Air Philippines
Encyclopedia
Air Philippines Corporation, now operating as Airphil Express (formerly Air Philippines,PAL Express), is a low-cost airline based in Pasay City
, in the Philippines
. It operates both domestic and international scheduled services from Manila
, Cebu
, Davao
and Zamboanga
. The airline was re-branded for a number of times, first as Air Philippines, then as PAL Express. Due to financial losses, Air Philippines ceased operations for a short while until it was acquired by investors from the Lucio Tan group. After the acquisition, the airline was re-launched as PAL Express, to operate some routes and slot assignments of its sister company Philippine Airlines
until the management decided to re-brand the carrier as a budget airline now known as Airphil Express.
The new Airphil Express is Philippine Airlines
' answer to Cebu Pacific Air's dominance on the low cost travel market in the Philippnes which significantly shrinked its market share and relegated it to the no. 2 spot from its dominant no. 1 position since inception. It allowed PAL to focus on the premium market where it does not have competition in the domestic Philippine market. Airphil Express gained significant increase in passengers following its launch as as a low-cost carrier competing head on with Cebu Pacific Air. The airline is currently on fleet acquisition mood to support its planned domestic and international route expansion plan. Airphil Express currently holds the no. 3 position among Philippine-based airlines with 19% market share.
Air Philippines was incorporated on 13 February 1995, with the base of operations being the former Naval Air Station Cubi Point
. Flight operations started on 1 February 1996 with a Boeing 737-200
between Subic Bay, Iloilo
and Zamboanga
.
In 1996 six NAMC YS-11
and four Boeing 737-200 aircraft were acquired by the company. In 1997 an additional one Boeing 737-200 was acquired. In this same year the airline carried over 675,000 passengers and over 773,000 in 1998 . In September 1998 the airline was temporarily grounded by the Philippine Air Transportation Office, but was reactivated when U-Land agreed to purchase a stake.
It was in 1999 when Lucio Tan Group took over management of the Company. In March 1999, Air Philippines was granted approval to operate international services to Hong Kong
, Japan
, South Korea
, Taiwan
and the USA
.
In May 2001 two Boeing 737-300
aircraft were delivered. In mid-2002, charter flights were started from Subic Bay and Laoag City
to Hong Kong. Passenger numbers carried rose to nearly 881,000 in 2002. In July 2004 charter flights started from Subic Bay to Guangzhou
.
Air Philippines significantly increased ties with Philippine Airlines
(PAL), including the merging of frequent flier plans, timetables, and ticket sales. Air Philippines also recently moved into the PAL terminal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila). Some of PAL's major stockowners are also owners of Air Philippines. Though Air Philippines will officially cease to be part of the Philippine Airlines
Frequent Flier Programme "Mabuhay Miles" as of the 1st of October, 2007. Air Philippines has said that they chose to back out of the Mabuhay Miles program to benefit their passengers, so rather than flying numerous flights to gain miles and wait to a certain point to receive bonuses, passengers can benefit with lower fares and more discounts with quicker bonuses, much more like today's modern day low-cost airline.
On July 24, 2008, it moved all its operations to terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
.
On August 31, 2009, Air Philippines ceased all operations and folded operations into Philippine Airlines
and PAL Express
.
On October 27, 2009, Air Philippines began operating all PAL Express flights on behalf of Philippine Airlines.
On March 28, 2010, Air Philippines resumed operating services under their own right to Iloilo
, Bacolod
, Puerto Princesa and Cagayan de Oro, utilizing Airbus A320
jet aircraft under the name AirPhil Express. The airline subsequently operated eight Bombardier Aerospace
turboprop aircraft and two new Airbus A320s, all of which originally belong to Philippine Airlines
. There are 20 more A320s on order
Pasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
, in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It operates both domestic and international scheduled services from Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Cebu
Cebu City
The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
, Davao
Davao
Davao refers to several closely related places in Mindanao in the Philippines. The term is used most often to refer to the city.*Davao Region, an administrative region*Davao del Norte province*Davao del Sur province*Davao Oriental province...
and Zamboanga
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
. The airline was re-branded for a number of times, first as Air Philippines, then as PAL Express. Due to financial losses, Air Philippines ceased operations for a short while until it was acquired by investors from the Lucio Tan group. After the acquisition, the airline was re-launched as PAL Express, to operate some routes and slot assignments of its sister company Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
until the management decided to re-brand the carrier as a budget airline now known as Airphil Express.
The new Airphil Express is Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
' answer to Cebu Pacific Air's dominance on the low cost travel market in the Philippnes which significantly shrinked its market share and relegated it to the no. 2 spot from its dominant no. 1 position since inception. It allowed PAL to focus on the premium market where it does not have competition in the domestic Philippine market. Airphil Express gained significant increase in passengers following its launch as as a low-cost carrier competing head on with Cebu Pacific Air. The airline is currently on fleet acquisition mood to support its planned domestic and international route expansion plan. Airphil Express currently holds the no. 3 position among Philippine-based airlines with 19% market share.
