PAL Express
Encyclopedia
PAL 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.
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.
PAL Express ceased operations on 28 March 2010 and transferred all service to Airphil Express.
and currently valued at $
150 million. 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.
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.
On 5 May 2008, PAL Express began operations by launching flights to Malay
. The airline on the same day announced it will serve 22 inter-island routes, including some provincial points currently without air service. 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.
PAL Express planned to operate a total of 9 aircraft, 3 Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 and 6 Bombardier Dash 8 Q400.
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
regional airline
Regional airline
Regional airlines are airlines that operate regional aircraft to provide passenger air service to communities without sufficient demand to attract mainline service...
brand of Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
. PAL Express operated from Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Mactan-Cebu International Airport is a major international airport in the Visayas region of the Philippines. It is located in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Metro Cebu and is the country's second primary gateway...
in Cebu City
Cebu City
The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
, with smaller operations from PAL's main hub in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, flying primarily intra-regional routes in the Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
and Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, as well as secondary routes to smaller airports in island provinces that are not able to accommodate mainline PAL jet aircraft.
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
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
. PAL Express flights used both 2P and PR flight codes.
PAL Express ceased operations on 28 March 2010 and transferred all service to Airphil Express.
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 AerospaceBombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
and currently valued at $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
150 million. 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.
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.
On 5 May 2008, PAL Express began operations by launching flights to Malay
Malay, Aklan
The Municipality of Malay is a first class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 32,110 people in 4,747 households....
. The airline on the same day announced it will serve 22 inter-island routes, including some provincial points currently without air service. 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.
Fleet
Fleet
PAL Express operated the following aircraft at the time of its shutdown:| 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.
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 AirportCatarman National AirportCatarman National Airport , otherwise known as Catarman Airport, is an airport serving the general area of Catarman, located in the province of Northern Samar in the Philippines...
when the airplane's nosewheel struck a soft spot in the runway's surface during taxi, the airline reported. No injuries were reported. - 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.