MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) landed as the second best airline in Southeast Asia as voted by travelers, securing another feat following successive wins for brand strength and flight punctuality.
At the 2025 Flyers’ Choice Awards hosted by AirlineRatings.com, PAL won as the second most preferred carrier in Southeast Asia, behind one of the world’s finest, Singapore Airlines.
Flag carrier Malaysia Airlines ranked third in the list that was selected by travelers in the region.
PAL president Richard Nuttall said the recognition adds to the trophies that the airline has been receiving recently. Nuttall underscored the feedback-based scoring of the Flyers’ Choice Awards, meaning travelers themselves voted based on experience and preference.
AirlineRatings.com said the Flyers’ Choice Awards employs a different judging compared to its World’s Safest Airlines and World’s Best Airlines awards. The latter are measured by a group of aviation experts using strict criteria.
The Flyers’ Choice Awards is determined by travelers themselves, providing an insight to which carriers are really winning over passengers.
“We thank the voting travelers for this special honor as it reflects the trust and satisfaction that all of us in PAL strive to earn from passengers by delivering a friendly service, an unwavering focus on safety and reliability, and the genuine care that comes from the heart,” Nuttall said.
Earlier, PAL was recognized by ad magazine Campaign Asia as the best travel brand in the Philippines and the second best in Southeast Asia.
Campaign Asia gave PAL a country-high score of 63.15 percent in its yearly index of best travel brands in Southeast Asia. The airline bested some of the biggest travel brands in the country like Cebu Pacific (54.9 percent), Klook (51.75 percent) and Emirates (49.95 percent).
Aside from this, PAL has been placing frequently among the most punctual airlines in Asia and the Pacific according to aviation analyst Cirium. In April, the carrier owned by tycoon Lucio Tan ranked as the most on-time airline in the region, turning in a punctuality rate of 86.07 percent.
PAL is in the middle of a major refleeting that would see it receive before the end of the year its first Airbus A350-1000, boosting its capability to reach long-haul destinations.
PAL is also bringing in by October the first of 18 retrofitted A321ceos, which would come with better cabin design and in-flight entertainment, improving flight comfort and experience.