By Louella Desiderio | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp. (ARRC) said the proposed Sangley integrated complex would help address Metro Manila’s traffic woes as well as position the Philippines as an export hub in the Asian region.

BusinessWorld Online

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday invited parties to bid for the P553-million Sangley Airport Development Project, with the intention of immediately decongesting air traffic in the country’s main gateway.

By Miguel R. Camus | Philippine Daily Inquirer\

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines said it had ordered six Q400 turboprop planes made by Canada’s Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, valued at close to $200 million.

The Philippine Star

About 21 routes have been added to the portfolio of international flights to and from the Philippines this year as more airlines saw the potential of secondary gateways as viable points of entries for travelers.

By Jocelyn R. Uy | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Major airlines were forced to cancel or reschedule over 300 domestic and international flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) as Typhoon “Nina” (international name: Nock-ten) barreled through Luzon on Monday.

BusinessWorld Online

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES (PAL) expects to achieve its passenger volume target for the year and looks to ferry more travellers in 2017 with new routes and increased flight frequencies, its chief executive officer said.

By Victoria Bryan | Reuters

A deal to take over Brussels Airlines will help Lufthansa's (LHAG.DE) Eurowings budget business to double in size next year, part of the German group's response to fierce competition in the European aviation market.

By Mary Grace Padin | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines (PAL), the nation’s flag carrier, together with the Department of Tourism (DOT) has formally launched new direct flights between Singapore and Cebu following President Duterte’s state visit to the Asian neighbor.

BusinessWorld Online

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) expects to finish by 2019 its segment of the Bus Rapid Transit, which connects Bonifacio Global City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), a top official said.

By Imee Charlie C. Delavin | BusinessWorld Online

PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) is looking to develop Clark as a new hub, as it targets to expand its operations with more flights and new routes amid challenges expected next year.

By Emmie Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

To build a presence in the MIMAROPA and Bicol regions, Cebu Pacific is launching two more routes starting February 15, 2017 – daily flights between Manila and Masbate and four times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) flights between Manila and Tablas.

BusinessWorld Online

BUDGET carrier Cebu Pacific is planning to mount direct flights from Manila to Masbate and Tablas in Romblon starting February next year.

By Louella Desiderio | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – Passenger volume of Cebu Pacific and wholly owned subsidiary Cebgo grew five percent to 16 million from January to October compared with the previous year’s 15.22 million.

By Imee Charlee C. Delavin | BusinessWorld Online

PAL HOLDINGS, Inc. (PHI) is seeking the Philippine Competition Commission’s (PCC) approval for its planned acquisition of shares from the holding firm that owns Air Philippines Corp. (APC), as tycoon Lucio C. Tan’s group consolidates its airline businesses under one company.

By Miguel R. Camus | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Budget airline Cebu Pacific Air is evaluating the acquisition of larger long-range aircraft, including Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s, which would allow access to the lucrative nonstop Philippines-United States market, think tank Capa-Center for Aviation said.

By Imee Charlee C. Delavin | BusinessWorld Online

CEBU PACIFIC may offer additional flights to Australia and the United States as part of efforts to expand its international network, its chief executive officer said.

BusinessWorld Online

PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) is planning on expanding its international network further in the next two years, according to the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), adding more flights to Australia, China, the US and Europe.

By Samuel Medenilla | Manila Bulletin

More than a thousand foreign delegates from major airline companies are expected to arrive in the country which will host for the first time what is regarded as the biggest aviation meeting in Asia in a bid to expand its air connectivity in the tourist market.

By Emmie Abadilla | Manila Bulletin
To UAE,Taiwan, and Russia

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), in a recently concluded board meeting, granted additional entitlements to Cebu Pacific (CEB), for international routes from Manila to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from various points in the Philippines to Taipei and Kaohshiung in Taiwan and from Manila to key destinations in Russia.

By Jess Daiz | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Mar Roxas will turn Clark International Airport in Angeles City into a premier airport if he wins the presidency, Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez said yesterday.

By Miguel R. Camus | Philippine Daily Inquirer

CEBU Pacific Air may see its long-haul unit become profitable next year as operations mature, think tank Capa-Center for Aviation forecast in a report.

By Miguel R. Camus | Philippine Daily Inquirer

HOVERBOARDS are among the must-have gadgets this Christmas, just make sure to leave them at home before your next flight.

