United Airlines and Philippines Airlines are escalating their fight over additional slots in both Seattle and Manila.
As I wrote about last fall, United Airlines has opposed Philippine Airlines’ further U.S. expansion, arguing that the U.S. should not grant Philippines Airlines more slots until it is awarded more slots in Manila.
United wants to increase service between Manila and Guam, but has been denied an extra slot. It now contends the U.S. should not grant Philippine Airlines a slot in Seattle until it is granted a slot in Manila.
“While United is not opposed in principle to APC’s requested authority, United objects to the application to the extent it seeks benefits that are currently being denied to United and its customer base…
While United has been unable to execute its Manila growth plans, Philippine carriers have increased capacity to the US.
Given these facts, United believes that the slot and airport access challenges it has experienced at Manila must be rectified before the Department approves the APC application.”
Philippine Airlines argues that slots in Manila are handled by an Australian firm, not the Philippines government. Last week, it sharply shot back at United, arguing:
“The failure to timely grant this application would be tantamount to a violation of the bilateral air transport agreement.”
United answered:
“It is in the public interest to grant the application for additional authority to expand service only when United is able to expand service as well.”
The Philippines and U.S. do not have an Open Skies agreement. Instead, they have a bilateral agreement that governs air service between the two nations. New routes are subject to government approval on an individual basis. Over the last year, Philippine Airlines has increased service to the U.S. by 29%. It now proposes new thrice-weekly service to Seattle utilizing its new A350-900 aircraft.
CONCLUSION
As a consumer, I want to see Philippine Airlines expand to Seattle whether United can add service to Manila or not. But United makes a valid point. Whoever controls the slots at Manila, it seems a large influx in service to the U.S. without even one additional flight to Manila is a bit lopsided.
It normally works the way United wants it to work. If they (Philippines) won’t give a United States carrier a slot for their airport then UA has a right to intervene and try to deny their airlines landing rights here. It’s something that get’s Philippines government’s attention. Years ago AA and UA got the USA government on board a plan to punish Alitalia. Not for anything that Alitalia did but because the Italian government was overcharging AA, UA & DL. So once they decided to go after Alitalia things changed. So hopefully UA will get their MNL slot.
I’m critical of United on a lot of issues, but agree with them in this matter.
Seattle is slot constrained? Even Newark isn’t restricted, so that seems super odd.
It’s not that Seatlle is slot-constrained but that government approval is required for international flights.
Philippines and the Philippine government has been pushing the US in all aspects lately, like a schoolyard bully..
What is fair to both must be done..or none at all…
Can’t exchange terse words. Terse messages, yes. Terse communications, yes. Terse exchanges, yes. Terse words, no. Terse doesn’t modify words.
You are correct. But technically, isn’t a “message” or “communication” a combination of words? 😉
Philippine Airlines do not treat customers with the same policy’s as North American Airlines. They charge outrageous baggage fees on domestic travel which can exceed the flight price. The unethical practices of the airline is unacceptable from a customer service prospective. I think North America Airlines should have first chance at new service prospects. Not Airlines only interested in making profit in foreign country’s and care nothing about customer service.
Are you talking about IS airlines? Not caring about customers is paramount to our corporate lawmaking philosophy
I side with UA both on fairness issues and my personal belief in competition. PAL has become progressively worse in their treatment of customers from booking to boarding. In fairness, I have to say that once on board and in your seat PAL flights have been very nice. The crew, & services are exemplary. But; the booking to boarding experience lacks much to be desired. Every time I fly PAL, I find something new to either make the experience more of a drudgery or that they have a new hidden cost, beyond the cost of the airline ticket.
United is correct here. They also could fly into Clark airport .
The article seems to be written by hodge podge let word The U.S. GT and Philippine GT and both countries Civil Aviation Signed Concordance embodying agreement regrading Loading Embarkation and Unloading Disembarkation of Passengers or Cargoes Goods. Who is the Australian firm mentioned this writing appears dubious The Philippine Civil Aviation is the Office which determines all aviation of commercial aircrafts in the Philippines. THE CONCORDANCE enumerates also REVENUE distribution of Taxes Documenatry Stamp Taxes U.S. and R.P.
If only United provide non-stop flights to the Philippines I would be glad to abandon PAL. Philippine Air Lines have been gouging passengers with exorbitant fares knowing that they, especially the elderly and handicapped have no choice because PAL is the only airline flying non-stop to Manila. U
If only United provide non-stop flights to the Philippines I would be glad to abandon PAL. Philippine Air Lines have been gouging passengers with exorbitant fares knowing that they, especially the elderly and handicapped have no choice because PAL is the only airline flying non-stop to Manila. U
At the end of the day MNL is slot constrained. United was already offered slots but they rejected the timing given to them. There is nothing stopping United from adding another flight during MNL’s less congested hours. If United wanted better times, they could play nice with another airline that has a better slot portfolio. Obviously PAL wouldn’t be inclined to give them anything after thus, but Cebu Pacific (which terminated its GUM service to use the slot for something else) or Delta (which still has some slots after reducing their flying) might be more amenable to talk.
In any case, there’s always CRK.
Matthew
This is different issue that I want you to be aware since you fly a lot. Ever since smoking has been banned since 2009 the airlines have not been replacing the charcoal air filter on the airplanes. I tweeted President Trump and he was very upset that both non infected and infected passengers was on the same flight. Since then I found out there are no regulation about the frequency of replacement. It is three months or ever. Maintenance man have not seen replacement in 17 years. Another said have to wear mask because filter filled with crud and Viruses. Captains should have filters replaced before each flight now and the FAA should have emergency order to do same on all airlines to help stem the Coronavirus. CDC is saying that a person can be infectious for 24 days before any symptoms appear. Airplanes could be the cause of the Pandemic infecting eventually 2/3 of the world
Please see if anything you can do to pass this message to responsible person Matthew
I have been a Podiatrist for 45 years and treated many patients that the whole family returned sick after a flight and many pilots
One passenger had TB and infected more than twenty others on a flight
Thank you
Dr. Hollington Tong DPM
If there are not enough slots at NAIA to allow United to fly there then how come slots can be made available to enable Philippine Airlines to begin flights to Seattle?
This is precisely the point.
United Airlines can block however they wish to against Philippine Airlines request for additional slots. Why punish Philippines Airlines, instead of negotiating with relevant agencies that grant slots, and point out the lopsidedness. Maybe it could be granted after the rectification of the matter. Why fight instead of amicably settling differences, lest possibility Phil Airlines can help UA’s grievances brought forth. Too many travellers in the world. Would be helpful if these airlines clear their images and help each other instead.
No further expansion of any Asian airlines should becalloed until the Vivid 18 virus is under control and cases strip growibgcand begin to decline. This is a very serious pandemic and should be treated as such. If it continues to grow in the USA additional measures must be taken to stop all incoming and outgoing travel to all countries affected especially those where the virus started and has grown in Asia.
The Philippines have 3 confirmed covid virus cases compare to 30 confirmed in the US sorry..
No further expansion of any Asian airlines should becalloed until the Vivid 18 virus is under control and cases strip growibgcand begin to decline. This is a very serious pandemic and should be treated as such. If it continues to grow in the USA additional measures must be taken to stop all incoming and outgoing travel to all countries affected especially those where the virus started and has grown in Asia.
But who said Philippine Airlines is getting new slots to service this route. They could very well be reallocating 3 of their existing slots to “more efficiently serve their network and maximize profits.” Something the US Airlines do all the time.