I honestly don't know why the government would not want to help out the local carriers, I do not have the same info as what CAB has and so I might be walking blind but I think to keep business healthy and to improve travel between the Philippines and Malaysia, why not? With the current enthusiasm of having a new DOT secretary and a new found vigor for our tourism, again, why not? With the impending start of operations of AirAsia Philippines, although 60% Filipino owned can still be considered a malaysian company, again why not?

While we're at talking about increased flights to Malaysia, if its really hard to negotiate for more seats between Manila and Kuala Lumpur, why not focus the increase seats to Cebu, Clark and Davao? there currently is no flight between Cebu or Davao to Malaysia, opening this route would undoubtedly open a lot of opportunities for our local carriers and business in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Head on to Business World Online for the articles wiht more details on the requests by Philippine carriers.

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=Carriers-fight-over-Malaysian-allocation&id=38367

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=Carriers-seek-seats-to-Malaysia-amid-growing-AirAsia-presence&id=37122

I think this is purely chismis(gossip) 21st century style with technology being the culprit of bringing malformed news across borders or this could be a very good example of pass the message and how it ultimately distorts the message when it gets to the end of the line, this example could very well save time and effort and people would not need to go through the exercise and find out the same.

As this pans out, the only truth really is, we do not know what is in the minds of the playmakers and the other is people in wall street or in the financial markets are really just probably pulling our legs most of the time, with knee-jerk reactions and a game of who has the bigger ear for possible eavsdropping on the next scoop and be the first to react in the market. We are just going round and round in circles, we should go back to brick and morta style and sell what we have on hand, not what we expect to have better yet, spend(trade) only what you have and not with what you can expect to have.

We'll back to the ground or in the air, more appropriate, aside from the PLDT-PAL buzz, there is also news about possible consolidation in the Phillippine aviation industry, with 4 main low cost carriers and a handful of other local airlines and add to that the premier flag carrier, PAL, one would think this consolidation talk might just hold ground. or not? We'll demand for travel is definitely on the up, we are not opening new airports, our international tourism lags behind our neighbors with pathetic visitor numbers, considering I think we have as much to offer as they do, and there are still more direct International flights to NAIA than in other airports combined.

Considering all that, not that much room to maneuver for a lot of airlines then, But, recent news of CebuPac with massive orders of new Airbus aircrafts including the new A321neo paints a bit of a different picture. The start of operations of AirAsia Philippines expected next month also adds to the progressive outlook this industry has for the Philippines and the region. In the domestic scene, there would be more opportunities as more points are developed by the government or if they can't should privatize the efforts. I think the key factor to future of the Philippines is to establish more direct connections with North America, Middle East, Europe and North Africa, and in that order. Currently, most direct flights are destined for Manila, to further help develop the country more direct flights have to be established from the various major economies from other continents, the BPO sector would definitely benefit greatly.

So back to consolidation, if the carriers solely focus on domistic and they are not financially sound with not that much distinction in the market to drive customers to them, then I think some might fold or be gobbled up by the bigger ones, but as it is, International seems to be the key for the carriers, unless of course more destinations are established in the country or existing ones are expanded or the LGUs are going to give people more reason to visit either business or tourism. So, I think this really boils down to the people of the Philippines, do citizens want to improve current situation and move for inclusive economic growth, if so, don't leave it up to other, everyone must work together to help themselves rather than just say its up to them and they are not moving, take hold of your own future people!

Now, how do we bring those bigger carriers to the secondary airports in the country? or better, how do we help the local carriers expand to long-haul? this would be a good topic for another post.

Head on to the links for details on the buzz, and it being extinguished and possible consolidations.

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2011/09/19/5788947.htm

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/09/19/11/pldt-denies-investing-pal

Twitter is down from where I am so if you wanna be updated, head on to MMDA or CebuPac twitter accounts.

Flight 2P247 from Cebu to Davao had to return to Cebu last Wednesday, 14-September apparently due to problems with its left engine with the airplane or airline requesting for for priority landing.

Apparently while airborne, a warning light panel signified engine malfunction which forced the pilots to head back, upon landing safely the maintenance crew apparently did not find any issue and that both engines of the aircraft where working as expected with the issue isolated to the warning light and is considered a malfuntion, this of course is according to the airline, not sure what the Civial Aviation Authority says about it or even if it will investigate it which they should! do we even have an equivalent to the National Transportation Safety Board in the US?

Majority of the passengers where transferred to another 2P flight and aircraft with 15 passengers cancelling the entire trip from fear? well, not entire out of the ordinary, I think I would have second thoughts if I was in their place.

So, that big of a news for what turned out to be a warning light malfunction? this should not be taken lightly, with the affordability and necessity of taking to the air than other transport methods and considering the Philippines is an archipelago, no issue should be too small for the Philippine aviation industry, every effort must be exhausted to ensure safety while on the ground and in the air.

Work on sorting out the structural and technical issues at NAIA terminal 3 is also apparently on-going and hopefully a fully operational terminal 3 will greatly help decongest terminal 1.

I would seem that the current government is on the right track and is trying to improve existing problems by being creative and circumventing what could be prohibitive red tape existing the the government system. Good news for all of us I think.

It would seem the all three NAIA terminals or 4 including the old domestic terminal will have to be in full capacity for the near future until Clark or something else will come online but that would be some time as building a new airport is not an easy feat and a mass rapid transit system has to be in-place for that to work as well.

I was also hoping a sensible system to shuttle passengers between the existing NAIA terminals would be worked on and I can only cross my fingers for such.

Aside from NAIA, I noticed on my recent trip back to Cebu, construction was underway on extending the airport with visible work done on what could be extension of the international part of the building and its not clear to me but looks like another gate and tube. I'm not sure about their plans for the VIP building further to the side but considering its under utilized they should used it also.

There are also issues inside the Mactan-Cebu airport, one obvious problem which I could not comprehend how it passed building codes for it apparently lacked common sense is that on the lobby from the curb, using the ramp to go up to the doors for check-in, the ramp is so steep and slippery you would need serious muscle to move your push cart up best to give-up and carry your things up the stairs. It appears to be such an idiotic implementation that you could only conclude this was implemented by and idiot or the plans budget was cut to go somewhere else without looking at the repercussions or the planner had no common sense that such a steep ramp would bring so much problem and bad impression on the terminal.

Aside from that, the chaotic scene upon arrival with car rental seemingly trying to give you a hug even before your relatives get a chance to even see you not to mention that the un-authorized takers and bringers of bags then asking for pasalubong are still there, I don't know why there are still there. The airport officials should really remove the touting sales reps, they already have booths and they should ensure only authorized personnel are inside the actual terminal.

Its not all bad at the airport, the arrival parking method is now sensible and kudos to the metered yellow taxi.

There are current proposals for a new airport in Cordova but that is what it is, a proposal. I think there is still space for expansion in the airport but the runway itself I think would need more space for 1 more which might be a challenge so I think its good to start planning for a new airport now. There definitely is a lot of room to be improved and we hope the sensible actions planned in NAIA will also be cascaded or replicated the their colleagues at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority.

Please head on to the Manila Bulletin post by Andrew James Masigan for a really good read on the NAIA upgrades.