The New Spirit of Philippine Airlines

CEBU, Philippines - Here's great news for travelers from Cebu and the rest of the country: Philippines Airlines (PAL), one of the national flag carriers, is set to modernize its fleet, expand its network, and introduce improvements in passenger service.

During the launch of its re-fleeting and route expansion program at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, PAL unveiled major customer-oriented innovations, highlighting the synergy between the airline and San Miguel Corporation, which recently took management control of the company. PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang was joined by Michael Tan, who represented his father, PAL Chairman Dr. Lucio C. Tan, in announcing the new program. "Our number one priority is to turn PAL around by tapping into the strengths of San Miguel Corporation and the Lucio Tan Group of Companies," said Ang.

Titans of commerce, diplomats and government officials, and leaders of the tourism and travel industry got a taste of the program's key innovations via interactive stations at the receiving area leading to the Rizal Ballroom. There was a model of PAL's third Boeing 777-300ER, the aircraft of choice for long-haul flights; a demonstration of the Book and Buy Ticketing Kiosks, which will be installed at selected Petron gas stations; and, of course, demo units of the inflight Apple iPads that will soon be available on trans-Pacific flights. At the ballroom, there were also samples of the new inflight dishes created by top chefs. Guests hopped from one station to another, trying out, for example, the slow-cooked U.S. Angus beef by Chef Billy King or the buta kakuni of Chef Masahiro Mizumoto.

"In the months ahead, three more Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will be delivered to PAL for a modern fleet that we can be proud of," added Ang. "For our loyal passengers, there will also be more exciting destinations with non-stop flights to Toronto, Paris and New York in the near future." Equipped with the clean and quiet GE90-115BL jet engine, the B777-300ER boasts of high levels of cabin comfort and exceptional fuel economy. The aircraft's body uses composites and advanced alloys that save up to 2,600 kilos of structural weight for an unmatched cargo payload of 28 tons and a range of 7,825 nautical miles. It also operates on fly-by-wire technology, meaning all components are operated electronically or without any mechanisms. This integration of the airplane's various systems results in easier maintenance and faster turn-around for availability of more flights.

Book and Buy Ticketing Kiosks allow passengers on-the-go to book PAL and AirPhil Express flights to any domestic destination. Each electronic kiosk features a touch-screen panel for easy browsing of travel routes and dates. Passengers can choose to have their itinerary sent to their e-mail account or printed on the spot. Ticket payments are done through cash, credit card- Visa or MasterCard-or any automated teller machine. Cash or credit card payments are made at the Petron San Miguel Food Avenue cashier. To start, 10 Petron stations will be equipped with the kiosks, including gas stations in Bel-Aire Square, Connecticut Greenhills, C-5 McKinley, and Filinvest, all in Metro Manila. And with expansion running at full speed, Cebu can't be too far away.

PAL will also be the very first full-service airline in Asia to feature Apple iPads on its flights. For a minimal charge, both business class and economy passengers flying to or from any of PAL's four North American destinations can enjoy a 3rd generation Apple iPad loaded with various entertainment options, from movies, TV shows, music, and games to the latest newspapers and magazines. With its quad-core graphics processing power that enable razor-sharp text display, the inflight iPads also feature PAL's regular reading materials such as Mabuhay magazine, Duty-Free catalog, inflight meal menu, safety card, and PAL promos.

I cannot wait to see Asia's first airline rise again to become one of the leading carriers in the region. With its expansion of routes and innovations in services, Philippine Airlines will definitely shine through once more. This is only the beginning!

For reservations, call +6332 340 01 91 or e-mail rspc_cebu@ pal.com.ph. (FREEMAN)