Luchtvaartnieuws / binnen en buitenland.

[Kano]

Airlines to serve new Eastern and Northern Samar routes


PIA Saturday 11th of February 2012

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Feb. 11 (PIA) -- Two airline companies in the country will start to service Samar Island in two weeks' time.

The first commercial flight at the Guiuan Airport in Eastern Samar will take off on February 20 as the Mid-Sea Express will conduct is maiden flight for the Cebu-Guiuan route on that day.

Meanwhile, Eagle Trans Asia Airways Corp. (ETA Air) will serve the Catarman-Cebu and Catarman-Tacloban routes starting February 22.

Northern Samar Governor Paul Daza said that ETA Air will field a 29-seater aircraft to serve Catarman, capital town of Northern Samar.

"The 29-seater aircraft will both load passengers and cargo. There will be additional economic trade between Tacloban and direct link between Catarman and Cebu," Northern Samar Governor Paul R. Daza told the local media.

Governor Daza said that the introduction of this link will shorten travel time between Cebu and Catarman and the travel time between Catarman and Tacloban.

Currently, travelers from Catarman have to go to Tacloban which is five hours away by land, or to Manila to get to Cebu.

The aircraft will depart from Cebu for Catarman at 8:00 a.m. and is estimated to arrive at 8:35 a.m. The plan will leave for Tacloban at 9 a.m. and from Tacloban, it will leave for Catarman at 9:40 a.m. From Catarman, it will fly back to Cebu at 10:20 a.m.

The airline added that they will operate with the route every Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Meanwhile, Guiuan Analiza Gonzales Kwan confirmed that the launching of the Mid-Sea Express service in Guiuan is on February 20.

Mayor Kwan said the Mid-Sea Express service will greatly help boost tourism in Guiuan, the jump-off point to surfing destination Calicoan Island.

Guiuan is 109 kilometers south of the provincial capital of Borongan City and 154 kilometers from Tacloban City.

On its website, the airline company said its 19-seater Jetstream 32 aircraft will serve the Cebu-Guiuan route at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Mondays, and the Guiuan-Cebu route at 12:00 noon on Saturdays and Mondays. (PIA8)

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1141328942293

[Kano]

Travel site names world's best, worst airlines


GMA News February 17, 2012 12:00pm

With over three million Filipinos traveling abroad every year, it becomes important to know which airlines offer the best and worst foods.

According to a survey of the a flight comparison site, skyscanner.net 18/19 international airlines surprisingly passed the taste buds of airline passengers.

A report of the news site Emirates 24/7 on Monday named the top five airlines offering scrumptious meals:

1. Turkish Airlines (scored 86/100)

2. Singapore Airlines (81/100)

3. Etihad (80/100)

4. Aer Lingus (78/100)

5. Emirates (77/100)

The Emirates 24/7 report noted that article noted that Turkish Airlines' menu topped the list as it offers mouth-watering dishes such as stuffed eggplant and walnut pear tart.

The airline provides a variety of special meals such as kid's, Kosher, vegetarian, and seafood.

The report noted that Singapore Airlines came second on the list after top chef Gordon Ramsay joined its culinary team.

It likewise noted that the United Arab Emirates competing airlines – Etihad and Emirates — both made it to the top five list.

According to the skyscanner.net survey, the bottom five on the list were:

1. American Airlines (scored 47.5/100)

2. Lufthansa (53/100)

3. Alitalia (54/100)

4. Virgin Atlantic (57/100)

5. Qatar Airways (57/100)

Tagged as the worst airline, American Airlines offers a wide array of food options below $10.

Oddly enough on its website, American Airlines says: "we understand that you want variety and convenience when choosing inflight snacks and meals."

Above its menu, it says: "Please find below a variety of sweet and savory snacks, fresh sandwiches and salads that we offer inflight." - VVP, GMA News

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/248399/pinoyabroad/travel-site-names-world-s-best-worst-airlines

[Kano]

AirAsia to launch 4 domestic, 6 int'l routes this year


The Philippine Star Posted at 02/20/2012

MANILA, Philippines -  AirAsia Philippines is set to launch four domestic and six regional destinations this year.

