PIA's plan to resume flights to Manila opposed

[smarties]

(Business World (Philippines) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has requested the Civil Aeronautics Board to allow it to resume flights to the Philippines after a two-year absence, board hearing officer Frederick G. Villarin said.

Pakistan Airlines wants to launch eight flights weekly - every Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday - from Karachi, Pakistan to Manila and then to Narita, Japan before returning to its home country.

The country's flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), however, is opposing Pakistan Airlines' plan to serve the Manila-Narita route, saying that the Japanese-Filipino air market is already well served by the Tan- controlled carrier.

PAL has 47 coefficients to fly to various destinations in Japan from Manila and other points in the Philippines. A coefficient represents the number of flights a carrier can make under the Philippine-Japan bilateral air services agreement.

Domestic passenger and cargo carriers Cebu Pacific Air, Inc., Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines., Inc., and Asia Overnight Express, Inc., also have coefficients of seven, one, and one, respectively.

Mr. Villarin said Pakistan Airlines would want to resume flights to the Philippines after economic situation has stabilized in Pakistan.

Pakistan Airlines has an active five-year foreign carrier permit to fly to the Philippines, but it is due for expiration next year.

The airline pulled out of its Philippine operations to the country two years ago amid deteriorating political situation in its home base, Mr. Villarin added.

"We are giving PAL time to submit their written opposition this week. We will then weigh the arguments and submit this case for board resolution perhaps next week," Mr. Villarin said over the telephone.

"Pakistan Airlines has a valid permit to fly to the Philippines so I think the board [CAB] will honor that authority. But the contention is whether we will allow Pakistan Airlines to fly to Japan from the Philippines," he added.

Pakistan is the world's seventh largest country in terms of population. Its land area is 803,940 square kilometers. The European Union describes the country as being located in a volatile region, troubled by instability in neighboring Afghanistan and Kashmir and characterized by widespread incidence of illicit trade, including in drugs and arms.

[behramjee]

The country's flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), however, is opposing Pakistan Airlines' plan to serve the Manila-Narita route, saying that the Japanese-Filipino air market is already well served by the Tan- controlled carrier.

The last time I read, PIA wanted to fly to NRT the extra 2 weekly flights with the routing KHI-BKK-MNL-NRT with either an A 310 or B 74M.

Such a route structure with an A 310 especially is a loss maker from the beginning...with the B 74M at least the extra cargo carried helps reduce the losses but still with a gas guzzling B 74M, this route if structured the way in which it seems to be will also be a loss making one.

If PIA really want those 2 extra flights to NRT then the best way to go is KHI-BKK-NRT.

For MNL, the best way is KHI-BKK-MNL twice a week A 310-300s.

But please explain to me what sort of traffic does PIA really see in MNL?

In the 1980s and 90s did it ever make a profit on the MNL route when it flew 2-3 weekly B 742s KHI-BKK-MNL-NRT?

It is way better and cost effective for them to fly pax to BKK on their flights or even to HKG and then interline with Phillppine Airlines or Cathay or Thai on the BKK-MNL / HKG-MNL route rather than waste money sending their planes there.