PHILIPPINE AIRLINES (PAL) is flying direct to London Heathrow on Nov 4, marking the national flag carrier’s return to Europe after an absence of 15 years.
The announcement was made Tuesday by PAL president and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang, together with visiting British Minister of State for Trade and Investment Lord Stephen Green of Hurstpierpoint at a press briefing in Manila.
The resumption of service follows the lifting of the European Union 2010 ban on Philippine carriers from its airspace over safety concerns.
PAL had ended its Europe and Middle East services in early 1998, long before the EU ban. The airline cut the routes after taking a hit from the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
The five-times-a-week direct London service (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) will use Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
In 2012, one third of the estimated 349,000 European visitors to the Philippines came from Britain. In the first half of 2013, arrivals from UK reached 60,234.
Ang earlier said PAL is also eyeing services to Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Rome and Madrid.
PAL is in the middle of a major refleeting program with an end view of acquiring 100 new aircraft. It has entered into a $9.5-billion contract with the EADS Group for the delivery of 65 aircraft.
