PAL to launch Manila-Seattle route this year | ABS-CBN
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PAL to launch Manila-Seattle route this year
PAL to launch Manila-Seattle route this year
A Philippine Airlines Boeing 777-3F6(ER) departs from Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California, USA, on 18 January 2023. Caroline Brehman, EPA-EFE
A Philippine Airlines Boeing 777-3F6(ER) departs from Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California, USA, on 18 January 2023. Caroline Brehman, EPA-EFEMANILA (UPDATE) - Philippine Airlines said it will launch non-stop flights between Manila and Seattle this year.
MANILA (UPDATE) - Philippine Airlines said it will launch non-stop flights between Manila and Seattle this year.
PAL said that with the new route, set to launch on October 2, it will be the first carrier to link the Philippines and the US Pacific Northwest.
PAL said that with the new route, set to launch on October 2, it will be the first carrier to link the Philippines and the US Pacific Northwest.
The airline said the Manila-Seattle flights will also serve the growing number of Filipinos visiting family and friends in Washington and Oregon, which are home to more than 240,000 Filipino Americans.
The airline said the Manila-Seattle flights will also serve the growing number of Filipinos visiting family and friends in Washington and Oregon, which are home to more than 240,000 Filipino Americans.
It noted that over 900,000 Americans visited the Philippines in 2023, making the US the country’s second largest source of tourists.
It noted that over 900,000 Americans visited the Philippines in 2023, making the US the country’s second largest source of tourists.
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“Manila-Seattle is a sizeable market. In fact, right now, it is the largest unserved market between the Philippines and North America. Just to give you an idea, right now we have about 90,000 passengers every year that fly that market,” said Christoph Gartner, PAL Vice President for Network Planning.
“Manila-Seattle is a sizeable market. In fact, right now, it is the largest unserved market between the Philippines and North America. Just to give you an idea, right now we have about 90,000 passengers every year that fly that market,” said Christoph Gartner, PAL Vice President for Network Planning.
PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Captain Stanley Ng said the new route will help promote the Philippines "as a flourishing tourist and business destination for American travelers."
PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Captain Stanley Ng said the new route will help promote the Philippines "as a flourishing tourist and business destination for American travelers."
Ng admitted that they feel pressured by the recent launch of a direct flight between the US and Manila by United. But he also said that the airline is not bothered by this as he vowed to improve PAL services.
Ng admitted that they feel pressured by the recent launch of a direct flight between the US and Manila by United. But he also said that the airline is not bothered by this as he vowed to improve PAL services.
“We feel a little pressure because once you have a competitor, you always have to step up as well. But we would also say that the market is really big enough for the two carriers,” said Ng.
“We feel a little pressure because once you have a competitor, you always have to step up as well. But we would also say that the market is really big enough for the two carriers,” said Ng.
The new route will initially operate thrice weekly, every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with departures at 10:40 p.m. local time from Manila’s Terminal 1, and at 11:40 p.m. local time from Seattle Tacoma International Airport, the Philippine flag carrier said.
The new route will initially operate thrice weekly, every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with departures at 10:40 p.m. local time from Manila’s Terminal 1, and at 11:40 p.m. local time from Seattle Tacoma International Airport, the Philippine flag carrier said.
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The Seattle flights will add up to 60 tons of cargo capacity every week which will further contribute to increased trade and economic activity between the US and Asia.
The Seattle flights will add up to 60 tons of cargo capacity every week which will further contribute to increased trade and economic activity between the US and Asia.
Seattle is PAL’s sixth destination in the US and the eighth in North America, the airline said.
Seattle is PAL’s sixth destination in the US and the eighth in North America, the airline said.
PAL currently operates the largest network of nonstop flights between the Philippines and the United States, serving Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Honolulu and Guam. It also operates flights to Vancouver and Toronto.
PAL currently operates the largest network of nonstop flights between the Philippines and the United States, serving Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Honolulu and Guam. It also operates flights to Vancouver and Toronto.
PAL said it will deploy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for the Seattle flights, with full-flat seats in Business Class and inflight service featuring Filipino and Western meal specialties.
PAL said it will deploy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for the Seattle flights, with full-flat seats in Business Class and inflight service featuring Filipino and Western meal specialties.
A special introductory all-in roundtrip fare is offered at $771 for Economy Class and $3,071 for Business Class. The introductory fare is available until April 30 and for travel from October 2 to November 30 this year, as well as from February 1 to March 22, 2025.
A special introductory all-in roundtrip fare is offered at $771 for Economy Class and $3,071 for Business Class. The introductory fare is available until April 30 and for travel from October 2 to November 30 this year, as well as from February 1 to March 22, 2025.
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EXPANDING TO OTHER DESTINATIONS
PAL is also expanding its operations to Japan and other domestic destinations this year. Following its launch of Manila-Perth flights last year, it now plans to resume Manila-Sapporo and Cebu-Osaka flights. Europe is also in their minds, Ng asserted, but that may take time to launch.
PAL is also expanding its operations to Japan and other domestic destinations this year. Following its launch of Manila-Perth flights last year, it now plans to resume Manila-Sapporo and Cebu-Osaka flights. Europe is also in their minds, Ng asserted, but that may take time to launch.
“So many European countries really wanted a direct flight. I would say about 10 of them… Paris is one of them, and somewhere in Italy is one of them, and even Brussels,” said Ng.
“So many European countries really wanted a direct flight. I would say about 10 of them… Paris is one of them, and somewhere in Italy is one of them, and even Brussels,” said Ng.
But he also said that PAL will have to really study the routes and would need help from the destination authorities as they would need to secure good slots to make it more sustainable.
But he also said that PAL will have to really study the routes and would need help from the destination authorities as they would need to secure good slots to make it more sustainable.
“Exploring with European, some of the European countries, to also get some incentives as well as maybe take off and landing holidays,” Ng added.
“Exploring with European, some of the European countries, to also get some incentives as well as maybe take off and landing holidays,” Ng added.
The route expansion will also depend on aircraft availability. Ng said PAL is still affected by the Pratt & Whitney engine issue, which is also affecting global airlines. Currently, 5 PAL planes are grounded and are still being repaired.
The route expansion will also depend on aircraft availability. Ng said PAL is still affected by the Pratt & Whitney engine issue, which is also affecting global airlines. Currently, 5 PAL planes are grounded and are still being repaired.
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“The Pratt & Whitney issue is still with us at the moment. It’s not just Philippine Airlines, but across the world. With the engine, we still have to deal with that. It’s improving. Maybe it will take another year for that to stabilize,” he said.
“The Pratt & Whitney issue is still with us at the moment. It’s not just Philippine Airlines, but across the world. With the engine, we still have to deal with that. It’s improving. Maybe it will take another year for that to stabilize,” he said.
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