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From Times Online

June 19, 2008

Flying around the Philippines

Max Lawson wants to know the safest airlines for jetting from Manila to the islands

I want to make an independent trip to the Philippines, starting in Manila of course, but then visiting several of the islands – Cebu, Bohol, Borocay, and Palawan I think. I realise that I will have to take some domestic flights, but I am a bit concerned as to the safety and reliability of Philippine Airlines. Can you advise? Max Lawson, Lancaster

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: Philippine Airlines (01293 596-680, www.philippineairlines.com) is the national carrier and is the oldest airline in Asia too, with over 60 years flying experience. It was hit badly by the Asian financial crisis of 1997, and went into receivership soon after. However, the airline emerged from its main financial difficulties in 2007 - having been flying in the interim, but over fewer routes – and is now on the up again.

It’s ordered new Boeing and Airbus aircraft and right now the average age of its fleet is a very respectable 7.9 years (Virgin Atlantic is 6.9, and British Airways is 11.4) and it has a good safety record.

I wouldn’t hesitate in using Philippine Airlines, and usefully it has the best domestic coverage, flying frequent services to 23 domestic airports. It has very low lead-in fares too, as good as its domestic low cost competitors. Same as in the UK though, the eye-catching fare can increase dramatically when taxes are added. A return flight from Manila to Cebu starts at £3 for example, but after taxes is bumped to £50 - still pretty good for a 700-mile roundtrip.

While Philippine Airlines has the most extensive domestic routes, and has a UK telephone reservations number as well, you should look at Cebu Pacific (www.cebupacificair.com) which has cheap fares, and flies to 22 destinations with modern aircraft (an average fleet age is just 1.8 years).

Unless you have to, I’d say steer clear of Air Philippines (www.airphils.com), which flies to 12 cities, but with an ultra ropey average aircraft age of 28 years, and Asian Spirit (www.asianspirit.com) which flies to nine destinations, with an average age of over 22 years.

And what you are trying to say is???

ariel, VA, USA

hi. i'm from the philippines and just came back from there last month. both cebu pacific and philippine airlines have just recently purchased new aircraft both jet and propeller driven. the props are used to interconnect the smaller islands especially with those having small airstrips/airports.

joseph diaz, oxford,