Philippine Airlines (PAL) has relaunched its business class service on flights to Dubai after a 50 per cent jump in passenger traffic to the UAE in the three months to the end of June. PAL took over the Manila to Dubai route from its low-cost cousin, PAL Express, in 2014 and has only recently deployed its A330 aircraft, which allows for a business class service. PAL will fly its 368-seater A330 with 18 seats in business class.
“While the Filipino expat community is one of the biggest in the UAE, it does not have the highest disposable income,” said Genaro Velasquez, PAL senior assistant vice president and regional manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
He said the UAE is home to over 200 nationalities and many are looking at the Philippines as a tourist destination but could be dissuaded from travelling to the country on flights without a business class service.
“I believe we will have an average 50 per cent load capacity in the new business class. Dubai has many options for the Filipino tourist such as the new theme parks and the shopping of course. We are also trying to attract the market for the business traveller on both routes,” he said.
Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Riyadh, Jeddah and Damman will also have business class flights in the next three months, said Mr Velasquez.
“The only surprise here is that PAL didn’t have a business class service to Dubai,” said Rashid Aboobacker, associate director with TRI Consulting.
He said while the Filipino trade links are not that strong between the two countries, the number of Filipino expats in the country made a business class service a necessity.
“The tourist numbers for Dubai are constantly increasing, so more and more airlines will be looking to expand their fleets and services here. While the revenue per available room may be falling slowly, that is because of the supply of hotels is increasing exponentially,” he said.
ascott@thenational.ae
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
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Overall head-to-head
Federer 6-1 Cilic
Head-to-head at Wimbledon
Federer 1-0 Cilic
Grand Slams titles
Federer 18-1 Cilic
Best Wimbledon performance
Federer: Winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012)
Cilic: Final (2017*)
TOURNAMENT INFO
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
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UAE beat Kuwait by 86 runs
Qatar beat Bahrain by five wickets
Saudi Arabia beat Maldives by 35 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, third-place playoff – Saudi Arabia v Kuwait
3pm, final – UAE v Qatar
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Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
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If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
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