April 10, 2014 PAL poised for US expansion, anticipates growth opportunities with lifting of ban Philippine Airlines (PAL) is ready to implement an expansion plan in the United States, following the re-classification of the country’s aviation safety rating to Category 1, which it said would boost tourism and trade and open up new and exciting opportunities for the flag carrier. With the upgrade, the Philippines now re-joins the ranks the most important aviation nations in the world, made up of select countries that meet the US’ strict standards of aviation safety. Following the re-classification, the flag carrier said it is set to immediately deploy a fleet of newly - acquired Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for its long-haul flights to the US. With this, passengers can now enjoy non-stop flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco board new aircraft equipped with the most modern cabin and state-of-the-art amenities, including lie-flat beds in business class. PAL President & Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang said: “Your flag carrier welcomes the return of the country’s aviation rating to Category 1. This is a culmination of the government’s hard work, as exemplified by the efforts of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, to upgrade the country’s international aviation safety standards.” “This latest development allows us to deploy our modern and fuel-efficient Boeing 777-300ER fleet to the US, and enables us to explore new destination opportunities in one of the Philippines’ largest passenger markets,” he added. Currently, PAL operates a total of 26 weekly flights to the US, with frequencies to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Guam. The flag carrier said it would deploy six Boeing 777-300ERs, amounting to US$1.2 billion, for US flights within a month’s time. For its flights to Honolulu and Guam, PAL will continue to utilize new wide body Airbus A330-300s and single-aisle A320-200s. Apart from ushering a new era in the flag carrier’s trans-pacific service, Mr. Ang added that the upgrade will also allow PAL to explore possible airline partnerships with foreign carriers in order to maximize its growth potential. About Philippine Airlines Philippine Airlines operates the widest route network among all other Philippine carriers, with 29 domestic and 35 international destinations. Now on its 73rd year, it has grown resilient and maintains its place as a major player in the country’s aviation industry. New Management, led by PAL President Ramon S. Ang, is committed to make the country’s flag carrier soar once more among the leading airlines of Asia. The airline’s inflight and ground services have been enhanced in line with the thrust to address customer needs. From 2012 –2013, the flag carrier expanded its route network by launching flights to new destinations in the Philippines (Basco, Batanes); Asia (Guangzhou, China); Australia (Darwin, Brisbane); the Middle East (Abu Dubai, Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam) and Europe (London). PAL now provides a wide range of flight offerings, empowering a customer to book a flight based on actual needs.
Posted on: Thu, 10 Apr 2014 08:32:26 +0000
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