PAL Finally Secures Seattle

 Flight Begins October 2


Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will finally fly Seattle beginning October 2 on thrice a week service to Manila every Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays on board Boeing 777-300ER. Our previous report is here

PR124 leaves Manila at 10:40pm arriving Seattle Tacoma Airport at 7:15pm on the same day. Return flight PR125 leaves Seattle at 11:40pm arriving Manila at 4:45am.

Port of Seattle Commission Vice President Toshiko Hasegawa said “Nonstop service to Manila has long been one of our most frequently requested routes, and we’re thrilled that this new flight will not only serve the Puget Sound’s Filipino community but anyone who is interested in exploring the rich history, beauty, and hospitality of the Philippines.”

According to Hasegawa, Manila is Washington's largest unserved international market, with Philippine bound passengers taking connecting flights in Seoul, Tokyo, and Taipei.

Washington state is home to the country’s fourth-largest Filipino population, next to California, Hawaii, and Texas.

“We’ve been looking forward to this announcement for some time and are excited to welcome Philippine Airlines to our region,” said Lance Lyttle, Managing Director of the Port’s Aviation Division.

PAL was supposed to fly in May of 2020 before dispute with United Airlines caused it to postpone the relaunching at a later date. Dispute with UAL was resolved last year with UA launching flights from San Francisco to Manila. 

PAL last flew to Seattle in 1998 with MD-11 aircraft.

Re-Introductory fares begins at US$797 one way, and $1,121 for return flight to Manila. 

Seattle is the fifth destination of PAL in the United States after Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu,  and New York.  It manifested intent to fly Houston and Chicago as their sixth and seventh destination by 2027.

Sunlight Air Spreads Its Wings

 

8 March 2024

Boutique Airline Sunlight Air (RLB) is spreading its wings from a mere transport provider of Brito family's Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort (SETIR) in Cullion, Palawan as a shell, to resort partners in San Vicente and Busuanga as a charter company, to become a full fledged airline as it introduces new hub and expands its domestic route across the country.

Starting during the time of Covid in July 22, 2019, Sunlight Air is growing its hub in Clark and making a new hub in Cebu as it fly to famous tourists destinations such as Clark-Coron, and Cebu-Siargao beginning April 1. It also start flying between Manila and Cebu on the same date with a fleet of ATR 72-500 turboprop planes.


Next route to be open are Clark-San Vicente, starting April 4, Clark-Caticlan and Cebu-Caticlan beginning April 30. Cebu-Iloilo follows from July 1, while Cebu-Cagayan de Oro will start July 2.

Airline CEO Ryna Brito-Garcia said the decision to grow Clark (CRK) is a result of airport limitations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport preventing them to grow its route network and maximize efficiency.

Garcia said the airport move promises to enhance fleet efficiency and reliability while capitalizing on CRK’s exceptional facilities for the airlines growth.

Passengers holding existing bookings from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will receive detailed advisories about any changes in their itineraries as a result of this transition. Sunlight Air has provided free shared shuttle services from NAIA to CRK to effect transition to a seamless and convenient travel experience.

The airline currently flies to Caticlan, Mambajao, Naga, and Busuanga from Manila, and Siargao and San Vicente from Clark with a fleet of three ATR planes. The airline said it intends to add two more ATR to its fleet.

  

Largest Carrier In The Philippines

5 March 2024 

 

Air passenger traffic in the Philippines surged to 50.2 million in 2023, up by 55 percent from the previous year, according  from 32.3 million passengers recorded in the previous year, according to the final data released by the Civil Aeronautics Board’s (CAB).