Philippine Airlines (PAL) continues to power a renaissance that began late last year (see news and news), announcing six new destinations in Australia, China and the Middle East. This follows an earlier announcement (see news) of the carrier's return to North America's east coast after it ceased flying to Toronto in 1997.
During a free-wheeling press conference yesterday, PAL president Ramon S Ang informed local media of the time line for the destination launches: Kuala Lumpur on May 1, Brisbane, Darwin and Perth and Guangzhou on June 1 and Abu Dhabi in the UAE on October 1.
PAL Airbus A320 – a traveller's home in the sky
Ang cited rapidly increasing demand by both business and leisure travellers for launching services to Australia, Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou. The Abu Dhabi product, meanwhile, caters to the large concentration of Filipino overseas contract workers – also called OCWs – eking out livelihoods, not only in the UAE but in other Middle East points, which can easily be reached from the gateway.
PR517 to KL departs Manila Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 0755; PR382 to Guangzhou departs Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 2230; PR221 to Darwin departs Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 2205; Manila-Brisbane (via Darwin) follows the same departure but arrives in Brisbane at 0920 the next day; PR219 Manila-Perth (via Darwin) departs Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 2225. PR656 to Abu Dhabi departs Manila daily at 1625.
A320 aircraft will be used on the Australia, Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou routes, to be replaced by A321s when they arrive in the near future, said PAL vice president, corporate communications Joey de Guzman. Meanwhile, an A330 will operate on the Manila-Abu Dhabi run.
PAL also unveiled its latest marketing tagline: "Your home in the sky", a nod to the Filipinos' brand of hospitality which is renowned for being exceptionally welcoming.
For more details, visit www.philippineairlines.com
Margie T Logarta
