Davao and Clark-Kalibo domestic flights and Airphil Express will start Clark-Davao, Clark-Kalibo, Clark-Cebu and Clark Puerto Prinsesa
The P1-billion loan will be used for the expansion of the Phase II of the Passenger Terminal of the Clark International Airport to meet the demands of passenger growth due to the increase of international and domestic flights this year.
Luciano said that CIAC is slated to start on March 5,2012 the bidding of the Phase II Expansion of the P360 million Passenger Terminal that would further accommodate the growth numbers of passengers at the airport.
The loan will also be used for the improvement other support infrastructure facilities such as the navigational equipments which are vital for the operations of the airport and the remaining funds would be utilized for CIAC's working capital.
Singapore Airport passenger Traffic Up
Manila Bulletin
February 24, 2012
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Passenger traffic at Singapore's Changi Airport, Asia's second biggest after Hong Kong, rose 12 percent in January, Changi is also the world's fifth busiest airport in terms or international passenger volume. The airport handle 4.24 million passengers last month, compared to 3.79 million a year ago, but the long holiday lowered its cargo volume which registered 7.1 percent decline to 136,800 tons in January.
February 24, 2012
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Passenger traffic at Singapore's Changi Airport, Asia's second biggest after Hong Kong, rose 12 percent in January, Changi is also the world's fifth busiest airport in terms or international passenger volume. The airport handle 4.24 million passengers last month, compared to 3.79 million a year ago, but the long holiday lowered its cargo volume which registered 7.1 percent decline to 136,800 tons in January.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
AirphilExpress to operate new flights out of Clark
Business Mirror
February 9, 2012
AIRPHILEXPRESS expects to launch four new routes to and from Clark beginning March 29 this year. The new additional routes are from Clark to Davao, Cebu, Kalibo and Puerto Prinesa, and the same brings the total number of daily scheduled trips to 32 local destinations.
"With its highly improved road network and increasing flights, Clark is setting out to become a natural entry point to major tourist destinations and a major hub for business and tourism in the country," said Alfredo Herrera, Senior Vice President for sales and marketing, in a statement.
"Aside from being a major part of the company's growth plans this year, one the other reason why we have decided to offer flights from Clark is so we may bring our services closer to the people in Pampanga and nearby areas. It goes hand in hand with our commitment to help spur growth for the country's economy via the promition of local tourism in the area,' he adds.
The newly opened routes from Clark is also expected to allow for more visitors to take advantage of the latest express sale promo fares of AirphilExpress.
AirphilExpress distinguishes itself from other budget carries by offering affordable airfare and conviniencedriven products and services like the web check-in, seat selector, travel insurance, and pre-paid baggage, as well as travel exclusives allowance and an additional 7-kilo free hand carry.
In line with its new routes, AirphilExpress is also expanding its fleet. Early this year, the company added three 180-seater Airbus A320s, which can fly at longer flight distances with lesser fuel consumption. This brings the total number of aircraft to 11 Airbus 320s, three Q300s and five Q400s.
February 9, 2012
AIRPHILEXPRESS expects to launch four new routes to and from Clark beginning March 29 this year. The new additional routes are from Clark to Davao, Cebu, Kalibo and Puerto Prinesa, and the same brings the total number of daily scheduled trips to 32 local destinations.
"With its highly improved road network and increasing flights, Clark is setting out to become a natural entry point to major tourist destinations and a major hub for business and tourism in the country," said Alfredo Herrera, Senior Vice President for sales and marketing, in a statement.
"Aside from being a major part of the company's growth plans this year, one the other reason why we have decided to offer flights from Clark is so we may bring our services closer to the people in Pampanga and nearby areas. It goes hand in hand with our commitment to help spur growth for the country's economy via the promition of local tourism in the area,' he adds.
The newly opened routes from Clark is also expected to allow for more visitors to take advantage of the latest express sale promo fares of AirphilExpress.
AirphilExpress distinguishes itself from other budget carries by offering affordable airfare and conviniencedriven products and services like the web check-in, seat selector, travel insurance, and pre-paid baggage, as well as travel exclusives allowance and an additional 7-kilo free hand carry.
