Airphil Express (airphilexpress.com) (formerly Air Philippines) (Manila) is getting ready to take delivery of its third Airbus A320, but the first new example direct from Airbus. Air Philippines ceased operations on August 31, 2009 but the company reorganized and relaunched low-fare operations under the current name on March 28, 2010 with two leased 177-seat A320s. The A320s began flying from Manila to Iloilo, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa and Cagayan de Oro.

Airphil Express is acquiring a total of 20 new airplanes over the next four years, in addition to the current fleet of two A320s, eight Bombardier DHC-8-400 (Q400) and DHC-8-300 (Q300) turboprop aircraft.

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

Copyright Photo: Brand new Airbus A320-214 with the test registration of F-WWIZ (msn 4415) taxies at Toulouse in the 2010 livery. The airliner will become RP-C8388.