Qatar Airways increase frequency on Doha-Manila Route

Qatar Airways will be adding six extra flights per week between Doha and Manila starting from October 26, 2015, following an expanded Air Service Agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Philippines.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The increase in flight frequencies on the Doha–Manila route serves to further strengthen commercial and trade links between our two countries and we are delighted to be able to provide our Philippines-based passengers with greater connectivity options when they choose to fly with Qatar Airways. Now, more passengers will be able to experience our award-winning hospitality and also our state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport when transiting seamlessly onward to their final destination. Passengers travelling with Qatar Airways beyond Doha can also look forward to flying on some of the world’s most advanced aircraft, including the A350 XWB.”

The Doha-based carrier, most recently crowned Airline of the Year at the 2015 annual Skytrax World Airline Awards, is currently flying eight flights per week to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

With the increase in weekly flights, Qatar Airways will operate a full twice-daily service to Manila, in addition to its daily flights between Clark and Doha.

The Doha – Manila route is operated by the Boeing 777 aircraft, featuring 24 Business Class seats and 356 seats in Economy Class. Passengers travelling in Business Class can look forward to relaxing in one of the most comfortable and high-tech, fully-flat beds with a 78-inch seat pitch. Qatar Airways’ premium passengers can also enjoy its five-star food and beverage service, which is served ‘dine on demand’.

Qatar Airways Premium and Economy Class passengers travelling beyond Doha can also enjoy the airline’s state-of-the-art home base, Hamad International Airport (HIA). Home to one of the world’s best and largest Business Class lounges, the Al Mourjan Business Lounge, HIA also has more than 70 retail and 30 food and beverage outlets offering world-class duty free shopping and dining experiences for all.

PAL flies to New York

Philippine Airlines and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Lucio D. Tan presents a Boeing 777 model aircraft to US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg during the send-off ceremony of the inaugural flight to New York. Also present in the ceremony is Transportation Undersecretary Jose P. Lotilla, Mrs. Carmen Tan and PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Jaime J. Bautista.

A high-level delegation of government and PAL officials joined the flight that took on a festive atmosphere with top entertainer Martin Nievera being joined by Chairman Tan while serenading the passengers.

Philippine Airlines now with WiFi and Cellular on board

Last April, Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced that they will start offering in-flight WiFi internet and call/test roaming in some of their regional routes by mid-year. It’s already July and we’ve now seen them putting this service in place.

On board a Boeing 777-300ERs this afternoon, we saw the service work during our 3-hour flight from Bangkok to Manila.

There’s actually a cell signal which your phone registers to when it’s set to automatic. The carrier is labeled OnAir and you get a welcome message once connected. Rates are similar to international roaming (not sure which one but could be from originating country?).

As for the WiFi internet, charges are on time-based billing:

$5 for 30 minutes
$10 for 1 hour
$20 for 3 hours
$40 for entire duration of the flight

If you have multiple devices, you can log in on the web-based system and connect them as well without additional charges.

Of course, the airline will still enforce the turning off of devices during taxi, take-off and landing of the plane. The service will only start working when the plane reaches the 37,000 feet altitude (around 20-30 minutes after take-off) and will be disabled upon descent.

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