PAL resumes normal cargo operations

Manila Bulletin
October 9, 2011

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine Airlines (PAL) has resumed cargo services in all its domestic, Asian regional, and inter-continental flights operating out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in Manila.

"We're now accepting cargo bookings for all international flights, including wide-body domestic flights that operate out of Terminal 2," said PAL President Jaime J. Bautista.

"It's another concrete sign that PAL has turned the corner towards normalizing our operations after the transition phase of our outsourcing program," he said.

PAL cargo operations were suspended since the Sept. 27 work stoppage staged by the PAL ground crew union that led to a down-scaling of PAL operations just before the implementation of the spin off/outsourcing program last Oct. 1.

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 operations came just over a week after PAL implemented a wide ranging corporate restructuring program that involved the outsourcing, among others, of PAL Cargo.

The union's wildcat strike not only caused untold passenger inconvenience, but also a week-long suspension of cargo operations that adversely affected the shipment and export of perishable goods, farm produce, and other products.

"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," said Bautista.

Among the first to be loaded in PAL's cargo belly are 100 boxes of bananas from ABS-CBN Davao weighing 1.5 tons shipped to ABS-CBN Foundation in Manila. Carried on PR814, the non-revenue cargo was consigned to ABS-CBN's Sagip Kapamilya for distribution to flood victims in Tarlac and Calumpit, Bulacan.

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 percent increase over that of the previous fiscal year.

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

From Terminal 2, PAL operates international flights of varying frequencies to 25 destinations in 14 countries and territories. It also flies from Mactan International Airport in Cebu to two international points. In the domestic sector, PAL flies to 20 domestic points.

Cargo shippers prefer the large belly capacity of its aircraft that are deployed on major domestic trunk routes, making PAL the only local airline that operate wide-body airplanes in the domestic sector. For cargo updates, shippers may call PAL Cargo at (632)831-3061 or 832-3059.