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Air Phil turns 7 | Philstar.com
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Travel and Tourism

Air Phil turns 7

- Nathalie Tomada -
It’s a familiar sight on board Air Philippines: flight attendants in dark blue uniforms with embroidered, ethnic-inspired trimmings and bright yellow scarves, bringing service to a personal level.

For the hard-working cabin crew of Air Philippines, taking care of their passengers is all about placing them on a pedestal, and always serving them with a smile. And this service never fails to translate to things that truly matter: the contentment, comfort and confidence of passengers who continuously fly Air Philippines.

Although its flight crew team of 136 able men and women stands as the most tangible presence of the airline, its success could not be without the people behind it. Whether it is on board or on the ground, everything is serviced and sustained by a team of committed individuals. Which says a great deal of the brand of service Air Philippines has been offering since its inception on Feb. 1, 1996.

Recognized as a newcomer in the Philippine airline industry, Air Phil remains undaunted in its efforts to conquer new frontiers, especially now as it soars into its seventh year. It hopes to meet 2003 with the same derring-do it had when it was starting with B737-200s for flights to Subic, Iloilo and Zamboanga.

Patria Chiong, Air Phil SVP for sales, marketing and administration, says, "We are a very dynamic company, full of energy and always in search of things to do." Still, this declaration should no longer come as a surprise for the one-time Consumer Union of the Philippines’ "Most Outstanding Airline" honoree, which in the past year worked to gain something to its advantage in the face of adversity.

Air Phil found a challenge in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, responding with intensified inflight safety and security measures. Ariel Cariaso, AVP for inflight services and catering, reveals, "Our cabin crew underwent self-defense training to be ready to handle extreme emergency situations." This initiative was the first in the country’s airline industry.

Moreover, Air Phil hit a rating last year of 97.4 percent in terms of on-time flight departures – the best performance posted by a local airline company.

Capt. Ed Medina, Air Phil SVP for operations, says that for this year they are anticipating more challenges to come. But for this seasoned pilot, there is no end to the pursuit of solutions to elevate the service standards of the company.

There are also many exciting things to look forward to. Air Phil has especially lined up attractive travel packages in full support for the Department of Tourism’s "Wow Philippines!" and promotions and deals to guarantee passengers a unique travel experience, not just a trip through the skies between cities or regions.

Among its anniversary treats is the 777 promo, where seven fantastic prizes will be given away to lucky passengers in the coming months with the grand prize to be handed out on Dec. 7. Air Phil is also selecting its "ambassadress of domestic tourism" in the pioneering Search for Air Philippines Travel Girl.

In addition, plans are afoot to expand domestic and regional routes with potential charter flights servicing Taiwan and China.

Today, Air Philippines flies to 14 destinations and growing, including the recently launched Tuguegarao route, international flights to Hong Kong via Laoag and Subic and charter flights to Brunei.

AIR

AIR PHIL

AIR PHILIPPINES

AIR PHILIPPINES TRAVEL GIRL

ARIEL CARIASO

CONSUMER UNION OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

ED MEDINA

HONG KONG

PHILIPPINES

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