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EU lifts ban on PAL flights

Discussion in 'News from The Philippines' started by Anon220806, Jul 10, 2013.

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  1. Methersgate
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    Methersgate Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

    The 340 is my second favourite aircraft - very comfortable and quiet - but the 380 is even better.

    I wonder if either a 340 or a 777 will pay on the route - a 340 would have to have a substantial business class, and a 777 would need quite a few higher priced seats - when they are in effect competing with the likes of Emirates flying full 380s to Dubai and then 777s, always full of OFWs, Dubai- Phils.

    If they are going to be serious they had better buy some 380s or their seat costs will be too high.
    Methersgate, Sep 17, 2013
    #21
  2. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    I've not flown in an A340 however its internal cabin diameter is 60cm narrower than the 777 which might not sound a lot but is in reality quite a lot of volume, I always found the 777 quite comfortable in cattle class if you picked the right seat (seat guru is good for that).

    KLM are 3-4-3 in economy and 2-3-2 in business on the 777's, obviously 2-3-2 is rather comfy but there are a lot of rows in the back that are quite spacious and I'm a pretty big guy.

    I have flown in an Emirates A330 on the Dubai-Manila leg which has the same fuselage internal diameter as the A340 and that from memory was the 2-4-2 arrangement and I found that cramped and very uncomfortable but then again I did not get a window seat that time and my colleague who was next to me was over 6 feet tall and was really struggling to get comfortable.
    oss, Sep 17, 2013
    #22
  3. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    According to PAL here, the London service will be using Boeing 777-300ER which the airline has only very recently taken delivery of its first three.

    I'm a bit surprised that PAL chose London as its first European destination: the Philippines isn't exactly a 'must-visit' tourist destination and there are very few OFWs in the UK now, so I'm wondering where they will generate enough seat sales for 5x weekly schedule.
    Markham, Sep 18, 2013
    #23
  4. Methersgate
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    Methersgate Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

    Three factors, I think - first, PAL already have the slots at LHR and they may be being told to "use them or lose them", next, LHR has particularly good onward connections within Europe and lastly I saw somewhere yesterday that Britain is the European nation with the biggest number of tourists visiting the Philippines - 132,000 p.a. or some such number.

    104,000 in 2011 is a number given here:

    http://www.eturbonews.com/27831/philippines-tourist-arrivals-uk-exceed-100k-first-time

    and here's the 132,000:

    https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/philippines

    Assuming six flights a week that's 432 warm bodies per flight....
    Methersgate, Sep 18, 2013
    #24
  5. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    I don't know how the FCO is able to quote any visitor numbers as it has scrapped its "Locate" system - the online registration system for emergency contacts.
    Markham, Sep 18, 2013
    #25
  6. Methersgate
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    Methersgate Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

    I think you have a point, there...;)
    Methersgate, Sep 18, 2013
    #26
  7. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    I was on 'Locate' while it was in existence, however I expect airlines have to report actual departure and destination information for each British passport actually probably for all passports hence the requirement for personal details and passport or travel document number at check-in before travel.

    I know they did away with the actual border check desks on exit from the UK some time ago and some claim that therefore we have no idea who has actually left the country and who has not, but I suspect it is not quite as simple as that in real life.
    oss, Sep 18, 2013
    #27
  8. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    Well, it looks like they are flying into London and back okay, despite the scepticism.
    Anon220806, Dec 26, 2013
    #28
  9. malchard
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    malchard New Member

    I understand they originally were going to use Gatwick but Syrian Arab relinquished their slots at Heathrow (or were forced to)so PAL stepped in for 5 slots and I also believe if 2 more slots become available they will increase their capacity to daily flights sometime in the future.
    malchard, Dec 26, 2013
    #29
  10. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    They certainly are! However it does appear that PAL is not always being granted airway slots over mainland China and therefore its aircraft are having to take the more southerly route over Thailand, Burma and northern India thereby adding about 3 hours to the flying time - pretty close to the maximum range for a 777. I've noticed (from flightradar24) that the flight usually departs Manila a few minutes early and given their time-keeping overall, "Plane Always Late" no longer seems appropriate.

    I don't believe that's true. PAL have always had 5 daily slots at Heathrow of their own and BA "lent" them two additional ones when the latter gave up the route. When PAL ceased its daily service, its (5) slots were then lent back to BA. If and when Cebu Pacific starts a UK service, it will be using Stanstead in common with other LCCs.
    Markham, Dec 26, 2013
    #30
  11. blue_acid
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    blue_acid Member Trusted Member

    A family friend is currently in the UK holidaying and took PAL. They were really pleased that it was a direct flight and only 14 hours. I guest Philippine tourists would go to London more now that there are direct flights vs the rest of the EU since we still have to stop over at HK, Middle East or Amsterdam.
    blue_acid, Jan 4, 2014
    #31
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