Philippine Airlines Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Something must have gone wrong in SYD today as PR212, which has been daily since late October 2014 did not take off from SYD until 1405 (almost threehours late) with A343 RP-C3435 and as a result is due in MNL at 1840, 135 minutes late.

This flight is normally pretty punctual and did not arrive SYD late this morning as PR211.

 

[Melburnian1]

On the third day of heavy rain in Sydney (and a fair swathe of NSW), today's PR212 from SYD to MNL A333 (RP-C8763) departed SYD at 1123, 73 minutes late but may be in MNL as early as 1742, 42 minutes late although congestion at MNL often means a slow approach.

 

[smit0847]

Do we really need a new thread every timeva flight is delayed?

 

[Melburnian1]

PR210 from MEL to MNL departed the former nine minutes early on Wednesday 19 August 2015 and was earlier shown as expected into MMNL about half an hour early, around the 1510 hours mark.

However it diverted to CRK - a most unusual move - and has only just departed at 1744 Philippine time for a slow estimated 1841 arrival into MNL, the reason for the extremely slow last leg being a very large amount of congestion around MNL - even more than usual - with aircraft such as RP-C3344 operating 5J7296 and VH-QPJ operating QF19 (both from SYD) among the many aircraft either having been slowed down by ATC or doing laps in a holding pattern.

From what I can see the weather looks relatively benign but many flights ex MNL are an hour or two late - while not unprecedented to have two hour delays, this is somewhat unusual when there is not a typhoon or heavy rain.

UPDATE: FR24 is now showing the PR210 arrival time at MNL as 1808 but there are still a few aircraft ahead of it. QF19 is managing to arrive early, probably at 1805.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

From what I can see the weather looks relatively benign but many flights ex MNL are an hour or two late - while not unprecedented to have two hour delays, this is somewhat unusual when there is not a typhoon or heavy rain.

There was a crazy storm in MNL around 16:00....they have been hitting the metro area daily like clock work all week!

 

[Melburnian1]

Thanks Mrmaxwell: as you can see from the time of my posting, I was looking at the weather information at about 1745 Philippine time when the heavy storm must have ceased. PR210 landed at CRK at 1600 hours so what you say makes perfect sense. At least two or three other flights were similarly diverted. I have never had this happen to me on PR210.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight PR209 from MNL to MEL did not arrive until 0908 this morning, 108 minutes late. As a consequence the Wednesday 9 September 2015 departure of PR210 returning from MEL to MNL has been delayed until what the Melbourne Airport - Flight Information, Shopping & Parking website claims is 1000, but is more likely to be 1020 or later.

This airline had a reputation for unpunctuality a decade ago, with jokesters apparently referring to it as 'PAL - Plane always late' - but in the last few years it has dramatically improved its on time running internationally, notwithstanding that the four terminal MNL airport is at capacity (or 'beyond') for much of the day and some of the evening in terms of flights handled. MNL used to handle fewer passengers than MEL - not now the case.

 

[Melburnian1]

Although PR209 this morning into MEL ex MNL was only 35 minutes late, the return PR210 did not take off back to MNL until 1027 (time of departure, not takeoff, should be at 0900.) It is therefore about 70 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Not an incident in, to or from Oz but this is (outside the Manila conurbation) the second largest city in Philippines and while not as much visited by Australians as Cebu City, Davao is nonetheless a location with many flights:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/721330/pal-plane-makes-emergency-landing-in-tagum-city

111 PAL passengers, crew safe after emergency landing | mb.com.ph | Philippine News

Note that the number of passengers on board differs between the two reports.

The old Davao City airport has long been replaced by a newer, differently located airport so it is surprising that planes can still land there, as I had thought that by now it might have been sold off for a business park or for residential housing in this nation of 100 million.

 

[Melburnian1]

PR209 from MNL to MEL is timetabled to arrive at 0820 but on Sunday 4 October the flight will not be at the gate until 1042. PR210 is shown as delayed until 1100 but that should read '1200.'

 

[Melburnian1]

PR starts its daillies between MNL and SYD today, and seems to be using A340s on the MNL - MEL and MNL - SYD (well, at least the daytime flight southbound on the latter) now in lieu of the high density configuration (shorthand for 'uncomfortable') A330s.