The country's newest budget carrier is 40 percent owned by Malaysia-based AirAsia Berhad, considered the world's most successful low-cost carrier, while the rest is owned in equal shares by Antonio "Tonyboy" Cojuangco, port operator Michael Romero and former broadcast journalist Marianne Hontiveros.

Hontiveros, AirAsia Philippines chief executive, told The STAR that they currently have two new Airbus 320s and plan to lease two more within the year.

She revealed that they are scheduled to mount flights from Clark to Kalibo and Clark to Davao anytime soon.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) earlier granted AirAsia Philippines its airline operating certificate (AOC) that would allow it to fly commercially out of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga.

Hontiveros earlier said that they plan to mount flights from Clark to Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau.

Aside from the three international destinations, the carrier plans to fly to Kalibo in Aklan province, Puerto Princesa in Palawan province, Incheon in South Korea, and Bangkok in Thailand.

Other than Singapore and Hong Kong, Hontiveros said that they are still waiting the necessary approvals, such as airport slots, among others, to be able to fly to other regional destinations.

She could not say when they are scheduled to mount their first commercial flight but said this will be soon.

In the last quarter of 2011, AirAsia Philippines had been granted rights by the CAB to fly to Malaysia, Cambodia and Japan.

The carrier was granted 1,260 seats a week on the Clark to Kuala Lumpur route, CAB has previously said. It was also granted seven flights per week on the Clark to Cambodia route.

Moreover, AirAsia Philippines was granted six flights per week that it can utilize either on the Clark-Osaka route or Clark-Nagoya route.

The carrier unveiled plans for a $25-million capital expenditure in December 2010.

Its parent has been flying to the country since 2005 from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.

AirAsia Philippines had planned to commence operations as early as October last year but failed to do so, pending the receipt of the necessary permits from regulators.

AirAsia Philippines in August last year had already received a temporary operating permit from the Civil Aeronautics Board.

Last year, the carrier's first aircraft, a 180-seater Airbus 320, arrived at its hub in Clark. Its second aircraft, meanwhile, was delivered later in 2011.


Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/02/19/12/airasia-launch-4-domestic-6-intl-routes-year

[Kano]

NAIA eyes hike in terminal fee


(The Philippine Star) Updated February 21, 2012

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is planning to increase the terminal fee being collected from departing passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from P550 to P750.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II said yesterday that the MIAA board of directors, which he chairs, is now reviewing the proposed P200 increase in terminal fee.

The increase in terminal fee will be used to finance the rehabilitation and beautification program at the airport, particularly the 30-year-old NAIA Terminal 1.

Sought for comment, MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado said the MIAA had been collecting from international departing passengers P200 as security and development charge (SDC) but scrapped it last year.

He said the planned reimposition of the P200 fee will be implemented if there is a need for it.

But airport sources said the P200 additional fee will take effect within six months.

Roxas said the talks with Takenaka, the Japanese sub-contractor of the controversial NAIA Terminal 3, have been ongoing to complete the unfinished terminal.

On the other hand, the rehabilitation and expansion of NAIA Terminal 1 are underway.

The DOTC has invited five reputable contractors — DMCI, EEI Corp., DDT Konstract, Inc., Hillmarcs Corp., and Datem Inc. — to submit proposals for the construction component of the P1.16-billion rehabilitation of Terminal I.

Roxas said the rehabilitation project includes the expansion of the NAIA Terminal I passenger areas, relocation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) office inside the NAIA complex, and the duty free shops at the terminal.

He added that more immigration counters at the Terminal 1 will be set up to speed up the entry of arriving passengers at the airport.

Roxas had earlier announced that they have tapped the NAIA Terminal 1 original architects, the firm of National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, Leandro V. Locsin & Associates, to be the lead designer and architect of the makeover.

