Luchtvaartnieuws / binnen en buitenland.

[Kano]

Cebu Pacific starts Hanoi flights


ABS-CBNnews.com  03/17/2012

MANILA, Philippines - Budget carrier Cebu Pacific will send its maiden flight to Hanoi from Manila on Saturday, making it the only Philippine airline operating the route.

The twice weekly service will depart Manila at 10:30 p.m. and arrive in Hanoi at 12:30 a.m Sunday. The return flight will leave Hanoi at 1 a.m., and arrive in Manila at 5 a.m.

Expected to be onboard the first flight are sisters of President Benigno Aquino, Vietnam's ambassador to the Philippines Nguyen Vu Tu, and Cebu Pacific CEO Lance Gokongwei, among others.

"This inaugural flight marks a very important milestone for Cebu Pacific as we become the only airline to operate direct flights between Manila and Hanoi," Gokongwei said.

"This reinforces our commitment to continue expanding CEB's reach in the Asia-Pacific region, and promote air travel to destinations not previously easily accessible to our passengers."

Philippine ambassador to Vietnam Jerril Santos congratulated the budget airline, saying he is "confident that the direct Manila-Hanoi route will spur further growth in tourist and business traffic" in the two countries.

Cebu Pacific will also launch more flights in the first half of 2012, including Manila-Xiamen and Kalibo-Hong Kong (March 23), and Manila-Siem Reap (April 19).

The airline currently flies to 33 domestic and 19 international destinations.


Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/03/17/12/cebu-pacific-starts-hanoi-flights

[Kano]

Aviation body to increase charges



Manila Standard Today Friday, 16 March, 2012

The Civil Aeronautics Board plans to impose higher airline fees and charges by 10 percent to cover cost of inflation and raise more revenues.

CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla said while the agency was generating more than what it was spending, it had to update its fees since the last increase was two years ago.

He said its proposal to raise filing fees by 10 percent must first be reviewed by the National Economic and Development Authority.

"Actually, we already have a draft but it has to go through a process. Before, it was not required. But in recent years, there are these regulations for increase in fees to be reviewed by NEDA. It is also important to note that one of the issues about the Philippines is the really high cost of doing business. So the government cannot just allow every agency to increase fees," Arcilla told reporters.

He said the 10-percent increase would have no effect on airlines' operating expense.

"The fees of CABs are very minimal. It was almost blunt," Arcilla said.

The CAB collects about P60 million worth of fees and charges from airline carriers yearly.

Fees and charges collected by CAB include application for the issuance of certificates and licenses for the conduct of air commerce.

The regulator also imposes fees on verification and supervision and fuel surcharge for both international and domestic carriers.

The CAB will hold a hearing on March 30 over the proposed increase in fees and charges.

The CAB is an attached agency of the Transportation Department.

Airlines have also increased fuel surcharge amid rocketing jet fuel prices. Philippine Airlines on Thursday said it would raise its fuel surcharge for domestic flights effective March 14.

The airline said the fuel surcharge for flights between Manila and Visayas will be raised from P300 to P352. Flights between Manila and Mindanao will have a higher surcharge of P463 from P400


Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/2012/03/16/aviation-body-to-increase-charges/

[Kano]

Cebu Pacific opens Kalibo hub  Now flies Kalibo to Hong-Kong



Philippineairspace March 23, 2012

Low cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) launched its Kalibo-Hong Kong and re-launch Manila-Xiamen international routes Thursday in line with its commitment to boost Philippines tourism.

"We are proud to offer these convenient linkages for Chinese and Hong Kong tourists to the Philippines, allowing them the fastest access to Boracay" vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said.

CEB sent off its maiden Kalibo-Hong flight yesterday at 2:35 p.m. in Kalibo, arriving in Hong Kong at 5:05 p.m.

After a send-off program in Hong Kong, the maiden return flight will leave Hong Kong at 5:50 p.m. and arrive in Kalibo at 8:20pm.


Source: http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2012/03/cebu-pacific-opens-kalibo-hub.html

The airline also celebrated its maiden Manila-Xiamen flight with a send-off program. It left Manila at 11:20 p.m. and arrived in Xiamen at 1:35 p.m. The return flight will leave Xiamen at 2:25 a.m. and arrive in Manila at 4:40 a.m.

Both routes are thrice weekly services.

The airline also flies to Manila daily from Shanghai, thrice weekly from Guangzhou, and four times weekly from Beijing. CEB also operates six daily flights from Hong Kong to Cebu, Clark and Manila, as well as daily flights from Macau to Manila and up to four times weekly flights from Macau to Clark.

The airline launched its Manila-Hanoi flights last March 17, and will launch its Manila-Siem Reap flights on April 19. It already  flies to Manila daily from Shanghai, thrice weekly from Guangzhou, and four times weekly from Beijing. CEB also operates six daily flights from Hong Kong to Cebu, Clark and Manila, as well as daily flights from Macau to Manila and up to four times weekly flights from Macau to Clark.

Kalibo is the airlines 7th established hub in the Philippines and the 4th gateway out of the country. The other gateways are Manila, Cebu, and Clark.

