Philippine Airlines (PAL) is suspending until further notice the launch of its Manila-New Delhi-Manila service.
“We are constrained to take this step as news of India-Pakistan border tensions has prompted many travelers to cancel bookings and defer their travel plans,” PAL said in a statement. India and Pakistan are engaged in an ongoing military confrontation in the disputed Kashmir region and neighboring provinces.
PAL last January announced it was re-establishing links to India after previously flying the Manila-Delhi route from 2011 to 2013, with most flights making costly stopovers in Bangkok due to the limited range of the Airbus A320 aircraft then in use. PAL also served Kolkata (Calcutta) as a key stopover point on the flag carrier’s multi-stop Manila-Europe services in the 1950s.
PAL was targeting April 2019 as the start of the New Delhi service, subject to final slot and operational clearances with the Indian authorities. The new route is slated to run four times weekly nonstop between Manila and New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport using the brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft.
The airline is apologizing to and seeking the understanding of passengers who have already booked flights or purchased tickets on the Delhi service. Ticket holders may either reroute their tickets to any regional destination within 30 days from their original tickets, or refund the cost of their tickets.
Affected passengers may call PAL or visit the nearest PAL Ticketing Office or partner travel agent where they booked their flight.
The airline assured that it will make the appropriate announcement once a new start date is finalized.
