United Airlines is set to open nonstop flights from San Francisco to Manila starting October 29 2023.   United Airlines 777-300ER Image source: Wikimedia The new service is scheduled to be daily with the outbound flight (UA191) from San Francisco departing at 12.35 am local time and arriving at Manila the following day at 6.35 am.  The inbound flight (UA190) departs at 9.55 am and touches down in San Francisco at 7.20 am.  These flights are now bookable on United.com. The flights will use United's Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.  This features 60 United signature ..read more

Dubai based Emirates has unveiled a new closed loop recycling system, which will see millions of onboard items recycled at a local facility and remade into Emirates meal service products. The decision marks the United Nations World Environment Day, where the theme has been to #BeatPlasticPollution. Image Source: Emirates   Beginning this month, new recycled utensils will be brought on board that have been made from discarded onboard items such as bowls, plastic trays, snack, and casserole dishes. The initiative reflects a shift toward a circular economy, where items are reduce ..read more

For most Filipinos, travelling to any Western country or country with a complete set of four seasons will require a visa, even for tourist purposes.  Getting a visa can be a time-consuming, expensive, and nerve-wracking process.  They know they need to gather evidence to demonstrate they are responsible and self-sustaining travellers.  However one country is going to make travelling simpler for the Philippines. Effective June 6 2023, Canada is going to include the Philippines in its electronic travel authority (eTA) programme.  This means certain Filipinos can travel to Can ..read more

BACKGROUND AND FLIGHT SELECTION My time in Britain was coming to an end.  It was time to go back to the Philippines apparently for good.  As much as I wanted to stay on the European side of the world, fate has other plans for me and I have no alternative but to accept it.    One parting gift though was I would get a chance to fly home using business class yet again on another airline.  It took me over a week to decide which airline I would ride.  Initially I was leaning towards Asiana because I would be on a 5-star carrier and its new A350.  Also, the price o ..read more

The Points Guy and TTR Weekly are reporting that Delta Airlines is scrapping its planned flights between Manila and Seoul indefinitely, effectively removing Manila from Delta's route network.   The service, which would have utilised Delta's relatively new Airbus A330neo, was supposed to begin in March 2020.   However, the Coronavirus pandemic has forced the airline to postpone launching the new route several times before ultimately cancelling it altogether.  Prior to the announcement, the carrier said it was supposed to launch flights in November 2021.   This means that alm ..read more

In an internal letter circulated to Delta Airlines staff, the company's chief executive Ed Bastian has announced that it will retire its entire Boeing 777 fleet, citing the reduced demand in travel and economic climate resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic. Delta Airlines Boeing 777-200 Image by simon_sees / Wikimedia BREAK: Delta Air Lines is retiring it’s 777 fleet due to the coronavirus crisis. pic.twitter.com/FSlqP3ojHl — Edward Russell (@e_russell) May 14, 2020 There are currently 18 Boeing 777s in the Delta Airlines fleet, eight of them are of the -200ER variant and the rem ..read more

Due to the devastating effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Cebu Pacific and its subsidiary Cebgo will be suspending all its flights effective March 19 until at least April 14 2020.   Cebu Pacific A320 Image source: hybridace101 March 18 will be the last day for Cebu Pacific flights where the company will fly between Manila and Bangkok, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Ho Chi Monh, Singapore, Taipei, and Bali.   As Covid-19 escalated, Cebu Pacific had to gradually cancel most of its 2,800 weekly flights due to restrictions imposed by various governments and redu ..read more

The Philippine's flag carrier is about to enter its 80th year in the aviation industry with an admission that it is facing serious financial troubles.  A letter by Philippine Airlines (PAL) President and COO Gilbert Sta Maria  has circulated to staff that says that the company has suffered a net loss of US$208 million (€187 million, £163 million) in  fiscal year 2019.  If confirmed by official securities filings, it will mark the third straight year of losses the flag carrier has faced.  Sta Maria has cited "unsustainable" debt and leasing obligations amounting to "bil ..read more

Author's note: This is the second of two posts related to this trip.  You can read the post from the outbound flight here. ABORTED DEPARTURE I was scheduled to depart four days earlier than when this trip actually took place.  However due to a personal emergency, I was forced to delay my departure by four days.  Let's just say that it could have been worse and more costly.  Given the penalties and fare differences, it would have cost me upwards of £750 (over $1,000) to change the flight and there was a possibility of booking economy class with another airline to cut my los ..read more

Due to the eruption of Taal volcano, departing and arriving flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been suspended starting about 6.30 pm on January 12 "until further notice" as a precautionary measure.   At a joint press conference on late Sunday night, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have indicated that as at 9 pm on January 12, over 170 flights were affected by this directive.  Some flights on their way to Manila have been diverted to other airports. Capt. Jim Sydiongco, CAAP head, has i ..read more