BusinessWorld Online

CEBU AIR, Inc. and Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL) have disallowed passengers from bringing “battery-operated personal transportation devices” on board their aircraft for safety reasons, following similar moves from carriers worldwide.

By Louella D. Desiderio | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Budget carrier Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) is reaping the benefits of offering long-haul flights as Australia and the Middle East were among its fastest growing routes in the first nine months.

By Louella Desiderio | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Etihad Airways is boosting services on the Abu Dhabi and Manila route by adding three flights per week next year.

By Carmelito Q. Francisco | BusinessWorld Online

DAVAO CITY -- Budget airline Cebu Pacific is looking at maintaining an 85% load factor for its newly launched Davao-Singapore twice weekly flight.

BusinessWorld Online

PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) is set to launch flights to Papua New Guinea on Friday (Dec. 18), as it expands in the Oceania region.

By Miguel R. Camus | Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE LOCAL airline sector will see challenging profit margins in the medium-term given the recent surge in seat capacity, think tank Capa Center for Aviation said in a report Tuesday.

By Kristine Felisse Mangunay | Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE STRONG WINDS brought by Typhoon “Nona” (international name: Melor) caused “heavy” structural damage to an airport in Northern Samar province on Tuesday.

By Daniela Wei | Bloomberg

Emirates, the world’s biggest long-haul airline, plans to deploy Airbus Group SE A380 jumbo jets on routes to the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou as it tries to differentiate its offerings to fend off Chinese rivals.

Reuters

United Airlines on Wednesday said it will cancel flight service between Washington and Dubai starting in late January, meaning no U.S. passenger carrier will fly direct to the Gulf states.

By Ding Cervantes | The Philippine Star

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) is set to hold formal talks with Philippine Airlines for the flag carrier to consider launching regular domestic and international flights at the airport here.

By Rudy Santos, Louella Desiderio | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced yesterday that its flights from San Francisco, California will disembark at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (NAIA-1) starting today until March 24, 2016.

By Emmie Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

Stimulated by lower fares, particularly for leisure travel, global passenger traffic for both domestic and international markets grew strongly this October, compared with the year-ago period.

By Fil C. Sionil | Manila Bulletin

Auckland, New Zealand – The Philippines will decide before Christmas from which manufacturer it will buy the additional five airplanes estimated to be worth over $1 billion. It is a toss between Toulouse-based Airbus and Seattle-based Boeing.

By Sam L. Marcelo | BusinessWorld Online

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- A new route launched by Philippine Airlines (PAL) cuts travel time to Auckland, New Zealand, by about seven hours. Prior to the flag carrier’s 10-hour Manila-Auckland flight (which includes a one-hour layover in Cairns, Australia), a trip to the Land of the Long White Cloud took anywhere from around 17 hours -- at best -- to a day, depending on connecting flights and stopovers.

BusinessWorld Online

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL) said its losses reach around $1,800 (around P84,000) for every 30-minute delay in its flights due to the runway congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.

BusinessWorld Online

THE CIVIL Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said aviation professionals remain in short supply due to lucrative offers to work overseas, with staffing for air traffic controllers (ATC) around one-third of the estimated requirement.

162 aboard Indonesia-to-Singapore flight
By Associated Press (AP)

Jakarta, Indonesia — In the third air incident connected to Malaysia this year, an AirAsia plane with 162 people on board went missing on Sunday while flying over the Java Sea after taking off from a provincial city in Indonesia for Singapore.

Flights to Bohol cancelled
By Raymund F. Antonio | Manila Bulletin

Flights going to and from Tagbilaran Airport in Bohol were cancelled Sunday after a disabled aircraft of AirAsia Zest obstructed the runway of the airport.

By Ben Rosario | Manila Bulletin

A review of the legislative franchises granted to airline companies in the country loomed following the public outcry over alleged abuses committed by firms against their passengers that usually occur during the holiday rush.

By Nestor Corrales | INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—After the chaotic and hellish situation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA 3) on Dec. 24 and 25 that stemmed from delayed and cancelled flights, Cebu Pacific has offered a refund to its affected passengers.

By Niña P. Calleja | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Long lines of passengers, delayed and canceled flights, people sitting on stools and on floors, and an Israeli man yelling at airport personnel demanding they pay him back for their incompetence.

BusinessWorld Online

THE PHILIPPINES is set to negotiate new air service agreements with four countries next year in a bid to expand routes that represent growing markets, an official from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said on Monday.

