PAL, AirAsia still unsure of transferring flights to Sangley Airport

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Philippines AirAsia Inc. (AirAsia) are still unsure if they can transfer some of their commercial flights to Sangley Airport in Cavite.

Officials of the said airlines, however, signed the pledge of commitment to support the development of the airport to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

PAL officer-in-charge Vivienne Tan said the airline will still have to study the transfer of flights to Sangley Airport.

“At this point in time, I’m not sure if we still have some turboprops. What we could do is do some studies. I hope that we can talk about it and discuss it,” Tan told reporters in a press conference in Pasay City.

Meanwhile, Air Asia president and CEO Dexter Comendador said the airline is currently operating only Airbus 320 planes, which Sangley Airport might not be able to accommodate.

“For Philippines AirAsia, we operate only Airbus 320s, so at the moment, we are not able to utilize Sangley,” Comendador said in the same press conference.

“Until Sangley is able to accommodate the jets, then we will consider moving our base to Sangley,” he added.

Only Cebu Pacific was able to commit to transferring commercial flights to Sangley Airport.

“When Sangley is built, we will have flights there. I think the first step of this is we will be having our cargo turboprop flights there,” Cebu Pacific president and CEO Lance Gokongwei said.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier announced that airline companies have agreed to “fully relocate” their general aviation freight turboprop as well as commercial turboprop operations to Sangley Airport once the infrastructure is in place.

READ: Airlines agree to relocate flights to Sangley airport — DOTr 

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade also vowed that the construction of the Sangley Airport will be finished by September, two months ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadline.

READ: Tugade vows to finish Sangley Airport construction by September

Malacañang earlier said that President Rodrigo Duterte wants the Sangley Airport to be operational by November to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

This was after Duterte was reportedly “displeased” with the flight delays and cancellations at Naia last Sunday.

READ: Duterte wants Sangley Airport operational by November

Five airline operators have signed the pledge of commitment — Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, PAL, PAL Express, and CebGo — to help decongest the Naia through improved on-time performance of flights, utilize Sangley Airport for general aviation and turboprop operations, and support initiatives to enhance passenger convenience. (Editor: Eden Estopace)