PAL opens new Antique-Clark route

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has introduced the latest addition to its extensive domestic network with the opening of the new route between Antique and Clark.

The province of Antique welcomed its first commercial flight on Sunday, with the arrival of the inaugural PAL flight from Clark to San Jose de Buenavista, the provincial capital.

The new twice weekly PAL service between Clark and Antique is operated with a brand-new 86-seater Bombardier Next Generation Q400 aircraft.

PAL said the Bombardier Next Generation Q400 aircraft flies faster and more comfortably than other island-hopping airplanes, with a baggage hold big enough to accommodate surfboards.

“This new route empowers Antiqueños to fly straight to the heart of Central Luzon. More convenient air access helps keep the economy humming in Antique,” PAL vice president for corporate communications Josen Perez de Tagle said.

“With PAL flights coming to Antique, more Antiqueños would be able to fly home more often and experience the efficiency of air travel. We witness another milestone for Philippine aviation,” Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippine director general Jim Sydiongco said.

Through the new route, PAL said it hopes to promote Antique’s tourist attractions and activities.

The new flight leaves Clark at 6 a.m. every Sunday and Tuesday, arriving in San Jose de Buenavista at 7:20 a.m. The return flight departs Antique 20 minutes later at 7:40 a.m., arriving in Clark at 9 a.m.

PAL said it previously operated a Manila-Antique service from 1956 to 1970 using Douglas DC-3 aircraft, and from 1974 to 1977 using the Hawker Siddeley 748.

San Jose de Buenavista becomes PAL’s 20th destination linked from Clark International Airport, where the flag carrier is the biggest airline operator.

PAL flights also link Clark with Siargao, Basco, Coron, Caticlan (Boracay), San Vicente (Palawan), Bacolod and Seoul (Korea).