Source: Jerome Aning | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino-owned Southeast Asian Airlines, or SEAir, began flying out tourists to Cebu on Tuesday, to take advantage of the growing tourism activities in Central Visayas.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

A BILL lifting controversial taxes imposed only on foreign airlines and shippers is expected to be approved by the Senate before Congress goes into recess this September, the lawmaker in charge of the measure said yesterday.

Source: Daxim L. Lucas | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Expect the battle for supremacy to heat up between legacy carrier Philippine Airlines and budget airline Cebu Pacific to heat up in the coming weeks and months as the new management at Asia’s first airline goes “all in” in turning the airline’s fortunes around.

Source: Paolo G. Montecillo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific is discarding nearly a third of its fleet and replacing its old planes with bigger and more efficient aircraft, as the airline continues to find ways to cut costs.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

LOCAL TYCOON Lucio C. Tan, who holds interests in the airline, real estate, banking, tobacco industries, is gathering his businesses into a new conglomerate that will replace listed liquor company Tanduay Holdings, Inc.

Source: Reuters.com

PARIS, July 30 (Reuters) - Air France-KLM beat expectations by halving its operating loss in the second quarter as cost-cutting begins to bear fruit, and told unions there was no alternative to restructuring plans now hinging on the support of French pilots.

Source: Reuters.com

(Reuters) - Etihad Airways and Aer Lingus have signed a code-share agreement and are discussing further cooperation, including joint procurement, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier said in a statement on Monday.

Source: Doreen Yu | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The government is looking at installing modular airport terminals as a short-term solution to congestion in high-traffic local airports.

Source: Federico D. Pascual Jr. | Philippine Star

CATEGORY 2: It is ironic that Philippine Airlines already has three gleaming Boeing 777-300ER and awaiting delivery of three more of this aircraft of choice for long-haul flights, yet is barred from using them in the United States and Europe.

Source: Manila Bulletin

WASHINGTON (AP) – Boeing Co. said federal regulators are investigating after one of its new 787 jets had an engine issue that sparked a fire in South Carolina, but the company remains confident in the aircraft's safety.

Source: Reuters.com

(Reuters) - European planemaker Airbus delayed the introduction of its newest passenger jet, the carbon-composite A350, as parent EADS (EAD.PA) unveiled better-than-expected second-quarter earnings lifted by resilient demand for its existing range of jetliners.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Etihad Airways will launch daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s commercial capital and most populous city, in October, 2013.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will be making network adjustments during the northern winter operating season from 28 October 2012 to 30 March 2013, involving capacity increases on several routes, reductions on others and seasonal aircraft changes.

Source: Reuters.com

(Reuters) - Irish budget carrier Ryanair (RYA.I) is seeking EU regulatory approval for its third takeover bid for former Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus (AERL.I), the European Commission said on Thursday.

Source: Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

Manila, Philippines - Zest Airways Inc. is in the advanced stages of talks with two to three foreign investors for a 40 percent interest in the low cost carrier as it prepares to go public over the next two years by listing its shares at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

Source: The Philippine Star

Manila, Philippines - Etihad Airways will launch daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s commercial capital and most populous city, in October 2013.

Source: Reuters.com

JAKARTA, July 26 (Reuters) - Asia's largest low-cost carrier, AirAsia Bhd, is making its first major airline acquisition by buying Indonesia's Batavia Air for $80 million in cash to expand in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, the two groups said on Thursday.

Source: bbc.co.uk/news

An 11-year-old boy boarded a plane from Manchester to Rome on his own without a passport, tickets or boarding pass.

Source: Manila Bulletin

CLARK FREEPORT – At least 10 cargo and commercial aircraft were diverted to Clark International Airport here early Tuesday due to bad weather in China.

Source: Senator Manny B. Villar | Manila Bulletin

THE Department of Finance’s proposal to authorize cabinet secretaries to raise the fees and charges imposed by bureaus and other agencies under their respective departments is a good idea.