AFP

Paris – The first delivery of Airbus’s next-generation Airbus A350-900, to Qatar Airways, is to take place December 22, the European manufacturer announced Friday.

By Tricia V. Morente | Manila Bulletin

‘You never say never,” confidently answers Paul Gregorowitsch, the CEO of Oman Air, when asked about the airline’s plans to expand to other Philippine routes outside Manila. The flagship carrier of the Sultanate of Oman and an official 4-Star Airline (Skytrax 2011), Oman Air recently made its inaugural journey from Muscat to Manila last December 2, offering three direct flights a week

By Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) started yesterday the search for a concessionaire to develop at the same time operate and maintain six provincial airports in a contract worth P116.2 billion.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

The moolah has been raised and the remaining opposition to the takeover of the Mactan Cebu International Airport project by GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) has been quelled. But it seems that the much-awaited construction of a new airport terminal will again be delayed (by at least half a year under the most optimistic scenario).

By Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Emirates is seeking another 30-day extension for its third daily flight between Manila and Dubai amid strong opposition from national flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) and budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific).

By Scott McCartney | the Wall Street Journal

Abu Dhabi

There’s an arms race in the air fought with butlers, chefs, gold-plated cutlery, Chanel toiletries and private beds for couples.

By Elinando B. Cinco | Manila Bulletin

A top official of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has endorsed a price rollback of airfare of domestic carriers in a media interview last week. His endorsement is anchored on the already multiple fuel price reductions made by oil companies that have benefitted consumers and industries.

By Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

Garuda Indonesia has been named the newest member of the exclusive group of 5-Star Airlines by Skytrax, the world’s leading airline and airport review specialists.

Reuters

Geneva – Airlines need co-operation from governments to address security threats raised by aviation disasters this year, but would like to see a quicker relaxation of economic controls, Tony Tyler, head of the International Air Transport Association, said.

By Emmie Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

Tickets aboard Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) can now be bought through PayPal, a global leader in online payment, with over 157 million customers in 203 markets around the world.

By Niña P. Calleja | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–The construction of a third runway at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is now a remote possibility after an airport expert hired by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) advised against it.

By Vince Alvic Alexis F. Nonato | BusinessWorld Online

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) is thinking about establishing a new terminal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to go with a new runway designed to accommodate more flights, Secretary Joseph Emilio “Jun” A. Abaya told reporters on Tuesday.

By Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Emirates is pushing for increased air transport connectivity between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the back of the growing travel demand from entrepreneurs, executives, and international travellers.

By Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

The decline in oil prices over the past 12 months has had a major impact on most sectors of the global logistics industry in terms of cost base, according to Thomas Cullen of Transport Intelligence (Ti).

By Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

The accumulated passenger traffic for the first 10 months of 2014 grew by 4.9 percent. For the month of October alone, passenger numbers grew by 6% year over year, according to the Airport Council International (ACI).

By Miguel R. Camus | Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on Monday rolled out its next airport public-private partnership (PPP) deal, which involves the bundling of major provincial airport projects valued at P116 billion.

By Miguel R. Camus | Philippine Daily Inquirer

The European Commission last week released an updated list of airlines banned from operating in its airspace and it no longer includes Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific Air.

By Ariel Fernandez | Manila Bulletin

Philippine Airlines (PAL) passengers flying to or from Tacloban on January 17, 2015 are advised to rebook their tickets as Tacloban airport will be closed to all commercial flights during Pope Francis’ visit to the storm-ravaged city.

Manila Bulletin

The third meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) task force on risks to civil aviation arising from conflict zones (TF-RCZ) has approved a work program designed to keep passengers safe from conflict zone risks  wherever they fly and regardless of their airline of choice.

Manila Bulletin

Deutsche PostDHL, the world’s leading logistics company, is to open an Asia Pacific innovation centre in Singapore next year to pioneer sustainable solutions to keep world trade on the move. With an initial investment of S$10million (€6 million), the Asia Pacific Innovation Centre (APIC) in Singapore will be the first centre for innovative logistics services and solutions in the region.

By Kris Bayos | Manila Bulletin

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 3 and 4 will be closed to arriving flights due to the closure of roads during Pope Francis’ visit next month.

By Tara Yap | Manila Bulletin

Iloilo City – Before the year ends, there will be additional commercial flights in Western Visayas region, a development which elates Atty. Helen Catalbas, Regional Director of the Department of Tourism in Western Visayas (DOT-6).

