Red-letter event for Bombardier and PAL

Excitement was in the air at the Bombardier Toronto Facility during the delivery ceremony of the first new next-generation Q400 to Philippine Airlines (PAL). Proudly leading the way to witness the historic turnover was PAL president Jaime Bautista who came with a delegation from the Philippines composed of government officials and members of media. He expressed gratitude "to all the Filipinos who work at Bombardier for their part at putting together this aircraft for PAL."

From the Canada end were Philippine Ambassador to Canada and Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization Petronila Garcia who pointed out "the deepening friendship and economic partnership between the Philippines and Canada..."; Consul General Rose Prospero; Canada Senator of Filipino descent Tobias Enverga Jr. and his wife Rosemer; PAL area manager in Toronto Monet Trespeses; and other members of the Philippine foreign service. Very much around too were the Filipino workers who helped build the aircraft; a group who performed Philippine songs and dances; and the team tasked to fly the plane from Toronto to Manila.

Completing the list of VIPs at the red-letter event were Bombardier's vice president-commerical operations Ross Mitchell who said that "PAL has revolutionized air travel and we are proud to have such an innovative airline as our brand ambassador for our Q400 aircraft"; vice president/general manager customer services Todd Young; vice president-sales Francois Cognard; vice president-legal services Francis Lecomte; director-sales Asia Pacific Aman Kochher; Mitsui & Co. country chairman for the Phil. Noriyuki Moriyama; Mitsui general manager Masami Murakami; and member of Canadian Parliament for York Centre Michael Levitt who stated that "the delivery of this aircraft and the additional 11 Q400s to be delivered are testament to this aircraft's excellence and the excellence of all at Bombardier..."

It was a proud day for PAL with its gleaming new aircraft taking centerstage at the Bombardier Toronto facility.

GROUP PHOTO AFTER THE DELIVERY CEREMONY.

VIPS. From left are Philippine Airlines (PAL) vice president-corporate finance Joseph Brian Tan, Fr. Joseph Miras, PAL president/chief operating officer Jaime Bautista, Bombardier vice presidents Ross Mitchell, Francois Cognard and Todd Young, PAL...

TRYING OUT THE Q400. Philippine Airlines (PAL) president/ chief operating officer Jaime Bautista, Canada Senator Tobias Enverga Jr., Rosemer Enverga and Antonio Ajero. At the back are Doris Dumlao Abadilla of Philippine Daily Inquirer, PAL’s Monet...

SMILING FACES. Phil. Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia and Michael Levitt, member of the Canadian Parliament for York Centre. Right photo shows Carmela Dumol, administrative manager, office of the president/chief operating officer of Philippine...