Philippine Airlines Cairns Inaugural Flight

Well today was the day Philippine Airlines make their inaugural flight from Manila to Auckland via Cairns. The past 3 days have been hot and humid but no rain, Last night the heavens opened up and it rained all night; even today as the flight landed I was out in the torrential rain soaked to the skin.
The inaugural flight was performed by an A320-232 RP-C8613 (CN 3579)

The fire fighters performed a water canon salute, and this would have been the very first time I have seen a water canon salute, but unfortunately the rain took away any excitement or fascination. Philippine Airlines with a call sign of PR 218 arrived 15 minutes ahead of time and landed on runway 15 at 7.15. As my luck would have it it wasn't long after that that the rained stopped. 

Philippine 218 was due to push back at 8.30am but it wasn't until 8.50 until it pushed back and taxied out. For this leg the flight was continuing on to Auckland with the arrival time in Auckland at 4.30pm NZ time.

Philippine 219 will depart Auckland at 7.30pm NZ time and arrive in Cairns at 9.30pm Qld time.

It will then depart at 11.30pm arriving in Manila at 3.30am in the morning tomorrow.