PAL eyeing to offer last-mile cargo deliveries directly to homes, offices

PAL is working to strengthen its cargo business to take advantage of the e-commerce boom. PAL is studying to convert some of its aircraft to cargo-only airplanes. “We are looking into that. We are exploring,” PAL’s newly appointed President and COO Capt. Stanley K. Ng said, adding that “the e-commerce is getting stronger.” “We will innovate our business by integrating our cargo reservations system with a new cargo mobile app and website and create more cashless payment options and offer last-mile cargo deliveries directly to homes and offices, soon in the Philippines.” PAL will have a one-way cargo flight from Asia to the United States to transport medical supplies. The airline will use the aircraft back as a passenger airplane, Ng also said. PAL is also studying to acquire more aircraft in order to revert to its pre-pandemic size. “It will take about two to three years because we’ve reduced our fleet size,” Ng said. “We need to forecast the demand. If we forecast that the demand will be enough, then that’s the time when we can actually customize,” he added. On the impact of the rising fuel prices on PAL’s operations, he said: “The fuel component is about 50% of our costs… We are actually managing it. We are looking into solutions on how to manage the situation right now.”<br/>