MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Airlines (PAL) has entered into a wet-lease agreement with Wamos Air, a prominent charter and wet lease carrier based in Europe.
The arrangement is set to commence on June 1, 2024, and is designed to address the increased travel demand anticipated during the peak travel period.
PAL will lease two Airbus A330-200 aircraft with dual-class configurations from Wamos Air to serve the Manila-Sydney and Manila-Melbourne routes over a five-month period.
These aircraft will provide amenities similar to those available on PAL’s own A330s, ensuring continuity in service quality.
Passengers will benefit from consistent on-ground and inflight services, and PAL’s cabin crew will be onboard to deliver the airline’s signature customer service.
Capt. Stanley K. Ng, President and Chief Operating Officer of PAL, highlighted the necessity of the agreement, citing additional maintenance needs due to persistent global supply chain issues affecting the aviation industry.
“We need to temporarily expand our fleet to meet anticipated demand across our network effectively,” said Ng.
A wet lease is a leasing arrangement where the lessor provides the aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) to another airline for a specific period.
This setup allows airlines like PAL to adapt quickly to market conditions without the long-term capital commitment of purchasing new aircraft.
“We selected Wamos Air for their proven track record as one of Europe’s top charter operators. We are committed to closely collaborating with them to ensure our passengers continue to experience the high service standards they expect from Philippine Airlines,” Ng added.
Wamos Air is accredited by the International Air Transport Association’s Operational Safety Audit and has successfully completed wet-lease operations for over 50 airlines worldwide.
Philippine Airlines currently operates daily flights to Sydney and provides services to Melbourne five times a week.
Business-News-Asia.com
