NEWS FROM THE PHILIPPINES

RP 3rd fastest-growing air travel market

Air travel within the Philippines is the third fastest growing market in the world, after India and Mexico, industry data revealed.

India’s domestic market grew by 33 percent, followed by Mexico at 27 percent, Philippines at 23 percent, and China at 16 percent last year.

The Philippines domestic air travel market grew with almost 10.4 million travelers in 2007 compared with almost 8.5 million passengers in 2006.

Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific (CEB) set the pace in the domestic market with a growth rate of 47 percent in terms of passengers carried in 2007, or from 3.034 million in 2006 to 4.46 million in 2007.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) experienced a six percent increase, from 3.81 million to 4.033 million, while traffic for Air Philippines grew 21 percent, or from 653,175 in 2006 to 726,616 last year.

Candice Iyog, CEB spokesperson, said domestic travel started booming when CEB introduced year-round low fares in 2005, forcing other local airlines to follow suit to be able to compete and introduced air travel to many first-time flyers.

Clark wins Asia-Pac Airport of the Year Award

The Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) took home the “Airport of the Year” award together with Singapore’s world-class Changi International Airport during the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Aerospace and Defense Awards held in Singapore.

“In recognition of its past year performance and expansion efforts, Frost & Sullivan awards the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Airport of the Year Award for the airport serving below 15 million annual passengers category to DiosdadoMacapagal International Airport,” the citation given to the DMIA said.

Two years ago, the DMIA also won the “Low Cost Airport of the Year 2006 Award” from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

CIAC said the DMIA got the “Airport of the Year” award in the category of airports that could serve less than 15 million passengers a year, while Singapore’s Changi got it in the category of those capable of serving over 15 million passengers annually. Luciano received the award during the ceremonies in Singapore.

Luciano said “the citation came at a time when the DMIA has been experiencing an unprecedented growth in aviation-related projects and passenger volume.”

Frost & Sullivan is a leading research company in the world with over 26 global offices with more than 1,500 industry consultants, market research analysts, technology analysts and economists. The company was founded in 1961 and has done research in aerospace and defense, automotive and transportation, chemicals, materials and food, energy and power systems, environmental and building technologies, health care, industrial automation and electronics, and information and communication technologies.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India was chosen the “Aeronautical Excellence Airport of the Year” award while Changi Airports International was chosen “Airport Investment Company of the Year.”

The other awardess were Japan Airlines for “Widest Route Coverage of the Year,” Air Asia for “Airline Market Penetration Leadership of the Year” and Singapore Airlines as “Airline of the Year.”

San Miguel Pale Pilsen is Asia’s best

San Miguel Pale Pilsen is the best tasting beer in Asia, according to a popular US Magazine which recently gathered major beer brands from China, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Philippines for a taste test.

The iconic brand of San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (SMB), San Miguel Pale Pilsen bested six other international brands in all categories – appearance, aroma, taste and finish — used by the magazine to determine the best tasting beer.

In the article entitled “Far East Beer Showdown” by Derek Buono published in Beer Magazine’s March to April issue, the lone Filipino beer brand has been described as having “the most flavor and tasted better than all the other beers of the region.”

“The SMB family is truly inspired by the recognition given to San Miguel Pale Pilsen. We are glad that our very own product stands above the rest and for us Filipinos, that’s something worth celebrating for,” said SMB management.

San Miguel Pale Pilsen was also recommended for its “certain wheat/ citrus hit that sets it apart from the rest,” that one can “drink lots of it with most Asian foods and in most climates.”

San Miguel Pale Pilsen, one of the eight widely popular beer brands in the SMB portfolio, is known for its smooth moderate bitterness, pleasant hoppy aroma and snappy clean palate.

Articles courtesy of http://goodnewspilipinas.com