In line with its new routes, AirphilExpress is also expanding its fleet. Early this year, the company added three 180-seater Airbus A320s, which can fly at longer flight distances with lesser fuel consumption. This brings the total number of aircraft to 11 Airbus 320s, three Q300s and five Q400s.
Hawaiian Airlines posts passenger record
Business World
February 9, 2012
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES posted a record number of approximately 8.7 million passengers for 2011, the biggest so far in the company's 82-year history. The new record is an increase of more than 240,000 passengers compared to the carrier's 2010 total.
The carrier also announced plans ro expand its reservations call center by providing round the-clock service, enabling customers, including those based in the Philippines, to call Hawaiian Airlines 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at its toll-free phone number 1-800-367-5320 to book flight reservations and make other inquiries.
"With a growing route network that by June will extend from the Eastern U.S. to Asia, we now bring guests to Hawaiian from all over the world. Knowing that many travelers still prefer to speak to someone when making flight reservations, we want to ensure they can reach us promptly at anytime of the day," Peter Ingram, Hawaiian's executive vicepresident and chief commercial officer, said.
Apart from the 24/7 operations of Hawaiian Airlines' call center, the Web site www.HawaiianAirlines.com will continue to be a convinient method for customers in the Philippines and the rest of the world to book flights and search for flight information at any time of the day, anywhere in the world.
The sevice enhancement of the reservations call center comes in the early stages of the airline's long-range expansion to new destionation and further development of its existing markets. Last year, Hawaiian Airlines launched nonstop flight services to Honolulu from Tokyo, Seoul and Osaka while increasing its Australia service to daily flights from Sydney.
This 2012, Hawaiian is set to launch daily nonstop service between Honolulu and both Fukuoka and New York City. The carrier will also add a third daily flight year-round between Los Angeles and Honolulu, reintroduction nonstop daily services between Los Angeles and Maui for the summer and increase daily flights year-round between Honolulu and Seoul.
In additional, Hawaiian Airlines is increasing its inter-island flights by an additional 23 to 25 flights daily by mid-March. It is also planning to introduce more new long-range Airbus A330-200 aircraft into its fleet.
February 9, 2012
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES posted a record number of approximately 8.7 million passengers for 2011, the biggest so far in the company's 82-year history. The new record is an increase of more than 240,000 passengers compared to the carrier's 2010 total.
The carrier also announced plans ro expand its reservations call center by providing round the-clock service, enabling customers, including those based in the Philippines, to call Hawaiian Airlines 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at its toll-free phone number 1-800-367-5320 to book flight reservations and make other inquiries.
"With a growing route network that by June will extend from the Eastern U.S. to Asia, we now bring guests to Hawaiian from all over the world. Knowing that many travelers still prefer to speak to someone when making flight reservations, we want to ensure they can reach us promptly at anytime of the day," Peter Ingram, Hawaiian's executive vicepresident and chief commercial officer, said.
Apart from the 24/7 operations of Hawaiian Airlines' call center, the Web site www.HawaiianAirlines.com will continue to be a convinient method for customers in the Philippines and the rest of the world to book flights and search for flight information at any time of the day, anywhere in the world.
The sevice enhancement of the reservations call center comes in the early stages of the airline's long-range expansion to new destionation and further development of its existing markets. Last year, Hawaiian Airlines launched nonstop flight services to Honolulu from Tokyo, Seoul and Osaka while increasing its Australia service to daily flights from Sydney.
This 2012, Hawaiian is set to launch daily nonstop service between Honolulu and both Fukuoka and New York City. The carrier will also add a third daily flight year-round between Los Angeles and Honolulu, reintroduction nonstop daily services between Los Angeles and Maui for the summer and increase daily flights year-round between Honolulu and Seoul.
In additional, Hawaiian Airlines is increasing its inter-island flights by an additional 23 to 25 flights daily by mid-March. It is also planning to introduce more new long-range Airbus A330-200 aircraft into its fleet.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Weak Asian Jet Fuel Outlook Sees Airlines Cutting On Hedging
Manila Bulletin
February 6, 2012
By JESSICA JAGANATHAN
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Weakness in Asian prices of jet fuel in the fourth quarter, normally a peak demand period, looks set to persist through 2012 on a dip in air travel caused by Europe's debt crisis, which could tip the world economy into recession.
