AIR PHILIPPINES

'Air Philippines' is a low-cost airline based in Pasay City, Manila, the Philippines. It operates extensive domestic scheduled services from Manila and Cebu. Its main base is Subic Bay International Airport, with a hub at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila^[1].

Contents

History

Incidents and accidents

Destinations

New Routes

Fleet

External links

References

History

Air Philippines was incorporated on 13 February 1995, with the base of operations being the former Naval Air Station Cubi Point. Flight operations started on 1 February 1996 with a Boeing 737-200 between Subic Bay, Iloilo and Zamboanga. In April 1996 six NAMC YS-11 aircraft were delivered. In 1997 the airline carried over 675,000 passengers and over 773,000 in 1998. In September 1998 the airline was temporarily grounded by the Philippine Air Transportation Office, but was reactivated when U-Land agreed to purchase a stake. In March 1999, Air Philippines was granted approval to operate international services to Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the USA.
In May 2001 two Boeing 737-300 aircraft were delivered. In mid-2002 charter flights were started from Subic Bay and Laoag City to Hong Kong. Passenger numbers carried rose to nearly 881,000 in 2002. In July 2004 charter flights started from Subic Bay to Guangzhou.^[2]
Air Philippines significantly increased ties with Philippine Airlines (PAL), including the merging of frequent flier plans, timetables, and ticket sales. Air Philippines also recently moved into the PAL terminal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila). Some of PAL's major stockowners are also owners of Air Philippines.Though Air Philippines will officially cease to be part of the Philippine Airlines Frequent Flier Programme "Mabuhay Miles" as of the 1st of October, 2007.^[3] Air Philippines has said that they chose to back out of the Mabuhay Miles program to benefit their passengers, so rather than flying numerous flights to gain miles and wait to a certain point to receive bonus's, passengers can benefit with lower fares and more discounts with quicker bonus's, much more like today's modern day low-cost airline.
Air Philippines also boasts a number of regional and international airline awards, Air Philippines has been Awarded as "Most Outstanding Domestic Airline" four times by the Consumers Union of the Philippines^[4] and numerous other Regional Awards.

Incidents and accidents

★ On April 19 2000, an Air Philippines Boeing 737-200 crashed near Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Davao City, killing 131 people [1].

Destinations

Main articles: Air Philippines destinations

New Routes

★ Four times daily service between Manila and Malay, Aklan begins December 15, 2007.^[5][6]

Fleet

'Air Philippines Fleet'

Aircraft	Total (Firm orders/options)	Passengers (Economy)	Notes
Boeing 737-200	8	118
de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Q300	0 (3/3)	50	First aircraft to be delivered in November 2007
NAMC YS-11	3		These aircraft remain unused

External links

★ Air Philippines

★ Air Philippines Fleet Detail

References

1. Directory: World Airlines
2. ''Air Philippines History''
3. ''Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles tie-up to be suspended''
4. ''Air Philippines About-us Page''
5. Bombardier Signs New Customer Air Philippines For Three Q300 Airliners, Bombardier Aerospace Press Release, April 25, 2007
6. Destinations > The Philippines > Caticlan, Aklan, Philippine Airlines, retrieved August 9, 2007