PAL buys aircraft to compete

MANILA, 21 June 2017: Philippine Airlines will buy seven planes from Canada’s Bombardier as part of an effort to regain its dominance of the growing air travel market, the carrier said Tuesday.

PAL said it sealed the deal for seven Q400 turboprops, worth USD235 million at list prices, at the Paris Air Show.

The carrier aims to increase its fleet serving smaller islands in the archipelagic nation. Read more

Swiss-Belhotel returns to Manila

MANILA, 19 June 2017: Swiss-Belhotel International has returned to the Philippines with the launch of Valero Grand Suites by Swiss-Belhotel.

The four-star Valero Grand Suites by Swiss-Belhotel offers 271 rooms ranging from 36 sqm premier twin rooms to 123 sqm three bedroom balcony suites rooms.

The property features a range of supporting facilities including a gym and spa, restaurants and coffee shops, a rooftop swimming pool and a choice of well-equipped function rooms. Read more

Cebu tweaks aircraft order

MANILA, 13 June 2017: Philippine carrier, Cebu Pacific, has placed an order with Airbus for an additional seven A321CEO (Current Engine Option) aircraft, for delivery from March 2018.

The aircraft will meet the airline’s increased capacity requirements pending the start of delivery of 32 A321NEO aircraft, which will now begin in the fourth quarter of 2018.

CEB has chosen to defer the A321NEO deliveries due to delays with the Pratt & Whitney engines selected to power the aircraft. Read more

Belmond booking office in Manila

MANILA, 7 June 2017: Luxury travel specialist, Belmond, has opened a new central reservations office in Manila, in a move to improve customer service in the Asia-Pacific region.

Belmond consultants will be based in Manila to arrange  travel to destinations in Myanmar, Peru, Africa and Italy, spanning the company’s portfolio of trains, river cruises, heritage hotels and safari lodges.

New toll-free telephone numbers have opened for 12 countries. Read more

Bombing continues in Philippines

MARAWI, THE PHILIPPINES, 30 May 2017: Security forces traded heavy gunfire with Islamist militants inside a southern Philippine city, Monday, as fears grew for up to 2,000 people unable to escape a week of fighting that has left women and children among the dead.

President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law across the southern third of the Philippines shortly after the fighting erupted, warning the gunmen were involved in an effort by the Islamic State group to set up a local caliphate.

But street-to-street battles and a relentless military bombing campaign has so far failed to end the crisis in Marawi, one of the biggest Muslim cities in the mainly Catholic Philippines, and authorities expressed alarm about the fate of those trapped. Read more

Philippines battles terror

MANILA, 29 May 2017: Two thousand fearful civilians were trapped on Sunday inside a southern Philippine city where troops are battling Islamist militants, authorities said, as the death toll from almost a week of fighting neared 100.

The military intensified a bombing campaign on parts of Marawi on Mindanao island, one of the biggest Muslim cities in the mainly Catholic nation, as it accused the gunmen of atrocities including murdering women and a child.

The initial fighting prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law last Tuesday across the southern third of the Philippines to quell what he said was a fast-growing threat from terrorists linked to the Islamic State (IS) group. Read more

Martial law on Mindanao Island

SINGAPORE, 26 May 2017: Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs latest travel advisory, released Thursday, warns Singaporeans to take all necessary precautions for their personal safety when travelling to Mindanao Island in the Philippines.

The Philippines Government has declared martial law on the entire island of Mindanao, 23 May, following clashes between government forces and a terrorist group in Marawi City.

Under Martial Law, the travel advisory warned enhanced security measures would be implemented, including strengthened border controls, restrictions on movement of people and vehicles, closures of public places if necessary and increased police surveillance of popular public areas. Read more

Philippines may extend marital law

MANILA, 26 May 2017: Philippine security forces bombed a southern city on Thursday as they battled Islamist militants who were holding hostages and reported to have murdered at least 11 civilians.

An initial rampage by the gunmen, who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, through the mainly Muslim city of Marawi on Tuesday prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to impose martial law across the southern third of the Philippines.

Duterte said Wednesday he may impose martial law throughout the rest of the country if he believed the terrorism threat was spreading Read more

Martial law in southern Philippines

MANILA, 25 May 2017: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law across the southern third of the country, after deadly clashes between security forces and Islamic State group-linked militants in a major city.

The announcement was made by his spokesman at a press conference in Moscow earlier this week.

Duterte was on an official visit, fulfils an often-repeated warning by the president that he would enforce military rule to quell security threats. Read more

Manila explosion prompts alert

MANILA, 8 May 2017: Two explosions in the Quaipo area of Manila were reported during the early evening of Saturday 6 May prompting a new round of travel advisories.

The UK government travel advisory said reports indicate a number of fatalities and serious casualties.

It warns visitors to avoid the area of Quaipo. Read more

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