RP carrier expands operations in November

MANILA, Philippines - A local carrier will finally get new aircraft in October, two years after it announced an expansion plan which was met with protest by competing airlines. Two 180-seater Airbus A320s are expected to arrive for Southeast Asian Airlines (Seair) in October. The planes will be used for the carrier's regional and domestic operations starting November 15. "Singapore and Macau are our immediate flying points. We want to fly daily to these new destinations and we will be flying not from Manila but from Clark," Seair President Avelino L. Zapanta said. After launching flights to Singapore and Macau, Seair will consider expanding its reach to Bangkok in Thailand, Hong Kong, Incheon in Korea, and Taipei in Taiwan. In September 2006, Seair signed a lease agreement with Singaporean carrier Tiger Airways for the lease of two brand-new A320 aircraft. Tiger Airways flies to Singapore and Macau from the Diosdado Macapagal International AIrport in Clark, Pampanga. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit, however, opposed Seair's expansion plan in fear that Tiger Airways will use its agreement with the local airline to skirt around the Philippines' air transport restrictions for foreign airlines. "They are saying that because we have a business relationship with Tiger, the airline from Singapore will take advantage of that agreement. We are not fronting for Tiger Air," Zapanta said. Seair destinations currently include Manila, Caticlan (Boracay), Ceby, Clark, Cotabato, Camiguin, Jolo, Pagadian, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga, as well as Busuanga, Cuyo, El Nido, Puerto Princesa, and Rodriguez in Palawan. It aims to fly secondary and missionary routes to complement major routes serviced by the country's major airlines. - GMANews.TV