The airport had its last major overhaul in 1996 in time for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. — With Rudy Santos


Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=779624&publicationSubCategoryId=63

[Rich]

ma 20 feb 2012

De vijf beste luchthavens ter wereld
Vliegtuigpassagiers zeggen de beste service op luchthavens niet in Europa, maar in Azië te krijgen. De ranglijst van de luchthavens met de beste dienstverlening wordt dan ook aangevoerd door maar liefst vijf aziatische vliegvelden.

Op de eerste plaats eindigde nu al voor de zevende keer op rij, de Incheon luchthaven bij Seoul in Zuid-Korea. Deze luchthaven is misschien wel niet zo heel erg bekend in Nederland, maar we hebben het hier wel over een topluchthaven. Voorzien van golfbaan, kuuroord en casino.

2. Changi Airport (Singapore)

3. Beijing Capital International Airport (China)

4. Hong Kong International Airport (China)

5. Ch?bu airport in Nagoya (Japan)


Bron : http://www.telegraaf.nl/reiskrant/11557914/__De_vijf_beste_luchthavens_ter_wereld__.html

[Kano]

All Four Airport Terminals Now Have Wi-Fi Access For Passengers


Manila Bulletin February 21, 2012,

MANILA, Philippines – Travelers using the four airport terminals in Manila can now enjoy free wireless-fidelity (WIFI) connectivity following the official launch of Globe Telecom's free internet service at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Tuesday morning.

The free WIFI enables both departing and arriving passengers in all airport terminals including the domestic airport, to work online, check emails or travel itineraries, and surf the net while at the airport.

The service was launched Tuesday morning during simple ceremonies held at the arrival lobby with Globe Telecom officials headed by International and Business Markets Head Gil Genio and International Business Group Head Rizza Maniego-Eala and NAIA Assistant General Manager for Emergency and Security Services Maj. Gen. Vicente Guerzon in attendance.

According to Genio, the free WiFi service will be enjoyed by both arriving and departing passengers at the NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3, as well as the Manila Domestic Airport.

Initially, the system they set in place at the four terminals can accommodate 20,000 users at any given time and that the internet service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Genio said WiFi service has been installed in all passenger areas of the NAIA including the departure lobby, check-in counters, boarding gates, passenger halls, immigration areas, baggage carrousel, customs area and the arrival lobby.

The NAIA is one of the busiest airports in the world, with over 27 million passengers served in 2010. Moreover, an additional 18 million passengers flew domestic routes.

"Globe recognizes the increasing need for people to stay connected and in touch, whether it's via a mobile phone or the internet. As we modernize our network and deliver faster broadband service, we are giving back to the Filipino people by powering the gateway to the Philippines with free WiFi service," Genio said.

Airport General Manager Jose Angel Honrado, for his part said, "We are happy to have the support of partners like Globe Telecom to help us transform our airport into one of the best in the world. It is through private-public partnerships, such as that of the Manila International Airport Authority and Globe where we can make greater strides in improving public service."

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/352082/all-four-airport-terminals-now-have-wifi-access-for-passengers

[Marinero]

Hmm dat wordt natuurlijk weer een waardeloze haperende langzame verbinding als t gratis is.. 

[jajest]

valt af te wachten... misschien wel doenbaar om vlug eens je web-mailbox te bekijken.
Hou wel rekening met een "1 hour delay" op de internet verbinding... (naar analogie met de fillipijnse traditie "a filipino comes always 1 hour too late")  ;-)

[Digos]

Nou ja klagen.....zij bieden het tenminste aan overal, of het perfect gaat werken daar laat ik me niet over uit, maar zij bieden het aan.

In Brussel moet je betalen en in Amsterdam bieden ze 1 uur vrij wifi aan.

Voor zo ver ik weet was Dubai de enigste luchthaven met free wifi.

[Ketelbinkie]

Voor zo ver ik weet was Dubai de enigste luchthaven met free wifi.

Abu Dhabi en Hong Kong hebben ook gratis Wifi.