Source: Valeria Covo/AFP thru ntn24.com

Chile's civil aviation authorities are planning a wide-ranging maintenance and safety probe of private carrier Sky Airlines after four in-flight technical incidents in less than a week.

Source: Lynn Adler | Reuters.com

(Reuters) - United Parcel Service (UPS.N) lowered its 2012 outlook, citing global economic uncertainty, and the world's largest package delivery company said it would cut capacity in Asia after exports from that region slowed.

Source: Manila Bulletin

TOKYO (AFP) – All Nippon Airways (ANA) said it was having five Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets repaired for an engine defect, the latest problem to hit the troubled airliner.

Source: Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the crafting of the air passenger bill of rights during the second public hearing held on Friday as it received numerous comments and suggestions from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), travel agents and airlines.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

SOUTH EAST Asian Airlines International, Inc. (SEAir) has joined other local carriers in seeking seat allocations for flights to Hong Kong, filings with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) showed.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

BUDGET CARRIER AirAsia, Inc. has scaled down its target for passenger volumes due to delays in obtaining permits and barriers still posed by the country’s low aviation safety score, an official yesterday said.

Source: Cliff Harvey Venzon | BusinessWorld Online

CEBU PACIFIC (CEB), a no-frills airline, has decided to start offering hot meals on all its international flights starting Sept. 1.

Source: Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) has approved two new transportation projects worth P48 billion.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

DAVAO CITY—The city government has stepped up its drive against human trafficking by setting up a desk at Davao International Airport on Friday.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

PAL HOLDINGS, Inc., the operator of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), expects to have narrowed its losses in the first quarter of its fiscal year due to the drop in fuel prices, an official said.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

MACROASIA CORP., a Lucio C. Tan-led airline service provider, is gearing up to bid for airport projects even as it braces for a profit drop due to costs of new ventures, an official said on Friday.

Source: Heather Perlberg | Bloomberg.com

FedEx Corp.’s (FDX) plan to boost air cargo profit margins to 10 percent or more, partly by replacing junkyard-ready jets with more efficient models, will be challenged by a yearlong wait for the first of the new planes.

Source: Marichu A. Villanueva | The Philippine Star

CLARK, Philippines — This is my first time to leave the country for abroad via the Clark International Airport (CIA) here in Angeles City, Pampanga. Along with several other editors and journalists, we were invited to join the inaugural flights to Macau and Hong Kong by AirAsia, the newest budget airline now operating in the Philippines.

Source: Michael Holden | reuters.com

(Reuters) - Passengers arriving for the London Olympic Games could face long queues at airports after a union representing passport officials said on Wednesday its members had voted to back a strike in a dispute over pay and job cuts.

Source: Louella D. Desiderio | The Philippine Star

Manila, Philippines - The Canadian government has expressed interest in holding talks with the Philippines to amend the existing air services pact between the two countries.

Source: Manila Bulletin

South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) announced the launch of its biggest seat sale ever with more than half a million seats up for grabs starting from P119, or up to 88% off regular fares.

Source: Heather Perlberg | Manila Bulletin

FedEx Corp. will have to fend off competition from United Parcel Service Inc. to keep a contract valued at more than $1 billion with its largest customer, the money-losing U.S. Postal Service.

Source: Eleanor Lawrie | Manila Bulletin

London’s Olympic organizer said bus companies responsible for transporting competitors from Heathrow Airport to the stadium are “becoming familiar” with routes after reports of lengthy delays yesterday as drivers became lost.

Source: Michael D. Baños | BusinessWorld Online

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Tourism officials and a domestic airline are forging new links between regional destinations. Last month, Cebu Pacific Air brought travel writers from this city to Iloilo in Western Visayas, a tourism destination Cagay-anons might want to explore. A return visit by Iloilo journalists to Cagayan de Oro is now in the works.

Source: The Philippine Star

Manila, Philippines -  Etihad Airways announced a 31 percent increase in its second quarter revenues to $1.25 billion, contributing to first half 2012 revenues up 30 percent to $2.24 billion. Passenger numbers leapt to 2.55 million in second quarter, up 34 percent, and to 4.89 million in the half year, thanks to increased overall capacity and improved seat factors.

