Lucio Tan's new turboprop operation in the Philippines PAL Express is wasting no time in its all out assault on Seair and Asian Spirit's market share in the Philippine domestic market.
Air Philippines, another of Tan's airlines, is in the process of transferring its turboprop aircraft to PAL Express which is due to start on 5 May with three Bombardier Dash 8 Q300s. Tan is one of the Philippines' wealthiest businessmen.
I know this because earlier today I did an interview with Air Philippines CEO Edilberto Medina.
Philippine Airlines - another one of Tan's airlines - has also just bought six second-hand Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s for PAL Express. These Q400s were previously with Scandinavian Airlines group.
Rather than slowly phase in the Q400s - say maybe one every three months - PAL Express is going to be adding one every couple of weeks.
Medina told me today that the first Q400 will arrive in the Philippines on 5 May and will enter into commercial service on 19 May.
He says the dates for entry into service for the other five Q400s are: 26 May, 23 June, 21 July, 26 July and 22 August.
These aircraft will be used on short-haul domestic routes - a market that had previously been left to independent carriers Asian Spirit and Seair.
Asian Spirit - realising the imminent tsunami of competition it was about to face - sold out a few weeks ago to Alfredo Yao, a Philippine Chinese businessman who made his fortune from soft drinks.
Asian Spirit COO, Joaquin Po, tells me Yao has promised to get newer aircraft for the airline to help drive the business forward.
Seair is also looking to sell out - possibly to Yao as well - but is only willing to sell if it is the right price.
One problem Seair and Asian Spirit face is that each operates older aircraft. Asian Spirit has mostly de Havilland Canada Dash 7s and BAe 146s; while Seair operates Let 410s and Dornier 328s.
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