History
Naval Air Station Cubi Point
U.S. Naval Air Station Cubi Point was a United States Navy aerial facility located at the edge of Naval Base Subic Bay and abutting the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines.- History :...
. Flight operations started on 1 February 1996 with a Boeing 737-200
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
between Subic Bay, Iloilo
Iloilo City
The City of Iloilo is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines and the capital city of Iloilo province. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas, as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area...
and Zamboanga
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
.
In 1996 six NAMC YS-11
NAMC YS-11
The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.-Development and design:In...
and four Boeing 737-200 aircraft were acquired by the company. In 1997 an additional one Boeing 737-200 was acquired. In this same year the airline carried over 675,000 passengers and over 773,000 in 1998 . In September 1998 the airline was temporarily grounded by the Philippine Air Transportation Office, but was reactivated when U-Land agreed to purchase a stake.
It was in 1999 when Lucio Tan Group took over management of the Company. In March 1999, Air Philippines was granted approval to operate international services to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In May 2001 two Boeing 737-300
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
aircraft were delivered. In mid-2002, charter flights were started from Subic Bay and Laoag City
Laoag City
The City of Laoag is a 1st class city in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It is the capital city of Ilocos Norte, and the province's political, commercial, and industrial hub. It is the location of the Ilocos region's only commercial airport...
to Hong Kong. Passenger numbers carried rose to nearly 881,000 in 2002. In July 2004 charter flights started from Subic Bay to Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
.
Air Philippines significantly increased ties with Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
(PAL), including the merging of frequent flier plans, timetables, and ticket sales. Air Philippines also recently moved into the PAL terminal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila). Some of PAL's major stockowners are also owners of Air Philippines. Though Air Philippines will officially cease to be part of the Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
Frequent Flier Programme "Mabuhay Miles" as of the 1st of October, 2007. Air Philippines has said that they chose to back out of the Mabuhay Miles program to benefit their passengers, so rather than flying numerous flights to gain miles and wait to a certain point to receive bonuses, passengers can benefit with lower fares and more discounts with quicker bonuses, much more like today's modern day low-cost airline.
On July 24, 2008, it moved all its operations to terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA , also known as Manila International Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area...
.
On August 31, 2009, Air Philippines ceased all operations and folded operations into Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
and PAL Express
PAL Express
PAL Express was the low-cost regional airline brand of Philippine Airlines. PAL Express operated from Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu City, with smaller operations from PAL's main hub in Manila, flying primarily intra-regional routes in the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as secondary...
.
On October 27, 2009, Air Philippines began operating all PAL Express flights on behalf of Philippine Airlines.
On March 28, 2010, Air Philippines resumed operating services under their own right to Iloilo
Iloilo
Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province,...
, Bacolod
Bacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...
, Puerto Princesa and Cagayan de Oro, utilizing Airbus A320
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
jet aircraft under the name AirPhil Express. The airline subsequently operated eight Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
turboprop aircraft and two new Airbus A320s, all of which originally belong to Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
. There are 20 more A320s on order
Awards and Citations
Air Philippines boasts a number of regional and international airline awards. The airline has been recognized as the "Most Outstanding Domestic Airline" four times by the Consumers Union of the Philippines and numerous other regional awards.Fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers (Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 Airbus A320 The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001... |
7 | 13 | 177/180 | Domestic/International | 2 leased, all orders are for new aircraft to be delivered by 2013 |
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 | 3 | 0 | 56 | Domestic | |
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 | 5 | 0 | 76 | Domestic | |
| Total | 15 | 13 |
Retired
| Aircraft | Replaced by |
|---|---|
| Boeing 737-200 | Airbus A320-200 |
| Boeing 737-300 | Airbus A320-200 |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | Airbus A320-200 |
| NAMC YS-11 NAMC YS-11 The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.-Development and design:In... |
Bombardier Q300 |
| NAMC YS-11 NAMC YS-11 The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.-Development and design:In... |
Bombardier Q400 |
Accidents and incidents
- On June 24, 1996, an Air Philippines YS-11NAMC YS-11The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.-Development and design:In...
aircraft struck a ground power unit while taxiing at Naga AirportNaga AirportNaga Airport is an airport serving the general area of Naga City, located in the province of Camarines Sur in the Philippines, as well as the city's metropolitan area...
(WNP). The aircraft caught fire. There were no fatalities among the 34 aircraft occupants. - On April 19, 2000, Air Philippines Flight 541Air Philippines Flight 541Air Philippines Flight 541 was a domestic Air Philippines flight from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila to Davao International Airport in Davao City. It crashed on April 19, 2000 as it was preparing to land in Davao, killing all 131 people aboard...
, a Boeing 737-200Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
crashed near Francisco Bangoy International AirportFrancisco Bangoy International AirportFrancisco Bangoy International Airport , also called Davao International Airport , is the main airport serving Davao City in the Philippines. It is the busiest airport in the island of Mindanao...
, Davao CityDavao CityThe City of Davao is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines....
, killing 131 people.