PAL proposes new airport in Manila

The Manila Times
September 1, 2012
By Rosalie C. Periabras

To meet the growing demand of travelers in the Philippines, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is proposing the construction of a new international airport to the government.

Ramon Ang, president and chief operating officer of PAL, said that the airline has a vision to create a new international airport in Manila if the government will give them a go signal. He added that they will propose the construction of the new airport to President Benigno Aquino 3rd by January or February.

"In 36 months ribbon cutting already," Ang noted.

He also said that the new airport would have four parallel runways so that aircraft could fly simultaneously. It would also span 2,000 hectares, which includes a shopping mall, restaurants and other major industries.

He said that the company is in talks with a Korean contractor for the project, which has a 36-month completion target or about three years.

Ang said that the proposed  project would be aligned with the government's tourism plan.

Meanwhile, for the fiscal first quarter ending June, PAL reported a net income of $11.4 million, a turnaround from a net loss of $10.6 million registered in the same preiod last year.

The company incurred a net loss of $99.79 million for its 2011 to 2012 fiscal year, citing labor disturbance, the Japan tsunami disaster and volatile fuel prices amid civil strife in Middle East.

PAL's operational revenues increased marginally by 2.6 percent to $1.72 billion as the airline carried 8.22 million passengers, down from the previous year but still strong enough to translate to better revenues.

The proposed airport project is also a reinforcement to the airline's $7-billion deal to buy 54  planes which will start delivery in 2013.

Ang had said that the airline will buy a total of 100 planes to stengthen its regional flights.

The new aircraft will be used for its Middle East and Australia routes.

PAL carried more than nine million passengers both domestic and international during the 2010 and 2011 period.