LEITHEN FRANCIS / SINGAPORE
A pair of second-tier Philippines carriers are poised to expand their operations, with Air Philippines looking to acquire extra aircraft and launch new domestic services, while domestic carrier Seair is preparing to launch its first international flights.Air Philippines wants to add four turboprop aircraft to its fleet before the year-end as it takes on domestic routes that its larger sister carrier Philippine Airlines abandoned in 1998. The carrier is considering acquiring de Havilland Dash 7s, Bombardier Dash 8-200s or ATR 42s.
Air Philippines' refleeting programme will see the airline acquiring six hushkitted Boeing 737-200s over the next 10 months to replace its six Stage 2 737-200s, which do not meet current noise restrictions.
Earlier this month Seair won a temporary operating permit from the Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board for non-scheduled international flights. The eight-year-old domestic carrier plans to start a thrice-weekly service from the southern Philippines city of Zamboanga to an undisclosed destination in Malaysia once it gains approval from the Malaysian authorities.
Source: Flight International
