United Airlines, the world’s leading airline, is continuing flights to the Philippines from Guam and Palau in a bid to sustain its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
In a recent press conference, United officials announced its plans to continue to serve the Philippines as the merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines is finalized worldwide.
When the merger has been completed, the two airline companies will be represented in the Asian region under a single United brand.
United Philippine country manager Clodelsa Ty says United’s interest in maintaining service to Philippines is an indication of the company’s confidence in the existing business climate in the country.
Ty was appointed United Philippine country manager last October 1 from her previous posting as United general manager for Vietnam.
“United sent a Filipina to be back home for its rebirth following the merger of United and Continental airlines,” says Ty. “We are very happy to make things happen here. It is not every day that you put together two giant carriers and make them into one.”
United’s interest in the Philippines as a destination stems from the fact that country offers a unique market unlike others in the region.
“We bring in a lot of overseas Filipino workers from the United States. We carry a lot of them,” Ty says. “We are privileged that they choose United when they travel. We also carry them from the United States to Europe. It is our workers that keep the Philippine economy moving.
The United Philippine country manager sees a number of opportunities in the Philippines and around the Asia-Pacific region. The carrier is hoping to tap into the country’s leisure market to see Guam as a destination the way they consider Hong Kong.
“Filipinos love to travel, and we’re there to supply that need,” she says. For 2012, United has set a target of 10 percent growth from its business in the Philippines in 2011.
Ty started her aviation career from the ranks of Pan Am, eventually rising to the position of station manager. She moved to United Airlines to the same position in 1986 when it purchased Pan Am’s trans-Pacific operations. She demonstrated strong leadership during the planning and launch of United Airline’s service in 1986. In 1996, she was appointed United Airlines country manager for the Philippines, the first time a Filipino female executive was named to the position.
When United Airlines ceased operations in the Philippines, Ty moved to the United States and held key management positions in various departments including Northern California reservations and corporate security at United’s world headquarters in Chicago. In 2004, when United started online services in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, she was tapped to lead the operational startup.
Ty considers her appointment as United Airlines Philippines country manager in 1996 to be a milestone not just for her career but also for all female executives in the aviation industry. Traditionally, male expatriates held positions for airline country managers. Her appointment to the post broke this gender barrier.
When asked what she brought to her position that male executives didn’t, she quipped, “Charm.”
She sees her present position to be the pinnacle of her career in the aviation business.
“As in any career, you can be the brightest if you do have that passion and the ability to think out of the box,” Ty says. “I have to be even more creative now. I cannot just rely on what worked for me 15 to 20 years ago.”
United flies 11 flights weekly out of Manila, of which nine are to Guam and another two to Koror, Palau. From Guam, travelers may fly direct to Honolulu or to other points in the US mainland.
Ty says Continental has served the Philippines market for a long time.
“We hope to grow that business even more,” she says. “When the opportunity presents itself, we might further expand our operations.”
She says following the merger, United has decided to invest about an additional $550 million dollars in onboard products on its US-based fleet that would make the carrier the most competitive in the world.
These improvements include: flatbed seating on 62 additional long-haul aircraft, raising the total of flatbed seats to 185, more than any other US carrier; introducing an Economy Plus section that offer five extra inches of legroom and Channel 9 air traffic control audio to more than 300 aircraft; nearly doubling the overhead storage space on more than 150 aircraft; installing advanced broadband Wi-Fi on more than 300 aircraft; introducing streaming wireless video onboard its mainline fleet.
With the completion of the merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines by the end of the year with the issuance of a single operating certificate from the US FAA, United will have the world’s most comprehensive global route network, including world-class international gateways to Asia and Australia, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East with nonstop or one-stop service from virtually anywhere in the United States.