I assume that this has something to do with the recently renegotiated air services (capacity) agreement between the two countries, as the A330s seat more but PR only ran them to SYD four or five times a week.

PR213 departed MNL at 1106 and should be close to time in SYD at 2225 hours tonight (Sunday 25 October 2015) but scheduling a flight from an airport such as MNL that has many delays (admittedly worse in the afternoon than morning, typically) with a bit of excess time allowed in the schedule but a timetabled arrival just 35 minutes before the curfew is asking for trouble.

On wonders how many times this flight will have to overnight in BNE (or depart MNL eight hours later to arrive in SYD just after 0600 if it can obtain ATC permission for a slot.)

 

[Melburnian1]

Tonight (Wed 28 October) is only the third time that the new PR213, the 1100 thrice weekly from MNL to SYD has operated. It did not take off until 1217 and hence will not arrive SYD until 2250.

This is silly timetabling by this airline. It will be interesting to see how often it misses the 2300 hours curfew in SYD. A small number of international airlines such as EK have similarly fairly late arrivals into SYD but PR would have to rank highly on those most likely for a diversion to BNE if the aircraft cannot depart MNL by 1220 at the absolute latest.

 

[Melburnian1]

PR211 from MNL on Tuesday 17 November is now arriving SYD at 1330 on Wednesday 18 November instead of its usual 0930.

This may be due to the APEC world leaders' meetings in Manila as local airlines up there have cancelled hundeds of daytime flights - a seeming overreaction.

 

[Melburnian1]

The amended timetable having PR211 today (18 November 2015) saw it arrive at 1330 as forecast above.

On the return, PR 212 operated by A343 RP-C3437 departed SYD at 1830 in lieu of its amended schedule of 1800 hours for an estimated MNL arrival at 2321 tonight, but this is better than QF which has had its QF19 today delayed from 1225 until 2155 tonight with a predicted 0300 arrival in MNL on Thursday 19 November while QF20 will leave MNL at the most unsociable hour of 0400 (good time for an 0530 hours breakfast as the sun rises in the tropics) and a SYD arrival tomorrow afternoon of 1510.

PR210 from MEL to MNL on Wed 18 November would normally depart at 1010 but it took off at 1855 tonight with arrival amended to 2323 hours instead of the normal 1525, so it and PR212 are almost operating in tandem.

Very much looking all APEC meeting-related.

 

[Melburnian1]

Although the redeye PR209 arrival in MEL on Friday 20 November is only 16 minutes late and pulling in at 0841, the return PR210 has been delayed from 1010 to an expected 1520 hours departure. This should be the last day in which MNL airport has a heavily restricted number of RPT flights due to the APEC leaders' meetings as the 'head honchos' have either departed from Philippines or are doing that today.

Similarly PR211 from MNL to SYD is arriving 12 minutes early at 0918 on Friday 20 November but the return flight, PR212, has been delayed from an 1115 to a forecast 1545 hours departure.

PR210 from MEL to MNL was altered to depart at 1520; it took off at 1544 with a 21 minute late arrival on the amended timetable at 2156 predicted. A333 RP-C8766 is the aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 29 November, PR213, the 1100 from MNL to SYD did not take off until 1219 (1519 AEDT) and is shortly arriving in SYD at about 2255 with high density A333 RP-C8764 performing the role. With all those flights delayed due to storms in BNE tonight, it is competing for an arriving path with some urgency.

 

[Digger11]

I was in Manila during APEC and the airports were closed for blocks of 2 to 3 hrs regularly, as were the roads to the airport.
Even Singapore and Cathay would have had great difficulty with keeping to any schedule.
it was total chaos.

 

[Melburnian1]

Since its recent introduction, PR214, the 0610 hours thrice weekly SYD to MNL has been punctual but on 17 December, that is not the case with takeoff of A333 RP-C8766 at 0711 this morning meaning arrival at a suggested 1216 in lieu of 1125.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 1115 SYD to MNL (RP-C3438, an A340) took off at 1205 and should arrive 42 minutes late at 1712. This flight is often very punctual.

 

[Melburnian1]

PR213, the 1100 MNL to SYD did not take off until 1230 on Sunday 10 January and should be in SYD at about 2255, a close call with the curfew for A343 RP-C3439.