Direct Beginning March 26
30 January 2017
Philippine Airlines (PAL) will fly direct to Doha thrice a week starting March 26 PR684 departing Manila at 1:30pm every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from the existing midnight departure of PR656 via Abu Dhabi.
PAL will also start direct flights to Jeddah beginning March 26 PR662 departing Manila at 6:50am three times a week every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from the usual 10:00pm departure of PR658 via Dubai.
30 January 2017
Philippine Airlines (PAL) will fly direct to Doha thrice a week starting March 26 PR684 departing Manila at 1:30pm every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from the existing midnight departure of PR656 via Abu Dhabi.
PAL will also start direct flights to Jeddah beginning March 26 PR662 departing Manila at 6:50am three times a week every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from the usual 10:00pm departure of PR658 via Dubai.
so PR658 will now just be MNL-DXB while PR668 will still be MNL-DXB-KWI? this is a bold move, considering intense competition with SV and QR. And KU will soon deploy their brand new 777-300ER to MNL via BKK.
ReplyDeleteBold move indeed. Also they will compete with 5J with the chance to lure Filipino OFW's. Good luck to PR for their fares and marketing in the Mideast.
DeleteIt's been widely reported that almost all their passengers are Doha and Jeddah bound. Their fifth Freedom traffic from UAE is dismal. That said, we could be seeing flight reductions to the UAE.
DeleteI did notice that the AUH-DOH route has very low yields and is almost empty. By comparison DXB-JED and DXB-KWI have good yields. But apparently the direct MNL-DOH service is just an addition to the existing MNL-AUH-DOH service. They'll be competing directly with QR on this route, with their 777-300ERs with IFE in all classes and excellent business class. They'll have to deploy the triclass A330s because the monoclass A330s will undergo reconfiguration and are intended for HNL, SIN, Australia, and Japan. But they still have to price their tickets reasonably because the triclass A330s still have no IFE both in Business, Premium and Economy apart from iPads which are first-come-first-serve, and the cramped 3-3-3 seat layout in Premium and Economy. They can also make 'bawi' in catering since Qatar Airways Catering out of DOH is always topnotch in my experience. The present AUH-DOH-AUH only has drink service and nuts catered out of AUH. By comparison, QR's regional DOH-AUH service markets their Business Class as First Class, and there is full meal service both in Business and Economy. This is an opportunity for them to compete with QR through price and service and aspire to be a 5-star carrier as well.
DeleteAnd true enough, PAL is reducing flight to AUH at 3 times a week on 26 Mar, while DXB will remain daily. A direct flight to Kuwait will however commence separately.
DeletePR656 MNL1230 – 1745AUH 330 246
PR657 AUH1930 – 0850+1MNL 330 246
PR658 MNL2240 – 0355+1DXB 330 D
PR659 DXB0525 – 1840MNL 330 D
PR668 MNL0610 - 1100KWI 330 2467
PR669 KWI1310 - 0330+1MNL 330 2467