[Kano]

Wings Air and Zest Air to fly Manado (Indonesia) too from Davao



philippineairspace.blogspot March 23, 2012

Philippine carrier Mid-Sea Air Express launched its inaugural Davao-Manado flight on March 18 on a once a week Sunday service. The airline uses a 19-seater Jet Stream aircraft for the route.

Manado is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia.

Indonesia's Consul General Eko Hartono said Thursday that an Indonesian airline is currently processing papers and accreditation to fly the route soon while another Philippine based airlines is also applying for Davao - Manado route.

Shelley Sondakh, BIMP-EAGA Executive Secretary identified the airline wanting to operate Manado- Davao and vice versa routes as Zest Air and Lion Air subsidiary Wings Air of Indonesia.

"Wings Air will be flying in May, and Zest Air possibly at the later part of this year," he said.

Lion Air is Indonesia's biggest private airline. It operates 75 aircraft and has existing orders for 348 Boeing 737's valued at US$22 billion. It is by far the biggest single contract for aircraft manufacturer Boeing on the type.

Wings Air has applied for twice a week ATR service, while Mid-Sea Express intends to increase its Jetstream 42 flight frequency to two times a week. There is no details yet for the Zest Air flights.


Source: http://philippineairspace.blogspot.com/2012/03/midsea-air-express-flies-manado.html

[gosternokke]

Dat men deze route met een dergelijk klein toestel gaat uitvoeren geeft al aan hoe weinig belangstelling er voor deze route is.
Diverse maatschappijen hebben in het verleden geprobeerd deze route rendabel te krijgen maar is nooit gelukt.   Waar door de vluchten steeds weer gestopt werden. Hopelijk gaat het deze keer wel lukken.

[Ketelbinkie]

Een weekend Manado met een uitstapje naar Bunaken (duiker's paradijs) ter afwisseling; why not.

[Willy]

Yep, Bunaken en Lembeh street combineren met duiken op Samal (bij PieterJan) is ideale combinatie!!

[Kano]

Schiphol pakt rijen aan


De Telegraaf, 27 maart 2012

SCHIPHOL -  Reizigers op Schiphol hoeven binnenkort niet meer zo lang in de rij te staan. Mogelijk al komende zomervakantie zullen de forse wachttijden voor de paspoortcontrole aanzienlijk teruglopen.

Lees verder: http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/11791726/__Schiphol_pakt_rijen_aan__.html

[Kano]

Op dinsdag de laagste prijzen voor vliegtickets
Zo blijkt uit onderzoek

27 Maart 2012 Geld&recht

Prijzen van vliegtickets kunnen per dag sterk verschillen. Op dinsdag boekt u het voordeligst, zo blijkt uit onderzoek

Lees verder: http://www.geldenrecht.nl/artikel/2012-03-27/op-dinsdag-de-laagste-prijzen-voor-vliegtickets

[Rich]

di 27 mrt 2012

Paspoortscan Schiphol meteen nuttig

SCHIPHOL -  De proef met de automatische paspoortcontrole die dinsdag op Schiphol begon, heeft direct resultaat opgeleverd. Vier mensen die van de nieuwe controle gebruik maakten, vielen door de mand. Ze stonden voor verschillende feiten geregistreerd, zoals openstaande boetes of betrokkenheid bij het verspreiden van vals geld.

Drie passagiers hadden er zelf voor gekozen door de paspoortscan te gaan, een vierde was daarom gevraagd. Dat maakte een woordvoerder van de Koninklijke Marechaussee bekend.

Met de automatische paspoortcontrole hoeven niet alle reizigers op Schiphol hun paspoort te laten controleren bij de marechaussee aan de balie. Zij kunnen gebruikmaken van nieuwe poortjes.

Dat gaat als volgt. Een reiziger loopt een poortje binnen en houdt zijn paspoort tegen een scanner. Die scant de chip in de pas, waarop ook een digitale foto staat. Het poortje maakt ook een foto van de reiziger en de gezichtskenmerken van beide beelden worden vervolgens vergeleken. Het poortje kijkt onder meer of de afstand tussen de ogen klopt.

De poortjes nemen een deel van het routinewerk van de marechaussee over, die zich daardoor beter kan concentreren op het observeren van reizigers die zich verdacht gedragen. De Koninklijke Marechaussee Schiphol is dan ook verheugd over de proef.

De poortjes kunnen ook informatie uit de chip in het paspoort halen, die kan worden gebruikt om criminaliteit tegen te gaan. Zo valt uit de chip af te leiden of iemand nog voor bepaalde zaken staat „gesignaleerd". Dat kan uiteenlopen van nog niet betaalde parkeerboetes tot zware misdrijven. Vorig jaar onderschepte de dienst ruim 10.000 reizigers op Schiphol die nog ergens voor stonden gesignaleerd.

Alleen reizigers uit EU-landen, Noorwegen, IJsland, Liechtenstein en Zwitserland kunnen gebruikmaken van de nieuwe paspoortcontrole.

Het is onbekend hoelang de proef duurt. Er is volgens Binnenlandse Zaken 30 miljoen euro mee gemoeid.

Bron : http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/11798191/__Paspoortscan_meteen_nuttig__.html