Asia - Domestic flights in the Phillipines: Question

Hello,

I hope my question doesn't sound too "frightened", but after the mysterious Adam-Air-crash I read some very scary stories about some low-cost-carriers in Indonesia...

As I'm preparing a trip to the Phillipines, I'm looking actually for domestic flights between MNL and Negros. As I have no knowledge about the aviation there, I ask here: Is there any airline which has not a good reputation (especially on the local press...)? Is there a carrier which is to avoid, or - better - a carrier which is highly recommended?

As these are short hops, a good reliability, reputation and safety record is more important for me than a cheap ticket and legroom...

Thank you in advance for any (relieving) help!

Patrick

Fly Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific. Philippine Airlines is probably better service, Cebu Pacific is cheaper. Either is fine. Avoid Air Philippines if you are the worried type. Although safety conditions of domestic Philippines flights are not as bad as Indonesia. As with anything though you face a bigger risk of getting killed in the local traffic than on the flight there.

I concur. Those are the two airlines that fly internationally and would therefore get pulled up by the authorities in other places (e.g. Hong Kong) if their safety standards were not up to international minimums.

Despite a small mechanical mishap out of YVR about a month ago, they are just fine... Fly them frequently, international and domestic in the philippines, no issues...

I have flown many times on Cebu Pacific domestically ..and they are fine...

Service Manila to either Dumaguete or Bacolod on Negros...

I will be back there in a few weeks on these flights

promo extended 99p (US$2) + taxes each domestic sector .. www.cebupacificair.com

Fly Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific. Philippine Airlines is probably better service, Cebu Pacific is cheaper. Either is fine. Avoid Air Philippines if you are the worried type.

However, I would add that Philippine Airlines and Air Philippines are sister companies or at least do code share.

I once went to Dumaguete, Negros Island on a flight listed by the travel agent as a Philippine Airline Flight but was actually an Air Philippines flight.

Even the travel agent didn't know, she was only looking at what was printed on the ticket, and she told me to go to the Philippine Airline Terminal (the new terminal at NAIA). The security guard at NAIA knew the mix up, I guess it happens all the time, and corrected me in time before the taxi pulled away from the sidewalk.

However, I would add that Philippine Airlines and Air Philippines are sister companies or at least do code share.

Very good point about the codeshares.

For the record, I don't really think there is anything that wrong with Air Philippines. I wouldn't hesitate to fly them myself. Just for nervous types..... well, their planes are really really old and look really really old. OTOH Philippine Airlines planes are all reasonably modern and Cebu Pacific's planes are all practically brand new. Not that fleet age in and of itself quantifies safety.

didn't either philippine airlines or air philippines ( i can't remember which) once have its landing rights revoked by the usa's federal aviation authority because of safety infringements?

ian. :)