PAL builds fleet to bring new services to Clark International

Clark

In a bid to become a four-star airline by next year, PAL is building its fleet and adding new routes, particularly out of Clark.

ADVERTISEMENT

In a statement yesterday (Friday, December 15) the national carrier said it had its ninth Boeing 777-300ER delivered, to be used mainly for routes between Manila and North America.

PAL’s 10th 777 is expected to follow in a few days, bringing the carrier’s fleet count to 88.

On Thursday, PAL announced the opening of its four new destinations —Bacolod, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro and Virac — out of the airline’s hub at Clark International Airport (CIA).

ADVERTISEMENT

The airline said it was investing, by way of the new routes, in the development of the CIA as a major airline gateway.

PAL’s Clark hub now provides passengers from central and northern Luzon direct access to a total of 13 domestic destinations, as well as to Seoul, South Korea.

PAL’s build-up of operations at CIA, as well as in Cebu, Davao, and recently Tagbilaran, aimed to significantly enhance travel convenience and connectivity for Philippine domestic travellers, while also serving to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

ADVERTISEMENT

PAL said its new flights were expected to boost tourism and make it more attractive for foreign tourists to visit multiple destinations throughout the country.

Yesterday, PAL launched a four-times-weekly service to Bacolod and daily flights to Tagbilaran in Bohol.

PR859 (Clark-Bacolod) leaves CIA at 7am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. PR860 (Bacolod-Clark) departs Bacolod at 8.45am.

PR2871 (Clark-Tagbilaran) leaves CIA at 3pm every day. The Tagbilaran-Clark is operated in the morning, departing Bohol at 6.40am and landing at CIA at 8am.

Today, a three-times-weekly service to Cagayan de Oro (PR833) began, leaving CIA every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 6am. The return flight (PR834) departs at 8.20am from Laguindingan International Airport serving Cagayan de Oro.

PAL is using the 199-seater Airbus A321 on flights to Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro, and the 156-seater A320 to Tagbilaran.

On Monday, PAL will mount three-times-weekly flights to Virac, capital of the island province of Catanduanes, leaving CIA Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6am.

The Bombardier Q400 will be used on the Clark-Virac-Clark route.

On top of the four new routes, PAL flies to nine other domestic destinations out of Clark: Basco, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, Masbate and Puerto Princesa. Early next year, Naga will be added to the list.