PAL to pursue US network expansion

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is proceeding with its plan to expand its US network this year.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna in a social media post said the airline would launch a Manila to Seattle service starting May.

Seattle has long been in PAL’s pipeline for potential new services to other destinations in North America.

PAL last year said it continues to review and consider possible expansion of new routes in its US network, after think tank CAPA-Center for Aviation in a June report said it dropped plans for expanding its US network.

Aside from Seattle, PAL was also previously considering launching services from Manila to Chicago, Houston, and San Diego, as well as potentially resuming Cebu to Los Angeles route which it briefly served in 2016 and 2017.

PAL has said that its non-stop US-Manila flights remain highly popular for business and leisure travelers and Filipino balikbayans.

PAL is the only airline flying non-stop between the Philippines and the US mainland, Hawaii, Canada and London.

The flag carrier operates 57 weekly long-haul frequencies to North America, specifically to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Vancouver, Honolulu and Toronto, and five weekly flights between Manila and London Heathrow.

Overall, PAL has a network covering more than 30 domestic and 40 international destinations with a young fleet of 98 advanced-technology aircraft.

As the country’s only four-star global airline, it is ranked as the 30th Best Airline in the world, having been awarded the World’s Most Improved Airline honors for 2019 by Skytrax and the 4-Star Major Airline award from the US-based Airline Passenger Experience Association.