Philippine Airlines (PAL) will further boost its operations at its hubs in Davao, Cebu and Clark with the scheduled arrival of 15 new aircraft in 2018, and another six aircraft in 2019.
PAL in a statement announced its multi-hub expansion strategy that aims to improve domestic and international connections, while spreading the benefits of tourism and commercial activity to the various regions in Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon.
New routes and increased flight frequencies are being introduced as the flag carrier accepts delivery of five additional Next-Generation Bombardier Q400s and six new Airbus A321neos starting in May 2018, along with four Airbus A350-900 trans-oceanic aircraft starting in June 2018.
PAL’s 2018 expansion scheme includes the following new routes: Davao-Siargao, starting with four weekly flights from March 25; Manila nonstop to New York (Kennedy Airport) by October 28, 2018; Manila nonstop to New Delhi and Mumbai in India by last quarter of 2018; and Manila to Sapporo (Chitose) in Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido by the last quarter of 2018.
PAL is also assessing the request of the Department of Tourism to launch international routes directly from Davao possibly to Bangkok or a point in Japan.
PAL, meanwhile, is increasing frequencies of the following routes: Cebu-Siargao, launched last December, will go twice daily by end-April; Davao-Tagbilaran increased from four times weekly to daily since March 25; Davao-Clark to ramp up to daily later in 2018; Cebu-Bangkok increased from thrice weekly to daily since March 25; Cagayan de Oro to Clark, to go daily later this year; Cebu-Busuanga (Coron), from twice daily flights to three by April 26; Clark-Busuanga (Coron), from four daily flights to five by April 26; and Cebu-Clark, from seven weekly flights to 10 by April 28.
PAL will likewise upgrade to widebody A330 or A340 aircraft on more select Manila-Cebu and Manila-Davao flights.
Additional frequencies between Manila and Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Cebu, Puerto Princesa and Bacolod, will also start in April or May.
International connectivity is improved, too, as PAL offers convenient connections in Cebu for passengers flying from Davao to Tokyo Narita, Beijing, Seoul, and Bangkok. There are also timely connections in Manila to destinations in Europe (London), the USA, Australia, Japan, the Middle East, China, and various Asian countries.
