Cebu Pacific Eyes Tokyo Haneda Airport
Cebu Pacific, the country's largest budget carrier, is seeking highly coveted slots at Japan's premiere business gateway, Tokyo Haneda Airport. The airline is eyeing slots that are currently held by flag carrier Philippine Airlines.
According to Alex Reyes, General Manager of Cebu Pacific's Long Haul Division, the carrier is planning to ask the Civil Aeronautics Board for 7 of the 14 weekly entitlements that were granted to Philippine Airlines but presently remain unused.
Philippine Airlines is currently using only half of the fourteen frequencies it was granted to Haneda Airport as the current commercial environment does not necessitate two daily flights. As Philippine Airlines introduced direct service between Manila and Tokyo Haneda, All Nippon Airways of Japan introduced its own competing Manila to Haneda service using a Boeing 787 aircraft.
Although Philippine Airlines is presently not using 7 of the weekly entitlements, Cebu Pacific Vice President for Commercial Planning Alexander Lao says that the budget carrier still needs to wait several months before filing an application with the Civil Aeronautics Board. The earliest the airline can apply is in November of this year.
"Normally it's use it or lose it," said Lao. "We have to wait for six months of no use." He added that Cebu Pacific would love to serve Haneda Airport. If granted slots at Haneda Airport, Cebu Pacific would be poised to expand services in the wealthy North Asian economy as Haneda flights are highly coveted by business travelers given its location just thirty minutes from Tokyo.
Cebu Pacific currently operates daily flights between Manila and Tokyo Narita airport. The budget carrier previously requested 7 of the 14 Haneda frequencies that were granted to Philippine carriers but the Civil Aeronautics Board allocated all 14 to Philippine Airlines citing that because Haneda was a business airport, carriers should offer a business class. Philippine Airlines launched twice daily flights to Haneda on March 30 but reduced service to just one daily flight one month later. AirAsia Zest has also applied to the Civil Aeronautics Board for the 7 Tokyo Haneda entitlements.
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| Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG |
Philippine Airlines is currently using only half of the fourteen frequencies it was granted to Haneda Airport as the current commercial environment does not necessitate two daily flights. As Philippine Airlines introduced direct service between Manila and Tokyo Haneda, All Nippon Airways of Japan introduced its own competing Manila to Haneda service using a Boeing 787 aircraft.
Although Philippine Airlines is presently not using 7 of the weekly entitlements, Cebu Pacific Vice President for Commercial Planning Alexander Lao says that the budget carrier still needs to wait several months before filing an application with the Civil Aeronautics Board. The earliest the airline can apply is in November of this year.
"Normally it's use it or lose it," said Lao. "We have to wait for six months of no use." He added that Cebu Pacific would love to serve Haneda Airport. If granted slots at Haneda Airport, Cebu Pacific would be poised to expand services in the wealthy North Asian economy as Haneda flights are highly coveted by business travelers given its location just thirty minutes from Tokyo.
Cebu Pacific currently operates daily flights between Manila and Tokyo Narita airport. The budget carrier previously requested 7 of the 14 Haneda frequencies that were granted to Philippine carriers but the Civil Aeronautics Board allocated all 14 to Philippine Airlines citing that because Haneda was a business airport, carriers should offer a business class. Philippine Airlines launched twice daily flights to Haneda on March 30 but reduced service to just one daily flight one month later. AirAsia Zest has also applied to the Civil Aeronautics Board for the 7 Tokyo Haneda entitlements.
Too bad Cebu Pacific doesn't offer more comfortable seating and better inflight amenities... It's actually annoying to be on one of their flights that lasts more than 1 hour...
ReplyDeletewell, PAL would also use it's horrible sardines class 3-3-3 for Japan flights... So Cebu Pac and PAL are basically the same crappy airline...
DeleteIs there a Cebu Pacific flight to haneda airport on this month? please feedback needed thank you
ReplyDelete