Philippine Airlines calls a pitch for 75th anniversary celebration

Sources have told Campaign that Philippine Airlines (PAL) has not invited any of its incumbent agencies but instead decided to seek other agencies for this project.

The pitch involves a handful of projects, of which a few have already been assigned. The projects are believed to be related to its 75th anniversary celebrations.

The highly sensitive pitch comes amidst numerous labour issues that have surfaced in recent weeks relating to pay issues. 

Senior pilots of the carrier have left in droves to start working for other airlines, resulting in cancellations of domestic and international flights. 

Malacañang, which is mediating the dispute between the country’s flag carrier and its 25 resigned pilots, admitted on Wednesday that the deadlock may not be resolved this week, leaving PAL handling three labour problems in the coming days.

PAL is also dealing with two other pending issues relating to pay with unions of the flight attendants and ground crew. 

On 15 June the labour department decided to back PAL management’s decision to outsource nearly 3,000 jobs in the airlines’ in-flight catering, airport services and call-centre reservation operations.

PAL Employees Association (Palea) said the plan would result in the layoff of some 2,600 ground crew personnel as they shift from regular to contractual work arrangements with companies of PAL owner Lucio Tan.