PAL Express
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| Founded | 2008 | |||
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| Ceased operations | 28 March 2010 (transferred operations to Airphil Express) | |||
| Hubs | ||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Mabuhay Miles | |||
| Airport lounge | Mabuhay Lounge | |||
| Fleet size | 8 | |||
| Destinations | 21 | |||
| Company slogan | Escape, Indulge, Discover | |||
| Parent company | PAL Holdings, Inc. | |||
| Headquarters | Pasay City, Philippines | |||
| Key people | Lucio C. Tan (Chairman and CEO) | |||
| Website | www.palexpressair.com | |||
PAL Express (short for Philippine Airlines Express) was the low-cost regional airline brand of Philippine Airlines. PAL Express operated from Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu City, with smaller operations from PAL's main hub in Manila, flying primarily intra-regional routes in the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as secondary routes to smaller airports in island provinces that are not able to accommodate mainline PAL jet aircraft.[1]
As a brand of Philippine Airlines, PAL Express shared livery and interline benefits with mainline PAL. PAL Express flights were also integrated into and noted as regular PAL flights in the PAL flight numbering system. However, unlike mainline PAL, no inflight services were provided in-flight.
All PAL Express flights were operated by Air Philippines (now Airphil Express) in behalf of their parent company Philippine Airlines. PAL Express flights used both 2P and PR flight codes.[2]
PAL Express ceased operations on 28 March 2010 and transferred all service to Airphil Express.
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[edit] History
On 10 April 2008, Philippine Airlines announced the order for aircraft that will form the PAL Express fleet. It will consist of aircraft from the Bombardier Q family, three from the Q300 series and six from the Q400 series, presently manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace and currently valued at $150 million.[3] PAL announced on April 13 that the new fleet will be based mainly in Cebu City to serve regional routes, while flights from Manila will also be launched.[4]
PAL Express was formally unveiled on 14 April 2008. PAL Express will primarily fly intra-regional routes in the Visayas and Mindanao from its Cebu hub, as well as secondary routes to smaller airports in island provinces that are not able to accommodate PAL’s regular jet aircraft. Service will ramp up dramatically on 19 May when Cebu hub operations commence with flights between Cebu City and five points in the Visayas and Mindanao.[1]
On 5 May 2008, PAL Express began operations by launching flights to Malay.[5] The airline on the same day announced it will serve 22 inter-island routes, including some provincial points currently without air service.[6] Flights out of Cebu City commenced on 19 May.
On 1 July 2009, PAL Express flights began earning Mabuhay Miles.
Since 27 October 2009, all PAL Express flights were being operated by Air Philippines.
On 28 March 2010, PAL Express ceased operations and transferred all operations to sister airline, Airphil Express.
[edit] Destinations
[edit] Fleet
[edit] Fleet
PAL Express operated the following aircraft at the time of its shutdown:[7]
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (Economy) |
Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 | 3 | 50 | Domestic |
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 | 5 | 76 | Domestic |
PAL Express planned to operate a total of 9 aircraft, 3 Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 and 6 Bombardier Dash 8 Q400.
[edit] Incidents and Accidents
- On August 11, 2008, a PAL Express Bombardier DHC-8 Q400 aircraft operating as flight PR29 with 75 passengers and 3 crew, had safely landed on runway 04 at Catarman Airport when the airplane's nosewheel struck a soft spot in the runway's surface during taxi, the airline reported. No injuries were reported.[8]
- On November 15, 2008, Another Bombardier DHC-8 Q400, with flight number PR272, made an emergency landing at its destination, Davao International Airport, from Zamboanga International Airport due to a problem with the plane's left landing gear. No one onboard got injured and the aircraft landed safely.
[edit] References
- ^ a b PAL Express unveiled
- ^ Effective 27 October 2009, all PAL Express flights will be operated by Air Philippines
- ^ PAL acquiring 9 turbo-props for inter-island operations
- ^ PAL to reopen Cebu hub for turbo-prop flights
- ^ PAL Express maiden flight
- ^ PAL Express to fly 22 routes initially, PALexpressair.com, Accessed 6 May 2008
- ^ PALexpressair.com - About Us
- ^ Accident: Philippine Airlines DH8D at Catarman on Aug 11th 2008, hit soft spot on landing runway
[edit] External links
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