Source: John Crawley and Diane Bartz | reuters.com

(Reuters) - US Airways Group has been laying the regulatory and political groundwork for a potential merger with American Airlines and would prefer to cement a bid while its rival is in bankruptcy, US Airways Chief Executive Doug Parker said.

Source: Mary Ann Ll Reyes | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific (CEB) is spending close to $1 billion next year to acquire new planes, some of which will be used for its newest move to undertake long-haul flights for the first time.

Source: Zinnia dela Peña | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - PAL Holdings Inc., the parent company of flag carrier Philippine Airlines, reported a total comprehensive net loss of P3.7 billion for its fiscal year ending March this year, 40.7 percent higher than the P2.63 billion loss recorded in the previous year.

Source: Lynn Adler | reuters.com

(Reuters) - Package-delivery company FedEx Corp (FDX.N) risks losing its business with the U.S. Postal Service, worth more than $1 billion a year, when the beleaguered postal service puts the contract up for bid next year.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said Wednesday his country was open to having new air talks with the Philippines to discuss potential flights by Air Canada to the Philippines and additional entitlements for Philippine Airlines (PAL).

Source: reuters.com

(Reuters) - Pilots at United Continental Holdings on Tuesday voted to authorize a strike, showing their growing frustration after failing to agree on a contract after two years of talks with management.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

AirAsia was awarded the World’s Best Low Cost Airline award by Skytrax for the fourth consecutive year, prompting the airline to offer more low-fare promotions.

Source: The Philippine Star

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Delta Air Lines Inc. and the FBI are trying to figure out how needles got into turkey sandwiches served aboard four flights from Amsterdam. One passenger was injured.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

PLANS FOR Singaporean carrier Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd. to buy into the locally-operated South East Asian Airlines, Inc. (SEAir) has been delayed as due diligence has taken longer than expected, an official yesterday said.

Source: Emmie V. Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Cebu Pacific (CEB) begins direct flights from Iloilo to Hong Kong, Singapore, Puerto Princesa and General Santos this November, making Iloilo its 4th hub in the Philippines.

Source: Manila Bulletin

SHANGHAI — DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, opened on July 12 its biggest express hub in Asia – the US$175-million  DHL Express North Asia Hub at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Source: Manila Bulletin

CLARK, PAMPANGA – AirAsia was awarded the World’s Best Low Cost Airline by Skytrax for the fourth consecutive year, inspiring the airline to offer more low fares with the World’s Best Ever Sale to all its guests, who have made it possible for AirAsia to attain this great success once again.

Source: Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Etihad Airways has landed all three First Class titles at the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards 2012.

Source: Paolo G. Montecillo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Due to popular demand, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has extended its “Fly All You Can” promo until July 18, Wednesday.

Source: Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Budget airlines Cebu Air Inc. of taipan John Gokongwei and Zest Airways Inc. of Amb. Alfredo Yao are seeking the go-signal from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to fly to Papua New Guinea.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Qatar Airways has once again triumphed at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards, winning three top accolades including the main award World's Best Airline for the second year running.

Source: Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is expecting global air traffic, expressed in passenger-kilometers performed (PKPs), to grow by 5.4 percent this year, a slight slowdown from 2011.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

DAVAO CITY -- The Philippines and Indonesia have started discussing the possibility of opening regular seaborne cargo services between Manado in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province and the cities of Davao and General Santos in Mindanao, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said in a statement over the weekend.

Source: Diane Claire J. Jiao | BusinessWorld Online

THE COMMON carriers tax (CCT) must be abolished because it discriminates against international air and shipping lines, the National Tax Research Center (NTRC) said.

Source: Lawrence Agcaoili | Philippine Star

Manila, Philippines -  The Aquino administration is spending P100 million to conduct a feasibility study on the viability of transforming the Clark International Airport as the country’s second main international gateway after the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Source: Manila Bulletin

The global demand for air travel has consistently posted positive  growth every month over the last two years.

