'Santi' forces PAL to evacuate planes, cancel flights
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/30/2009 6:29 PM
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MANILA - Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will evacuate its planes or put them on hold at their destinations to evade the wrath of typhoon "Santi" (international name Mirinae), which is expected to hit Metro Manila on Friday night.
PAL said it has moved some of its aircraft to Cebu, Bacolod, General Santos, Puerto Princesa, and Davao. As a result, several domestic and international flights departing and arriving in Manila have been canceled from Friday night until Saturday afternoon.
"Flights scheduled to depart tonight will be put on hold at their destinations until weather improves in Manila. All trans-Pacific flights for tonight will depart according to schedule," PAL said.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, the following domestic flights for October 30 have been canceled:
- PR814 Davao-Manila (18:50)
- PR854 Cebu-Manila (20:05)
- PR136 Bacolod-Manila (19:05)
- PR284 Cagayan de Oro-Manila (17:50)
- PR822 Davao-Manila (21:50)
- PR160 Bacolod-Manila (20:25)
- PR229 Laoag-Manila (19:15)
- PR326 Kalibo-Manila (18:05)
- PR126 Zamboanga-Manila (18:45)
The following international flights for October 30 have also been canceled:
- PR506 Singapore-Manila (00:15)
- PR512 Singapore-Manila (19:30)
- PR733 Bangkok-Manila (23:30)
- PR311 Hong Kong-Manila (21:40)
- PR536 Jakarta-Manila (00:55)
- PR469 Seoul-Manila (21:20)
For October 31, the following domestic flights have been canceled:
- PR819 Manila-Davao (06:30)
- PR820 Davao-Manila (08:50)
- PR453 Manila-General Santos (07:00) - return flight is operational
- PR195 Manila-Puerto Princesa (08:00)
- PR196 Puerto Princesa-Manila (05:20)
- PR809 Manila-Davao (04:00) - return flight is operational
- PR847 Manila-Cebu (07:30)
- PR848 Cebu-Manila (09:35)
- PR843 Manila-Cebu (04:30)
- PR844 Cebu-Manila (06:35)
- PR853 Manila-Cebu (09:30) - return flight is operational
- PR189 Manila-Roxas (05:30)
- PR190 Roxas-Manila (07:00)
- PR391 Manila-Tacloban (09:00)
- PR392 Tacloban-Manila (10:40)
- PR175 Manila-Tagbilaran (08:00)
- PR176 Tagbilaran-Manila (09:55)
- PR191 Manila-Tacloban (05:40)
- PR192 Tacloban-Manila (07:40)
- PR327 Manila-Kalibo (07:00)
- PR328 Kalibo-Manila (08:30)
- PR139 Manila-Iloilo (05:00)
- PR140 Iloilo-Manila (06:45)
- PR133 Manila-Bacolod (08:55)
- PR134 Bacolod-Manila (10:25)
- PR131 Manila-Bacolod (04:55)
- PR132 Bacolod-Manila (06:25)
- PR141 Manila-Iloilo (08:50)
- PR142 Iloilo-Manila (10:05)
- PR823 Manila-Cebu (08:23) - return flight is operational
- PR173 Manila-Tagbilaran (05:30)
- PR174 Tagbilaran-Manila (07:35)
- PR183 Manila-Cagayan de Oro (09:30) - return flight is operational
- PR181 Manila-Cagayan de Oro (04:45)
- PR182 Cagayan de Oro-Manila (07:10)
- PR321 Manila-Kalibo (08:35)
- PR322 Kalibo-Manila (10:15)
- PR281 Manila-Cagayan de Oro (06:45)
- PR282 Cagayan de Oro-Manila (09:10)
- PR123 Manila-Zamboanga (04:50)
- PR124 Zamboanga-Manila (07:10)
- PR226 Manila-Laoag (10:00) - return flight is operational
- PR842 Cebu-Manila (05:00) - return flight is operational
- PR277 Manila-Legaspi (06:40)
- PR278 Legaspi-Manila (08:20)
- PR167 Manila-Dipolog (10:05)
- PR168 Dipolog-Manila (12:15)
- PR292 Dumaguete-Manila (08:55)
On the other hand, the following international flights have been canceled for October 31:
- PR300 Manila-Hong Kong (08:00)
- PR301 Hong Kong-Manila (11:10)
- PR466 Manila-Seoul (01:10) - return flight is operational
- PR511 Manila-Singapore (06:25) - return flight is operational
- PR503 Manila-Singapore (07:20) - return flight is operational
- PR896 Manila-Taipei (08:00) - return flight is operational
- PR334 Manila-Xiamen (07:35)
- PR335 Xiamen-Manila (11:05)
- PR591 Manila-Saigon (07:20)
- PR592 Saigon-Manila (10:00)
Passengers of canceled flights were advised not to proceed to the airport and await further announcement of the resumption of operations on Saturday. For flight rebookings and other concerns, PAL advised passengers to call its 24-hour hotline at 855-8888 or to visit their official website.
Bad weather is not good for the airline business. Plane crashes, for one, reflect badly on a carrier's finances and reputation. More importantly, an aircraft that is parked too long on the ground due to canceled flights translates to lost profit opportunities.
PAL reported a 12% drop in total revenues from April to June, its first quarter for fiscal year 2009. The airline is expecting a weaker performance in the succeeding quarters due to weak international demand. The onslaught of recent storms is also likely to make it harder for PAL to catch up on revenues.
PAL Holdings Inc., the airline's parent firm, reported a total comprehensive loss of P12.26 billion for fiscal year ending March 31, 2009. These losses are the holding firm's second in a row after losing P528.54 million in the previous year.
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