The bleak outlook is prompting airlines to throttle back on hedging plans, with most just sticking to current volumes. For oil refineries, less income from processing a barrel of crude into jet fuel may force them to switch to more profitable fuels, such as diesel.
''Most airlines have adopted similar strategies as they did in mid-2011, with regard to hedging,'' said Shukor Yusof, a Standard & Poor's analyst in Singapore. ''They will keep monitoring the markets and adjust their requirements within 5 to 10 percent of their fuel needs for the next 12 months.''
For example, Air France is looking to hedge about 52 percent of its fuel costs for the first quarter, sticking to its strategy of last year.
Cathay Pacific aims for hedging coverage of at least 20 to 30 percent for the next 12 to 18 months, depending on prices, a company spokeswoman said. Hedging by Hong Kong's flagship carrier for the 2010-11 financial year was estimated around 35 to 40 percent, and 50 percent for the year prior.
Jet fuel prices relative to diesel are usually at their strongest in the first and fourth quarters of the year, typically spurting as much as 50 percent, when holiday air travel picks up and winter demand for heating fuel kerosene, a product similar to jet fuel, increases.
But there has been no such rise so far in 2012 as a weaker economic outlook pushes people to cut back on vacations and travel. Asia's jet fuel market looks for support to Europe, where any spike in air travel demand draws fuel from Asia.
Jet fuel prices rose nearly 19 percent over the January to October period last year, while diesel prices gained almost 18 percent. In contrast, from November to last month, jet prices gained just 0.77 percent compared with 2.89 percent for diesel.
International air traffic shrank 1.5 percent in November from October, and has grown just 0.5 percent since May, the International Air Transport Association said in a December report.
Europe's passenger market has slowed sharply, with 4.9 percent annual growth in November, just half the figure of 9.5 percent for the first 11 months of 2011, the airline body added.
February 6, 2012
By JESSICA JAGANATHAN
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Weakness in Asian prices of jet fuel in the fourth quarter, normally a peak demand period, looks set to persist through 2012 on a dip in air travel caused by Europe's debt crisis, which could tip the world economy into recession.
The bleak outlook is prompting airlines to throttle back on hedging plans, with most just sticking to current volumes. For oil refineries, less income from processing a barrel of crude into jet fuel may force them to switch to more profitable fuels, such as diesel.
''Most airlines have adopted similar strategies as they did in mid-2011, with regard to hedging,'' said Shukor Yusof, a Standard & Poor's analyst in Singapore. ''They will keep monitoring the markets and adjust their requirements within 5 to 10 percent of their fuel needs for the next 12 months.''
For example, Air France is looking to hedge about 52 percent of its fuel costs for the first quarter, sticking to its strategy of last year.
Cathay Pacific aims for hedging coverage of at least 20 to 30 percent for the next 12 to 18 months, depending on prices, a company spokeswoman said. Hedging by Hong Kong's flagship carrier for the 2010-11 financial year was estimated around 35 to 40 percent, and 50 percent for the year prior.
Jet fuel prices relative to diesel are usually at their strongest in the first and fourth quarters of the year, typically spurting as much as 50 percent, when holiday air travel picks up and winter demand for heating fuel kerosene, a product similar to jet fuel, increases.
But there has been no such rise so far in 2012 as a weaker economic outlook pushes people to cut back on vacations and travel. Asia's jet fuel market looks for support to Europe, where any spike in air travel demand draws fuel from Asia.
Jet fuel prices rose nearly 19 percent over the January to October period last year, while diesel prices gained almost 18 percent. In contrast, from November to last month, jet prices gained just 0.77 percent compared with 2.89 percent for diesel.
International air traffic shrank 1.5 percent in November from October, and has grown just 0.5 percent since May, the International Air Transport Association said in a December report.
Europe's passenger market has slowed sharply, with 4.9 percent annual growth in November, just half the figure of 9.5 percent for the first 11 months of 2011, the airline body added.
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