Philippine airlines looks at low-cost long-haul

To stay competitive in the market, Philippine Airlines Group is looking to launch a low-cost long-haul operation next year to match its competitor Cebu Pacific.

As a part of the airlines two-brand strategy it would allocate some of their newly acquired A330-300s to the proposed budget brand, according to the Centre for aviation website.

Philippine Airlines would become the third full service airline group in the Asia-Pacific region to launch a low-cost long-haul operation, joining Qantas and Singapore Airlines.

AirPhil/PAL Express would join Jetstar, AirAsia X, Scoot and Cebu Pacific ass the fifth low-cost long-haul operator in the region.

AirPhil/PAL Express long-haul operation would also extend the group back into the Middle East market after dropping it in recent years.

It is expected that Philippine Airlines entry in the emerging and fast-expanding low-cost long-haul sector could persuade other Asian carriers to follow suit, with the Thai Airways Group also considering entering the long-haul low-cost sector.

Sourced: etravelblackboardasia