THE flag carrier is feeding our wanderlust and giving us more reasons to pack our bags and hop on the next plane to our bucket listed destinations.
In 2016, Philippine Airlines launched four new international flights (Kuwait, Jeddah, Doha, Saipan), opened new routes (Cebu-Singapore, Cebu-Los Angeles, Manila-Taipei-Osaka, Cebu-Caticlan-Calrk) and increased flight frequencies (Manila-Los Angeles—twice daily; Manila-Toronto—three to four times weekly; Manila-Beijing—four to six times weekly; and Manila-Vancouver—seven to ten times weekly).
More good news was dished out early this year. In a press conference in Cebu’s Marco Polo Plaza, PAL executives announced that PAL is bringing us closer to our favorite Philippine destinations with new flights via the Queen City of the South.
“We are introducing new domestic routes to allow travelers to reach their desired destinations without the need to transit in Manila. Passengers get to experience the unique PAL brand of service even on short flights,” said PAL President Jaime Bautista.
The new domestic route expansion of PAL includes eight new routes—from Clark and Cebu—in the first quarter of the year.
On March 26, the four new flights out of Cebu will commence: Cebu-Puerto Princesa; Cebu General Santos; Cebu-Surigao; Cebu-Coron (Busuanga).
Cebu-Puerto Princesa flights will be four times a week; Cebu-General Santos three times a week; Cebu-Surigao three times a week; and Cebu-Coron daily.
Flights to Puerto Princesa and General Santos will use the 156-seater A320 aircraft. Flights to Surigao will use the 76-seater Q400 while those to Coron will use the Q300.
“The new routes from Cebu bring to 12 the total number of domestic points, apart from Manila, linked to Cebu,” said Harry Inoferio, PAL SAVP for Sales-Philippines.
The other four new domestic routes are off Clark: Clark to Cebu, Clark to Davao, Clark to Puerto Princesa, and Clark to Coron (Busuanga).
The four times a week Clark to Cebu service started on January 30 with flights departing Clark at 7 a.m., and flights will increase to daily on March 26.
The three times weekly Clark to Davao flight was recently inaugurated on February 1. Flights are scheduled to leave Clark at 10:50 a.m. and service will increase to four times weekly on March 26.
On March 26, PAL’s will commence its three times weekly flights Clark to Puerto Princesa, departing Clark at 10:50 a.m.; and its Clark to Coron daily flights using the 56-seater Q300 airplane.
This is just the initial offering of Philippine Airlines on the first quarter of 2017. Expect more exciting news, upgrades and new destinations in the coming months.
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