PAL among most dependable airlines
Philippine Airlines ( PAL), the first commercial airline in Asia, is included in the list of 22 most dependable airlines in the world.
In a recent analysis, travel site WanderBat ranked PAL as the 21st most dependable airline in the world.
WanderBat’s analysis was based on three factors: how often flights are on time, delayed and cancelled; the number of bags that can be checked for free and the cost of checking additional bags; and the average fleet age.
PAL has an on-time percentage of 53 percent and the average age of
its fleet of 51 aircraft was 4.2 years. The national flag carrier has more than 40 international and domestic destinations.
Qatar Airways emerged as the world’s most dependable airline in the analysis. It received an on-time performance of 82.8 percent for its 144 destinations as well as an average fleet of 5.5 years for its 130 aircraft.
Emirates placed second, followed by China Eastern Airlines, Singapore Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Air China, British Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Cathay Pacific completing the top 10.
Also included in the list of 22 most dependable airlines were Chilean Airline, Tam Airlines, Japan Airlines, Egypt Air, Etihad Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Qantas, Aeroflot, China Airlines and Air Berlin.
WanderBat said “PAL has been reaping the benefits of a growing wave of tourism, both as more foreign visitors enter the country and as more Filipinos travel abroad.”
The carrier recently brought back service between Manila and New York City after an 18-year break and it is planning to expand elsewhere in North America, according to Business Travel News.
PAL celebrated its 74th founding anniversary by returning to New York last March 15, almost a year after the US Federal Aviation Administration (US-FAA) upgraded the aviation safety rating of the Philippines back to Category 1 from Category 2.
The Lucio Tan Group that owns PAL earlier decided to push back by four years the complete delivery of the remaining 38 aircraft from Airbus, to 2024 instead of 2020. It has also agreed to acquire two more Airbus A321 neo (new engine option).
After buying back the shares of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. in PAL last September, the Tan Group evaluated the fleet renewal program undertaken by the diversified conglomerate headed by president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang.
PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said the airline is looking for brand new aircraft for its long-haul operations to beef up its existing fleet of six Boeing 777-300ER and six Airbus A340-300. The airline is looking at the Boeing 787 or the Dreamliner as well as Airbus A350.
The PAL group, including low cost carrier unit PAL Express, has a fleet of 75 aircraft consisting mainly of Airbus and Boeing.
PAL is also finalizing a business plan that would pave the way for the entry of a foreign strategic partner that could take up a 40-percent interest in PAL.