PAL reduces flights; measures up

Manila Bulletin
September 25, 2011

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Airlines (PAL) is reducing the number of selected domestic and international flights for a limited period as the flag carrier prepares for the transfer of its catering, ground handling and call center reservations units to third party service providers on October 1, 2011.

In a statement, PAL disclosed that the number of domestic flights would be temporarily reduced by about 30 percent while international flights would be cut provisionally by 12 percent ahead of its long-awaited spin off/outsourcing program.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said domestic routes with reduced flight frequencies on certain days involve 14 stations, namely: Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Butuan, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog, Kalibo, Laoag, Legazpi, Tacloban, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga.

On the other hand, the 11 international points to be affected by the flight frequency reduction are Hong Kong, Bangkok, New Delhi, Macau, Singapore, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Guam, Sydney, Melbourne and Incheon (from Cebu). All other PAL flights remain as scheduled.

Apart from informing affected passengers, PAL has posted a complete and updated list of PAL flights at www.philippineairlines.com. For other inquiries passengers may also call PAL reservations at 858-8888 or their favorite travel agent.

Villaluna assured the public that only select PAL flights would be suspended for a few days, and would resume on varying dates in October and November as operations normalize after the spin off/outsourcing. She said all other PAL flights remain operational albeit on other available schedules. PAL may also merge some flights using bigger aircraft.

She stressed that the flight suspension on selected routes seeks to prevent sudden, unplanned cancellations and avoid passenger inconvenience. She said it would be easier for the flag carrier and its service providers to handle reduced number of flights as they adjust and transfer the functions of its three non-core units.

Villaluna said Malacañang, the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Transportation and Communication, Manila International Airport Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and Philippine National Police have been informed of the airline’s temporary flight reduction and other contingency measures.