By Emmie Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

Emirates Airline reported a total of $99.2 million in direct expenditures in the Philippines as it ends its 2013-2014 financial year.

Reuters

Geneva – Falling fuel prices and stronger economic growth mean global airlines will report their strongest profit margin in more than five years in 2015, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said.

By Emmie Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

Passengers can soon use their mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to book and pay for their flights via credit and debit cards to electronic cash even in sari-sari stores and convenience outlets nationwide.

By Emmie Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

The leasing unit BDO Unibank Inc. could now proceed with its P25-billion fundraising after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) simultaneously approved the company’s two separate debt issuances.

By Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Local carriers are strongly opposing the planned air talks between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) scheduled early next year as Middle Eastern airlines continued to dominate the Manila and UAE routes.

Bloomberg

North American airline earnings will climb 73 percent to $19 billion in 2015, bolstered by lower jet fuel costs, a Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst forecast.

Associated Press

DALLAS – American Airlines says it will spend more than $2 billion to make its planes more pleasant for passengers, the latest salvo in a competition among carriers to attract high-paying frequent fliers.

By Miguel R. Camus | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and the group of businessman Manuel V. Panglinan-led have sealed a partnership—not for an investment deal—but for a project to jointly develop a ticket booking app for smartphones and tablet computers.

By Niña P. Calleja | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Finally, the controversial Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 began to operate in full swing and serve foreign air carriers on Thursday night, more than a decade after legal issues had mothballed its rehabilitation.

By Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

DHL Express has unveiled a new intra-Asia express air freight service to connect the economies of Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong, through Bangkok, Hanoi and Hong Kong respectively.

By Emmie Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

The steady growth of world trade and business activity continued to boost air cargo, with demand, measured in freight ton kilometers (FTK), rising 5.4% last month  versus the same period in 2013.

By Miguel R. Camus | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—The operations of airlines and railways operating in Metro Manila were disrupted by Tropical Storm “Ruby.”

By Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to short list the prospective bidders for the runway optimization project for the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) while the proposed P2.4- billion parallel runway is still under evaluation.

By Aries Joseph Hegina | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) forced the cancellation of the following flights for Sunday, December 7, 2014.

BusinessWorld Online

WHAT IS IT LIKE flying the new Philippine Airlines (PAL)?

Of course PAL is the oldest Asian airline; it’s only new because of the changing of the guard. Or in fact, what passengers are going to encounter is the old PAL, for its control and management have returned to Lucio Tan. Old or new, PAL is expected to improve services.

By Miguel R. Camus | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Rivals turned temporary allies Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have turned up the heat on Dubai’s Emirates, one of the world’s biggest air carriers.

By Chino Leyco | Manila Bulletin

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) have formally asked the government to stop foreign carrier Emirates in operating seven weekly flights on the Dubai-Manila-Dubai routes.

By Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

Responding to shippers’ demand for additional air freight space, Cargolux will expand its cargo services to Vietnam with the introduction of a second weekly flight to Ho Chi Minh City and a fourth frequency to Hanoi.

By Jessica Jaganathan and Anshuman Daga | Reuters

SINGAPORE, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Airlines in Asia-Pacific are holding off from hedging their fuel costs as they wait for oil to dip below $70 a barrel in hopes of securing lower prices, industry executives said on Friday.

BusinessWorld Online

OMAN AIR is seeking daily flights for its Manila to Muscat route after successfully launching on Tuesday its Muscat-Manila service, its country manager said yesterday.

BusinessWorld Online

THE TRANSPORTATION department said it will offer six airport concession contracts in bundled form under the public-private partnership (PPP) program, with bid invitations expected within the month, though the exact combination of airports to be included in the two potential bundles will be determined after consultations.

By Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Dubai-based Emirates denied yesterday the accusations made by local carriers led by national flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) and budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) that it is mounting excessive flights between Manila and Abu Dhabi.

Bloomberg

Airlines will post record earnings next year as a wave of consolidation and streamlining prompted by the global slump helps rein in capacity and support prices, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said.

By Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine aviation industry had its “ups and downs” in 2013 as local airlines, both full service and low cost carriers, eye and gear up for more long-haul destinations in 2014.

By Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Low cost carrier Tiger Airways Philippines is set to focus its resources on transforming the Clark International Airport in Pampanga to complement its operations at the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

Bloomberg

Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea’s second-biggest carrier, named a new chief executive officer (CEO) to replace Yoon Young Doo, who headed the company when one of its planes crashed while landing in San Francisco in July.