Source: Paolo G. Montecillo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Department of Transportation and Communications is wooing big South Korean firms to take part in the project that will improve the air navigation system at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.

Source: Paolo G. Montecillo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Travelers in Asia are expected to turn to the Internet more and more to book their flights and hotel rooms as more people in the region become more comfortable with making transactions over the Web.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Etihad Airways has set new passenger records, with more than 158,500 air travellers flying with the Abu Dhabi-based airline between Tuesday, June 26, and Saturday, June 30, averaging 31,700 passengers each day.

Source: Ben Perry/Agence France Presse | mb.com.ph

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom (AFP) – Airbus struck back at rival Boeing in the battle for plane orders at the Farnborough airshow on Tuesday, revealing a surprise multi-billion-dollar firm deal for the future A350.

Source: BusinessWorld Onlilne

TAKENAKA CORP. and the management of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have been given until this month to settle talks on the completion of Terminal 3, a Cabinet official said yesterday.

Source: Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has started conducting a series of public hearings to draft a bill of rights for airline passengers.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cebu Pacific chief executive officer and president Lance Gokongwei was recognized at the annual Airline Strategy Awards 2012, held in London last Sunday, “for leading Cebu Pacific to become the largest and most profitable domestic carrier in the Philippines.”

Source: BusinessWorld Online

THE AUCTION for P297 million worth of airport security equipment that was supposed to have been held yesterday was moved to July 23, a notice from the Transportation department showed.

Source: Elfren Sicangco Cruz | BusinessWorld Online

Conclusion

Last week, I wrote the first part of this column about Maan Hontiveros, President and CEO of AirAsia Philippines which started its first flight last March. Today AirAsia has won international awards as the best low cost carrier (LCC). In the Philippines it flies to Boracay, Puerto Princesa and Davao. Air Asia Philippines flies from Clark to Kuala Lumpur and by next month to Hong Kong and Macau. Here is the continuation of that interview.

Source: Lawrence Agcaoili | Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) vowed to strike a balance between the rights of passengers and the profitability as well as sustainability of the airline industry as the government finalizes the proposed Air Passenger Bill of Rights.

Source: Rainier Allan Ronda | Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The multi-government agency effort to address consumer complaints will not kill the highly successful budget air travel that has fueled the growth of the local aviation industry, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said.

Source: Lawrence Agcaoili | Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - From “bring me” parlor games, passengers of Cebu Pacific would soon be treated to hi-tech fun games using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter as the Gokongwei-owned airline is set to become the first budget airline to provide inflight Internet access.

Source: Sharon Chen/Bloomberg thru mb.com.ph

Asia-Pacific budget airlines Air-Asia Bhd. and Qantas Airways Ltd.’s Jetstar overtook full-service carriers in a brand-reputation survey as more passengers in the region turned to cheaper options amid a global economic slowdown.

Source: Conrado Banal | Philippine Daily Inquirer

When in April this year San Miguel invested $500 million for 49 percent control of our flag-carrier Philippine Airlines, the conglomerate also injected a good dose of confidence in the economy.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

STRICTER SCREENING procedures in airports will be conducted in view of the recent breakout of a fatal respiratory disease in Cambodia, the Department of Health (DoH) announced yesterday.

Source: BusinessWorld Onlilne

THE GOVERNMENT has begun studying the possibility of expanding Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark Freeport Zone beyond the planned P12-billion new passenger terminal, an official said over the weekend.

Source: DOTC

The Department of Transportation and Communications, together with the Department of Trade and Industry, will be conducting a series of public hearings beginning Friday to draft a bill of rights for airline passengers.

Source: Paolo G. Montecillo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Airline passengers have reason to rejoice with the launch of a new promo from Philippine Airlines (PAL) that gives travellers the chance to go on as many trips as they can.

Source: Harumi Ozawa/Agence France Presse thru mb.com.ph

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) – Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) said it would issue new shares worth over 200 billion yen ($2.5 billion) this month, in a move that sent its stock into a nosedive, tumbling 14 percent by the close.

