This pages text follows on from the Manila Props page.
Dornier is represented with a sole Do328 (RP-C7328 / ex Suckling and Cityjet as G-BYML) belonging to SEAir which actually has a sizable fleet of these aircraft, but this was the only one present on both of my visits.
Zest Airways currently operate the A319 and A320 while the Philippines flagship carrier used to be Philippine Airlines (PAL) but the organisation is now a mere shadow of its former self after financial issues which necessitated cutbacks in routes, aircraft and employees. Cebu Pacific took this opportunity to re-equip its fleet of DC-9s and Boeing 757s with ATR-42 and A319/A320 aircraft and expanded in the domestic market to such an extent that it is now the dominant carrier internally. It also flies internationally but both PAL and Cebu Pacific currently remain on the EU list of banned carriers, as indeed do all Philippine carriers. A few of the Cebu Pacific DC-9s are still stored at the present time. Of interest, RP-C1537 was with Inex Adria as YU-AJF and BMA as G-BMWD, RP-C1545 was with KLM as PH-DOA and RP-C1546 also with KLM as PH-DOB. Air Philippines, now known as Airphil Express, has also performed a fleet update replacing its YS-11, Boeing 737-200 and MD-88 aircraft with newer fleets comprising A320 and Dash 8.
There are still some older jets that arrive in Manila on freight schedules too, notably Transmile which is based in Malaysia with Boeing 727-200/Adv(F) airframes; always good to see.
[photo/serial list]
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