BusinessWorld Online

TIGER AIRWAYS Philippines (TigerAir) plans to start flights to Japan by the second quarter of next year, a top company official said, after the low-cost carrier received flight frequency allocations from the commercial aviation regulator.

By Kris Bayos | Manila Bulletin

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Bids and Awards Committee yesterday awarded the P1.3-billion civil works contract for the NAIA 1 rehabilitation project to D.M. Consunji, Inc.

Bloomberg

Singapore Airlines Ltd.’s budget carrier Scoot and Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd. formed partnerships in Taiwan, Thailand and India as demand for budget travel grows across Asia.

Posted in Manila Bulletin

Low Cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air has started on December 21 the twice weekly Shanghai-Clark-Shanghai flights at Clark International Airport in a bid to attract more Chinese tourists to visit the Philippines.

By Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Airlines in the Philippines are looking at changing the way they calculate their cargo fuel surcharge wherein forwarders and shippers are expected to shell out more, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) disclosed over the weekend.

By Charissa Luci | Manila Bulletin

Manila, Philippines — Airport officials should be held liable for the security lapses that led to the death of four people, including a mayor from Zamboanga del Sur, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 last Friday, lawmakers said on December 22.

By Louella D. Desiderio | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Negotiations for the sale of the majority stake in flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) with San Miguel Corp. (SMC) are expected to be finalized by next year.

The Wall Street Journal

Asia’s skies are about to become more crowded. At least 10 new budget carriers are expected in the region by the end of next year, expanding fare choices for consumers but squeezing airline profit margins even more.

BusinessWorld Online

TIGER AIRWAYS Philippines saw its revenue passenger-kilometer (RPK) rise last month from a year ago as it flew more passengers during the same periods, according to data the budget carrier e-mailed to reporters yesterday.

By Miguel R. Camus | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Budget carrier Tigerair Philippines “temporarily” ended flights from Manila to Phuket, Thailand on Sunday, after only three months of operations, as the low passenger volume to the Thai beach hotspot made the route unprofitable, a company official said.

AFP

Singapore3 – Singapore budget carrier Tigerair and Taiwan’s China Airlines said Monday they would set up a new no-frills airline to tap growing demand for cheap travel in Asia.

AFP

Sydney (AFP) - Emirates president Tim Clark said he is carefully watching developments at alliance partner Qantas, but ruled out throwing a financial lifeline to the embattled Australian flag carrier, in comments reported on Monday.

By Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and France are set to sign a memorandum of agreement for the plan and design of the P7.2-billion terminal at the Clark international airport in Pampanga.

By Boo Chanco | The Philippine Star

Finally, a bit of good news! I texted DOTC Sec Jun Abaya to ask him the status of the work Japanese contractor Takenaka was supposed to do in NAIA 3. It took a while to convince the Japanese company to agree to the terms of a contract offered by DOTC for the completion of Terminal 3.

Manila Bulletin

Amadeus, a leading technology partner for the global travel industry, announced that AirAsia Zest flights will now be available to travel agencies in the Asia Pacific using its system.

By L.C.S. Marasigan | BusinessWorld Online

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) announced yesterday that it will open the financial proposals for the first airport public-private partnership (PPP) project on Thursday.

By Ding Cervantes | The Philippine Star

CLARK FREEPORT Pampanga , Philippines   – Seven flights were diverted to the Clark International Airport (CIA) here last Wednesday afternoon amid air traffic congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.

By Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Listed budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) booked a double-digit growth in the volume of passengers in the first 10 months as the low cost carrier is likely to meet its target of servicing 15 million passengers this year.

By Robert Wall | Bloomberg

British Airways has held talks with airlines in China aimed at boosting connections there while looking to add more destinations of its own in the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

AFP

Washington – The United States Monday urged Beijing to scrap new aviation arrangements set up by its new air defense zone which Washington has denounced as confusing and likely to increase the risk of accidents.

Manila Bulletin

Doha  – AirAsia continues to dominate the aviation industry being named the ‘World’s Leading Low Cost Airline’ at the World Travel Awards 2013 held in Doha, Qatar.

By Robert Wall | Bloomberg

Spring Airlines Co., China’s biggest non state-controlled carrier, has signed an accord with Airbus SAS for 30 additional A320 jets and may buy more as government policy shifts to favor discount airlines.

By Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

Asia-Pacific airlines have sustained the growth in international passenger markets and a stabilized air cargo traffic, according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).

Manila Bulletin

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, enjoyed stunning success at this year’s World Travel Awards last night, taking top honors for the fifth year in a row.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has brought home top honors at the World Travel Awards, taking the World’s Leading Airline title for the fourth year in a row.

Source: Manila Bulletin

MORE THAN 20 domestic flights were canceled yesterday due to tropical depression Quinta (international code name: Wukong), according to separate notices from airlines and from the airport management.

Source: Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

Asia-Pacific airlines are expected to see net profits grow by $200 million to $3.2 billion in 2013, the second highest absolute profit among the regions, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Source: Anurag Kotoky | Reuters

(Reuters) - Grounded carrier Kingfisher Airlines(KING.NS) has filed a revival plan with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a senior government official said on Tuesday, in an effort to renew its operating license before it expires at the end of the year.

Source: Cliff Harvey C. Venzon | BusinessWorld Online

THE P212.3-million worth of additional construction works for the structural retrofitting of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) will start after the holidays, an official said late last week.

Source: Cliff Harvey C. Venzon | BusinessWorld Online

TWO low-cost carriers have secured flight allocations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), an official of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said over the holidays.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) recorded increases in all three traffic categories in November 2012, including a monthly record high for cargo traffic.

Source: Maria Sheahan |Reuters

(Reuters) - Gulf carrier Etihad is buying a 70 percent stake in Air Berlin's (AB1.DE) frequent-flyer program, injecting cash into the loss-making German airline as it struggles to return to profit.

Source: Natalia Ramos | AFP

SAO PAULO (AFP) – After a decade of soaring growth as millions of Brazilians flew for the first time, Brazil's aviation industry has come back down to earth with a thud.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Zest Air, one of the Philippines’ leading budget airlines, is now offering flights to and from Manila to Kuala Lumpur (KL) in Malaysia — home to the Petronas Towers, the nation’s most famous landmark.

Source: Jarius Bondoc | The Philippine Star

What, the world will end today, Dec. 21, 2012, according to the Mayan calendar? Don’t worry; The STAR will cover it for you.

Source: Hannah L. Torregoza | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippines will soon experience a boost in tourist arrivals once the bill scrapping taxes on international carriers and shippers is signed into law.

Source: Associated Press (AP)

TORONTO (AP) – Air Canada is entering the low-cost leisure travel market with the launch of its new Rouge airline in the hopes of reclaiming the market share it has lost to domestic and international competitors, Canada’s largest airline said.

Source: Ercan Ersoy & Robert Wall | Bloomberg

Airbus SAS said Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines agreed to buy 75 A320neo (new engine option) series single-aisle jetliners, with options for 25 more. The airline currently operates a fleet built around Boeing Co.'s competing 737 model.

Source: Bloomberg via Manila Bulletin

Airlines are on track for their safestever year after the loss-rate for westernbuilt jets fell 54 percent in the first 11 months compared with a year earlier, the International Air Transport Association said. Aircraft from manufacturers including Airbus SAS, Boeing Co. and Bombardier Inc. suffered 0.19 “hull loss“ accidents per million flights during the period, IATA said. The rate of accidents involving losses or damage for planes built by all manufacturers was 2.14 per million flights, the organization said.

Source: Marichu A. Villanueva | The Philippine Star

TAIPEI — According to official government records, there are more than 100,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan. Of this total, AirAsia Philippines chief executive officer (CEO) Maan Hontiveros noted up to 35 percent of these OFWs in Taiwan come from the Northern and Central Luzon areas. This is why, Hontiveros said, AirAsia’s hub at Clark International Airport in Angeles City, Pampanga, is strategically located to serve this huge market of budget travelers in this part of the country.

Source: Robert Wall | Bloomberg

Dedicated air-freight operators are struggling to remain viable as a sluggish economy undermines their ability to compete with the cargo space on offer from carriers focused on the more buoyant passenger market.

Source: Alex Webb | Bloomberg

Deutsche Lufthansa AG said Emirates Airline is poised to overtake the German carrier as the world’s biggest cargo-carrying passenger airline in 2013.

Source: The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Tourist exchange between Taiwan and the Philippines is expected to increase with the launch yesterday of an Air Asia flight connecting the two countries.

