Showing posts with label Cebu Pacific. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cebu Pacific. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

KLIA2 ETA on schedule in April 2013

By Anthony Tan email: micemalaysiabeyond@gmail.com


Construct works going on overdrive to meet schedule


The ongoing construction of new 257,000-sq metre low-cost terminal KLIA2 is now 45% completed as per its schedule and to be completed in April 2013.

Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB) managing director Tan Sri Bashir (front row-third from left) was briefing the members of the media after accompanying the Transport Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha (with red tie) to visit the construction site of KLIA2.

Bashir said “KLIA2 is on track for completion in April 2013 and the cost is still within the budget of RM3.6 billion to RM3.9 billion.”

"At the moment, the biggest operator of KLIA2, of course, will be AirAsia and we already have at the low-cost terminal right now, Cebu Pacific, we've got Tiger Airways; of course these airlines will move to KLIA2. If new low-cost airlines come up and they want to operate from KLIA2, they are most welcome to do so.

"For now, whatever is operating out of LCCT, will move to KLIA2. But from now until then, if any new airlines are established, any new low-cost carriers come up in the region and want to operate out of KLIA2, they are most welcome."

Earlier in the morning, the Transport Minister attended a briefing given by MAHB officials at their headquarters Sepang on the progress of the project before visiting the KLIA 2 construction works site,

Bashir informed that MAHB has received an overwhelming from interested by parties for the commercial spaces for retail and F&B spaces at KLIA 2.

“The tenders exercise will be done in stages and no decision has been made yet on the retailers as this exercise was ongoing.” he added

There will be 225 outlets, of which 26 lots for services, 118 outlets have been allocated for retailing and 81 units for food and beverages.

The KLIA2 project manager and Chief Operating Officer, Dato’ Abd Hamid added “KLIA2 will be on schedule as long as there are no more last minute changes to the present agreed designs or request for additional works by the concerned parties.

He said some of MAHB’s increase cost announced last November was because of additional facilities to the new terminal for passenger comfort and additional facilities.

These include increase in the size for more retail and shopping mall, significant upgrades in terms of floor space, an automated baggage handling system, aero bridges, the length of runways and the number of aircraft stands at the terminal.

Construction works on the aerobridge in progress

The departure hall on the airside terminal is progressing on schedule



Monday, February 20, 2012

Cebu Pacific plans to take off long-haul flights by the end of 2013

By Anthony Tan

The Philippines’ leading budget airline Cebu Pacific (CEB) plans to start long-haul operations in the third quarter of next year.

It targets to operate low-cost return flights to cities where large Filipino communities reside in Europe, Middle East, Oceania and the US.

In CEB’s recent announcement, the airline is looking into leasing up to eight Airbus A330-300 aircraft to serve the new routes.

The Airbus A330 has the capacity to fly long range of up to 11 hours which means it can serve the target markets such as Australia, Middle East, Europe and the US.

The airline currently operates 37 aircrafts with 10 Airbus A319, 19 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. The current fleet of aircrafts in CEB is below the flight range of the new target market.

“The A330-300 will give us the lowest cost per seat, allowing us to drive long-haul fares 35% lower than those currently offered by other airlines, and as much as 80% lower when CEB offers promo fares. This aircraft type is very well suited to the kind of network we want to build and the routes we want to launch,” said Lance Gokongwei, CEB President and CEO.

“We are exploring serving cities where large Filipino communities reside in Europe, Middle East, Oceania and the USA. Data indicates that more than half of Filipinos deployed in these regions take multiple stops and connecting flights because no home carrier can fly them there non-stop.

Saudi Arabia as an example, where only 165,000 passengers flew direct non-stop flights from Manila (Civil Aeronautics Board 2010 data), compared to 293,000 Filipinos deployed to Saudi Arabia in the same year.

This means that nearly half of Filipinos who flew to Saudi Arabia in 2010 had to take multiple flights to get to their destination.

With CEB’s long haul operations, the budget airline will provide more affordable, direct flight options to Filipinos overseas, a population estimated to be 11 million worldwide,” added Gokongwei.

“We want to do the same for long-haul traffic offer the lowest fares possible and drive a significant increase on demand for air travel to regions outside of Asia. This is truly an exciting time for CEB as we continue to be of service to the 11 million strong global Filipinos, wherever they are in the world; and to their families back home,” Gokongwei said.

He added, “As CEB develops long-haul routes and opens new destinations for a Philippine flag carrier, we will be creating an important enabler for increased trade, tourism and foreign investment.”

CEB has operating hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao and the most extensive network in the Philippines with 34 domestic destinations.

It also offers 19 international destinations, namely Bangkok, Beijing, Brunei, Busan, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Incheon (Seoul), Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Osaka, Shanghai, Siem Reap, Singapore, Taipei and Xiamen.

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