PAL upgrades service to Zambo City

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Philippine Airlines (PAL) deployed its latest single-aisle aircraft, the Airbus A319, on the trunkline route between Manila and this southern city, the business hub in Western Mindanao.

PAL president Jaime Bautista, who joined the maiden flight Monday, said the flag carrier upgraded its operation to international standards with the introduction of the Mabuhay (Business) Class service.

Bautista and other top PAL executives arrived at the Zamboanga International Airport at 5 p.m. Monday, signaling the start of the flag carrier’s newest Business Class service.

Top city officials led by Mayor Celso Lobregat welcomed the PAL executives.

"This is our newest (addition) to the PAL fleet which features eight Business Class seats with individual in-seat entertainment system. It represents the new colors of PAL," Bautista said.

He said the Airbus A319 was deployed to provide passengers with the best service and to differentiate PAL service from the competitors’.

The PAL now operates two of the same aircraft type and would be taking delivery of an additional Airbus A319 next month.

The A319, delivered to PAL late last year, is part of the carrier’s comprehensive fleet modernization program that would see the acquisition of up to 20 brand-new A319s and their sister aircraft, the A320, over six years.

Bautista said they are expecting a load factor of over 80 percent in this southern port city with the growing number of passengers.

Lobregat said PAL’s introduction of its Business Class only shows that the city is increasingly being recognized as the region’s business capital.