Source: Alan Levin | Bloomberg

The US Federal Aviation Administration is lifting a 16-year-old ban on commercial flights by US carriers to two airports in Kurdish northern Iraq, citing increased stability in the region.

Source: Raul J. Palabrica Jr. | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Last Monday, the Department of Transportation and Communications and Department of Trade and Industry issued Joint DOTC-DTI Administrative Order No. 01, or the Air Passenger Bill of Rights.

Source: Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

The European Commission (EC) has recognized the efforts of the safety oversight authority of the Philippines in reforming the civil aviation system and improve safety guarantee that international safety standards are effectively and consistently applied.

Source: Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) of taipan John Gokongwei emerged as the preferred cargo handler cornering almost half of the total domestic cargo in the first nine months of the year.

Source: Paolo G. Montecillo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

The government is set to release on Monday the final version of the Air Passenger Bill of Rights, which is expected to take effect just before Christmas.

Source: Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

TORONTO, Canada – National flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is set to ask the European Commission from an exemption from a ban on Philippine carriers from European airspace.

Source: Bettina Faye V. Roc | BusinessWorld Online

THE DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P933.8 million for a public-private partnership (PPP) project aimed at improving 14 domestic airports to allow night landing operations.

Source: Cliff Harvey C. Venzon | BusinessWorld Online

FLAG CARRIER Philippine Airlines (PAL) has asked the government for seat allocations to Kuwait and Turkey, according to the company’s applications to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

Source: Manila Bulletin

Etihad Airways has launched its new “Etihad Wi-Fly” inflight Internet and mobile connectivity service, powered by the Panasonic Avionics Global Communications Suite.

Source: Jeff Mills | The Wall Street Journal

Stand by to be impressed if you are planning to visit Beijing in a few years’ time. Work has started on the city’s new airport, which, when it opens in 2017, will be able to handle an impressive 130 million passengers a year, almost 40 million more than Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta, which is said to be the world’s busiest airport at present.

Source: Emmie V. Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday held another hearing to thresh out the remaining issues on the Air Passenger Bill of Rights.

Source: Cliff Harvey C. Venzon | BusinessWorld Online

THE SECOND and final draft of regulations concerning the rights of air passengers has been issued by the Transportation department, with foreign airlines now covered by the guidelines.

Source: Cliff H. C. Venzon | BusinessWorld Online

BUDGET CARRIER Cebu Pacific is studying the possibility of forging a leasing agreement with a foreign carrier that is not bound by international aviation safety restrictions, in a bid to mount flights to the United States, a company official said yesterday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Asia Pacific carriers posted a slight increase of 1.4 percent in passenger traffic in October, 2012 compared to the same month last year and unchanged from September's year-over-year performance.

Source: Manila Bulletin

TORONTO, Canada - After 15 years, the country once again linked up with the North American East Coast via Philippine Airlines (PAL's) direct thrice a week Manila-Toronto flights which started at the end of last month (November 30, 2012).

Source: Bloomberg

Incheon Airport, South Korea’s busiest, is considering building a dedicated terminal for low- cost carriers after budget passenger numbers surged sevenfold in three years.

Source: Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - A unit of South East Asian Airlines (Seair) is set to start commercial operation early next year after being given a green light by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) last week.

Source: Boo Chanco | The Philippine Star

TORONTO – Last June 5, Bombet Arangote, who used to work with me at the then Benpres Holdings Corp. and now settled in Canada, sent me an e-mail from out of the blue. Bombet wrote: “PAL should also consider having a direct flight here at Toronto with their 777.  We might be able to get incentives that would help them create a market here.”

Source: The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Etihad Airways is keen to expand its network in the US, the airline’s president and chief executive officer, James Hogan, said in Washington D.C. last week.

Source: Lawrence Agcaoili | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - National flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), a joint venture between taipan Lucio Tan and diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC), is looking at flying at major cities in the US and European countries once the ban on the domestic airline is lifted by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).

Source: Manila Bulletin

Passenger traffic in September 2012 showed a continuous and steady growth in the Asia-Pacific region as airports recorded a steady +5.1% increase in passenger traffic compared to September 2011.

Source: Cliff Harvey C. Venzon | BusinessWorld Online

THE NEW CARRIER formed by the founders of South East Asian Airlines, Inc. (SEAir) has bagged a flying permit from the government, paving the way for the start of its operations by January, officials said last week.