Source: BusinessWeek.com

NEW DELHI (AP) — Hundreds of striking pilots of India's national carrier have ended a 58 day strike following a court order for them to return to work within two days.

Source: Lawrence Agcaoili | Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - More and more foreign and local tourists are now using the Clark International Airport as the volume of passengers using the gateway in Pampanga jumped 54 percent in the first half of the year.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

CEBU PACIFIC may again resort to asking regulators to hand over some of Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) Middle East seat allocations as the budget carrier works to launch long-haul flights by next year, an official said.

Source: Rainier Allan Ronda | Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Newly-installed Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) director general William Hotchkiss III on Monday said he needs time to assess the pressing issues facing CAAP before he can make a timetable for the country to regain its Category I status with the United States’ Federal Aviation Authority (US FAA).

Source: Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines – The board of directors of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has elected  Lt. Gen William Hotchkiss III (Ret) as director general of CAAP during a recent meeting at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Source: The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Etihad Airways has set new passenger records, with more than 158,500 air travellers flying with the Abu Dhabi-based airline between June 26 and June 30, averaging 31,700 passengers each day.

Source: Joshua Freed/Associated Press thru Manila Bulletin

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Pilots at Delta Air Lines approved a new contract that will prompt a major shift in the way Delta uses smaller jets.

Source: Chris Cooper and Kiyotaka Matsuda/Bloomberg

TOKYO – Jetstar Japan Co., part-owned by Qantas Airways Ltd. and Japan Airlines Co., started flights Monday, becoming the second of three low-cost carriers to begin services in the country this year.

Source: Joshua Freed/Associated Press | Manila Bulletin

CHICAGO (AP) – Boeing is raising its 20-year prediction for worldwide airplane sales to 34,000 jets, enough to double the size of the world's fleet, as more people travel in China, India, and other emerging markets.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

A PASSENGER bill of rights has been drafted by the government, setting general guidelines on the obligations of airlines.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

CEBU PACIFIC plans to offer wireless Internet connection on long-haul flights next year, firming up earlier announced plans to fly non-stop to new destinations such as the Middle East, Australia, parts of Europe and the United States.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

BUDGET CARRIER Airphil Express has lowered the fuel surcharge it collects for domestic flights as global fuel prices have continued to fall, documents from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) showed.

Source: Emmie V. Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Global aviation traffic results for May deteriorated along with the world’s economic situation, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Source: Manila Bulletin

NEW YORK (AFP) – European planemaker Airbus unveiled plans to open a factory on Boeing's home turf Monday, a gambit that would see the firm roll out its first US-built plane by 2016.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

THE OPERATION and maintenance (O&M) project of Laguindingan International Airport in Cagayan de Oro City -- one of 22 priority projects under the government’s centerpiece private-public partnership (PPP) program -- will be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) this month in hopes of having it rolled out before the year ends, officials said yesterday.

Source: reuters.com

(Reuters) - FedEx Corp (FDX.N) is advancing its FedEx Express unit's fleet upgrade to more fuel-efficient aircraft by buying 19 additional Boeing Co (BA.N) 767-300 aircraft.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

THE GOAL of securing an aviation safety upgrade this year from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may not be met, the new Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) chief said, noting the need to review claimed improvements.

Source: Lawrence Agcaoili | Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to fully implement the on the overbooking of flights by local airlines next month as the government continued to implement measures that would help decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Source: Rainier Allan Ronda | Philippine Star

Manila, Philippines -  Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) director general William Hotchkiss has reported that congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) runway has been eased through a coordinated arrival slotting system (CASS) put in place last week.

Source: BusinessWorld Online

AIRLINES should be given “commercial freedom” to set service terms, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said as the government prepares new rules aimed at improving passenger protection.

Source: Paolo G. Montecillo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

The government is confident that former Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lieutenant General William Hotchkiss III will be able to lift the country out of its “category 2” ranking by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).