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PAL, Lufthansa unit open PAL, Lufthansa unit open

09/16/2009

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Lufthansa Technic Philippines (LTP), its maintenance provider, recently launched an additional maintenance facility in Mactan, Cebu.

The expanded parking area space is to be used by LTP for the maintenance of PAL, Air Philippines and PAL Express airlines.

Jaime Bautista, PAL president and COO, said "The parking area brings PAL one step closer to our goal of smooth and seamless operations due to highly efficient maintenance of our fleet, especially in Cebu."

"While the existing 1.4-hectare maintenance facility of LTP where the A320s and A319s are routinely checked already deserves much commendation for a job well done, this additional space will eventually allow LTP to provide maintenance checks even on the soon-to-arrive Boeing 777-ERs," Bautista said.

He said that despite the global economic slump and now the A (H1N1) pandemic scare, "let me at least try to brighten up the day by sharing with you our excitement at the forthcoming arrival of our first B777s this November."

After the recent completion of the narrow-body re-fleeting, delivery of the B777s will serve as the highlight of the modernization of the wide-body fleet, he said.

"These long-range, fuel-efficient jets will allow us not just to fly to new destinations but also to re-assert our place among the best airlines in this part of the world," Bautista added,

He is confident that LTP is a much capable partner who will ensure these new jets will be in top condition always, whether in Manila or in Mactan.

"We dare venture into acquiring additional aircraft, upgrade the cabin of the B747s and offer exciting customer service enhancements in spite of very gloomy industry forecasts because we have been in the business for so long to know the economic cycle will eventually turn for the better very soon," he said.

It is adjacent to the 1.4-hectare maintenance facility costing P88 million, where PAL’s narrow-body fleet of Airbus A320s and A319s are checked.

The facility enables LTP to perform line maintenance checks on PAL’s turbo-propeller fleet of Bombardier Q400 and Q300 aircraft that is being used by PAL Express.

Meanwhile, LTP is applying as a locator at the Mactan Export Processing Zone to gain "ecozone" status that will enable it to ship aircraft parts and materials directly to Mactan.