Philippines Airlines (PAL) has announced a major route expansion plan, with the launch of flights to six new destinations across Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
From May to October this year, the national carrier will commence flights to three destinations in Australia – Brisbane, Darwin and Perth – along with new routes to Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou and Abu Dhabi, the latter marking its return to the Middle East for the first time since 2010.
“Australia, Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou are major destinations for business and leisure. Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, has a large concentration of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), making it a prime destination in the Middle East,” explained PAL’s President, Ramon Ang.
The six months of expansion will start on 1 May 2013, with the launch of four weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur. Services will depart Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 0755. Then in June the expansion will gather pace with the launch of three new routes. The four weekly Guangzhou services will depart at 1030 every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, while the new three weekly flights to Brisbane, via Darwin, will leave at 2205 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. PAL will also launch four weekly flights to Perth, also flying via Darwin, with services departing every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 2225.
Finally from 1 October 2013, PAL will launch direct daily flights to Abu Dhabi, with services departing Manila at 1625.
The expansion of PAL’s route network marks the latest stage in the national carrier’s recent resurgence. Since securing investment from the San Miguel Corporation in April 2012, the airline has placed orders for 54 new Airbus aircraft, including 10 long-haul jets, deliveries of which are due to start this year.
PAL has identified route expansion, fleet modernisation and in-flight service enhancements as its “three pillars of growth”.
