Philippine Airlines

[texaxile]

Hi,
I've recently been told (and seen the advert) that Philippine Airlines will start flying the MNL-LHR route as of early November.

Now, please forgive my lack of knowledge , but can a 777-333ER (which I think they're using) do the whole trip fully laden?. They also quote a journey time of approx 13.5 hours, which I'm surprised about, because it took us almost that long (12.5 hours iirc) to get to Malaysia (KL) on an A380 (upon which I nearly croaked it so the journey was a little bit hazy, it seemed like ages).

Secondly, why did they stop flying to LHR in the first place?. I read something about them being a "grade 2 airline" - whatever that means, they fly all over SE Asia as far as I know and also the USA, and the article quoted that the airline being "allowed" to return on the UK route.

This will have a personal effect on me, as my wife is from the RP and a 13 hour trip sounds much more realistic than the 21 hour trips we've been used to. I'd also be prepared to pay a premium for a direct flight, because to the best of my knowledge no other Airline out of LHR goes there direct.

Cheers
Pete

[KieronGSi]

The max range fully loaded according to wiki (I know, not the best source) suggests 8000 miles, the phillipines is 7000 miles from London.

[halfpenny43]

Yes a 777 can do that journey.

Until around a year / 18 months ago KLM did it direct with a 777 - there is now a short stop in Taipei.

Why ? Tax.

The Philippines taxes airlines by the distance they have flown to reach Manila. So KLM put a short stop close to the Philippines to reduce this tax.
I would assume the Philippine Airlines are exempt from this tax as they are government owned

[davepoth]

halfpenny43 said:

I would assume the Philippine Airlines are exempt from this tax as they are government owned

I would guess that having the only direct flight is incentive enough to put a plane back on the route.

[creampuff]

texaxile said:

Hi,
Secondly, why did they stop flying to LHR in the first place?.

They were placed on an EU blacklist preventing European operations and were also prevented by the FAA from increasing their flights to the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Airlines

I've flown on Philippine Airlines many times. They are off the blacklist now, I'd be happy to fly on them again.

[Ali Chappussy]

It is confirmed that the aircraft will be a 777-300.

I know it arrives at LHR at 14.15hrs on a Saturday which is good for photographers because it will still be reasonably light in winter and it's not too close to the 15.00hrs runway change.....unless it's running late.

[Ali Chappussy]

It is confirmed that the aircraft will be a 777-300.

I know it arrives at LHR at 14.15hrs on a Saturday which is good for photographers because it will still be reasonably light in winter and it's not too close to the 15.00hrs runway change.....unless it's running late.

[Tallow]

creampuff said:

They were placed on an EU blacklist preventing European operations and were also prevented by the FAA from increasing their flights to the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Airlines

I've flown on Philippine Airlines many times. They are off the blacklist now, I'd be happy to fly on them again.

+1. I flew some regional routes with them earlier in the year and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of service. I also didn't die in a huge fireball, which was an added bonus.

[creampuff]

Tallow said:

+1. I flew some regional routes with them earlier in the year and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of service. I also didn't die in a huge fireball, which was an added bonus.

I used to fly on them a lot when DC-10s were still in use by many airlines. The slight worry of dying in a huge fireball was always there whenever you got on a DC-10

[B3Svert]

I use them regularly from singapore to manila, not used them for long haul though. They used to be the 4th most dangerous airline in the world AND had the accolade of being the only airline to ever have literally kicked a hijacker out in mid air:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Airlines_F...

I have not experienced anything more exciting than a warm can of San Miguel on their flights yet though, maybe next week

[texaxile]

Bloody hell, that hijacker deserves a Darwin Award.

Home made parachute and using a curtain sash as a rip cord? ....hardly Professor Moriarty was he?