Air Philippines (airphilexpress.com) (subsidiary of Philippines) (Manila) relaunched operations and changed its name to Airphil Express on March 28, 2010 with the acquisition of two Airbus A320-200 aircraft on lease from its parent Philippines (Philippine Airlines).

The two A320s, sporting the new Airphil Express livery and configured to 177 seats, started operations on March 28 from Manila to Iloilo, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa and Cagayan de Oro, signaling the resumption of jet service to these domestic points.

The first A320, ex-Philippines A320-214 registered RP-C3227 (msn 2183), was introduced in a ceremony on March 27 at the airline’s hangar at Nichols, Pasay City.

The redesigned website:

http://www.airphilexpress.com/index.php

Airphil Express is acquiring a total of 20 new A320s over the next four years, to be added to the current fleet of eight Bombardier DHC-8-400 (Q400) and DHC-8-300 (Q300) turbo-prop aircraft.

Aside from the two leased narrow-body jets, four brand-new A320s will also be delivered from Airbus’ manufacturing facility in Toulouse, France, between September and November 2010. Four more A320 aircraft will join the fleet next year, five aircraft in 2012 and another five in 2013.