PAL buying 9 turbo-props to service secondary routes

04/11/2008

Flag-carrier Philippine Airlines is acquiring nine turbo-prop aircraft from Canada’s Bombardier Aerospace at a cost of $150 million as part of PAL’s plan to revive operations on secondary routes not served by its bigger jet fleet.

The turbo-prop fleet will consist of three Q300 and six Q400 Bombardier aircraft, which are expected to be delivered in the next four to six months, the company said.

PAL is 85-percent controlled by publicly-listed PAL Holdings Inc., which is majority owned by tycoon Lucio Tan.

Deliveries of all nine turbo-props are expected within the next four to six months.

The aircraft will enable PAL to provide better service to passengers commuting between island points across the archipelago.

PAL’s renewed foray into turbo-prop operations enables it to expand its network to secondary points not currently served by jet aircraft, which can only operate to the larger provincial airports.

Most small-island airports in the country are able to accommodate only turbo-prop aircraft.

For passengers in these far-flung communities, being part of the PAL system allows them to enjoy seamless connections to the flag carrier’s extensive network of destinations throughout the Philippines, and across Asia, Australia and North America.

Bombardier’s top-of-the-line turbo-prop aircraft, the Q300 and Q400 are part of the manufacturer’s “Q Series” of turbo-props — the Q standing for “quiet” due to a patented suppression system that reduces cabin noise and vibration levels to nearly those of jetliners.

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