PAL cargo operations now normalized

Manila Bulletin
October 11, 2011
By Emmie V. Abadilla

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Airlines (PAL)’s cargo operation is back on track. "We’ve turned the corner towards normalizing our operations after the transition phase of our outsourcing program," declared PAL President Jaime J. Bautista.

To date, PAL is one of the country's most important cargo carriers, airlifting 139,284 tons last fiscal year (2010-2011) or about 382 tons daily (212 tons - international and 170 tons - domestic).

This represents a 9% increase over the previous fiscal year.

The flag-carrier resumed cargo services in all its domestic, Asian regional and inter-continental flights operating out of NAIA Terminal 2 in Manila over the weekend.

"We're now accepting cargo bookings for all international flights including wide-body domestic flights that operate out of Terminal 2," he noted.

PAL suspended its cargo operations since the September 27 work stoppage which its ground crew union staged.

The wildcat strike led to a weeklong suspension of cargo operations that critically affected the shipment and export of perishable goods, farm produce and other vital products. PAL had to down-scale its operations just before implementing its October 1 outsourcing program.

The flag-carrier resumed its cargo operations just over a week after implementing a wide ranging corporate restructuring program that involved the outsourcing of PAL Cargo, among other things.

PAL International Cargo terminal beside NAIA 2 is now accepting cargo bookings for all PAL flights, except those operating at Terminal 3.

"The resumption of cargo service is a boon to freight forwarders and exporters who benefit from the flag carrier's high-capacity, wide-body aircraft and extensive domestic and international network," according to Bautista.

Among the first to be loaded in PAL's cargo hold over the week end were 100 boxes of bananas from ABSCBN Davao weighing 1.5 tons shipped to ABS-CBN Foundation in Manila. The non-revenue cargo was consigned to ABS-CBN's Sagip Kapamilya for distribution to flood victims in Tarlac and Calumpit, Bulacan.

PAL's seamless cargo service from local farm or factory to international markets is a major contributor to Philippine trade and commerce.