FLAG-CARRIER Philippine Airlines will be launching flights to more international destinations this year as new aircrafts will be delivered in the coming months.
"More routes will open as we take delivery of new airplanes," Dr. Jaime J. Bautista, Philippine Airlines president and chief operating officer, said during a press briefing on April 12, 2018 at Marco Polo Hotel Davao.
This year the airline will accept the delivery of five additional Next Generation Bombardier Q400s, six new Airbus A321neos, and the Airbus A350-900.
"The luxurious Airbus A350-900 joins our fleet in June, allowing us to fly the longest commercial flight in Philippine history from Manila nonstop to New York City, flying over the North Polar region of the world," Bautista said. The nonstop flight to New York (John F. Kennedy Airport), is expected to start on October 28, 2018.
He said once they receive the new A321neos, this may be utilized for nonstop flights from Manila to Mumbai (Bombay), which is expected to start sometime in the last quarter of this year.
Also targetted to be launched by the last quarter is Manila to Sapporo (Chitose), Japan.
In 2019, the airlines is also set to accept the delivery of two Next Generation Q400s, two A350s, and two A321neos.
With the A350s and A321neos, Bautista said they are looking into more international destinations next year.
For the A350, they are looking at new routes to Europe and to other US cities like Chicago and Seattle.
While for the A321neos, they are looking into developing viable nonstop flights to Australian destinations such as Perth and Brisbane.
As for the Next Generation Bombardier Q400s, the aircraft has allowed the airline to open up new domestic routes from its different hubs.
"The Next-Generation Bombardier Q400 turboprop that is powering our domestic hub expansion to island resorts," Bautista said.
Last March 25, the airline opened its four weekly Davao-Siargao flights.