PAL announces major expansion of routes, including Toronto and Auckland

PAL
Taking off: PAL has announced several new international services as well as a full roster of new domestic routes

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is launching non-stop services from Manila to Toronto and Auckland next month as part of a major expansion of routes.

The Toronto service will begin on December 16 and fly three times a week. The flights will use Boeing 777 planes and will take about 14-and-a-half hours.

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The Auckland flight will be launched December 6 and also fly three times a week. It will reduce travel time from more than 13 hours to 10. At present, PAL operates flights to New Zealand with a stopover in Cairns, Australia.

The airline said the delivery of two more Boeing 777-300s next month and two Airbus A350-900s next year will also allow it to increase flights between Manila and the US West Coast, as well as a nonstop Manila- to New York service.

A statement from the airline yesterday (Tuesday, November 21) read: “In the meantime, PAL will be introducing into service the long-range version of the Airbus A321 NEOs, which will enable the flag carrier to open new nonstop routes such as Manila-Brisbane and Manila-New Delhi.”

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PAL is also launching a new route between Cebu and Bangkok on December 2, again running three times a week.

PAL expands domestic services

The flag carrier has also announced a substantial number of new domestic routes from Cebu and Clark.

From December 1 the airline will use the Bombardier Q400 Next Generation turboprops to connect Cebu with Siargao, Camiguin, Ozamiz and Legaspi.

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On the same day, PAL will launch flights from Clark to Legaspi, Masbate, Calbayog and Catarman. Routes from Clark to Bacolod, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro and Virac are also due to be launched next month.

Then, in January, services from Clark to Naga and Legaspi will begin.

“The new domestic operations — which will help relieve NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) congestion — will enable travellers from the country’s regions to reach Central Luzon without having to touch down in NAIA and travel by land from Manila,” the airline’s statement said.

PAL is aiming to carry up to 17 million passengers next year, with a target of 20 million by 2021.

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