Today
Monday, September 21, 1998
By Manuel Cayon
Reporter
DAVAO CITY—At least two domestic airlines are expanding their fleet to meet the increasing demand for air seats brought about by the impending closure of Philippine Airlines.
Diego Garrido of Cebu Air Pacific and Ramon Gutierrez of Mindanao Express assured Mindanao businessmen that they will field additional aircraft so as to increase flights, not only to their usual destinations but also to other routes that PAL used to serve.
The two officials, meanwhile, shot down the proposai of the representatives of the 42 business chambers of Mindanao to force the government to adopt a "short-term" open skies policy to encourage foreign airlines to service the abandoned routes.
Garrido said that while the government allows free trade and competition in the use of the country's air space and domestic airline business, it is to the government's benefit if the local airline industry gets back on its feet.
Garrido said Cebu Air Pacific has already talked with Air Canada for two short-range, 120- to I25-seater aircraft, and with another foreign company, which he declined co identify, for two wide-bodied aircraft.
He said these planes will be acquired under a lease agreement.
The decision was reached as early as June this year when PAL pilots went on strike. It was unfortunate, he said, that Cebu Air Pacific failed to acquire additional aircratt to immediately fill the void to be left by PAL.
"Unfortunately, it was then the peak period to destinations like the US and Europe."
Gutierrez, President of Mindanao Express, said the company will also acquire more planes under a similar lease agreement.
He said that the demand increased by as much as 90 percent during the PAL pilots' strike.
He said the company will acquire small planes, usually the 19-seater aircraft, "because there are shorter runways in Mindanao." Mindanao Express currently services 11 destinations in Mindanao and Cebu and there are plans to fly to more destinations.
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