PAL flies back to Brisbane

After 10-year absence

November 19, 2009

Manila - Philippines Airlines (PAL) confirmed plans to fly back to Brisbane next year after accepting delivery of its first brand new Boeing 777-300ER which arrived last night straight from the Boeing plant in Everett, Washington, PAL President Jaime Bautista said.

"Another triple seven will joined our fleet next year to make that route possible" says Bautista. "The first triple seven is already scheduled to take Manila-Hong Kong route starting November 24" he said.

"With the arrival of the second triple seven we can already manage their schedule so that it can fly to Tokyo by February and triangular service to Sydney and Melbourne by March next year. We are looking for a thrice a week service to Brisbane and two extra flights to serve Melbourne effectively almost making it a daily flight. But we are still studying our option whether to continue with the triangular route." Bautista added.

The delivery flight was loaded with relief goods intended for victims of typhoon Ondoy donated by various humanitarian organizations in the United States.

The extended range jet is the first 777 to join PAL’s fleet and is one of two leased 777-300ERs the airline will use for major international routes like Hong Kong (starting Nov. 24), Tokyo (February 2010) and Sydney and Melbourne (by mid-March 2010)

The airline is looking at twice-weekly flights to the Queensland capital in a triangular service with Melbourne and Manila, the Philippine capital. PAL currently operates a five times weekly service linking Manila, Melbourne and Sydney. That will revert to a daily service by the end of the November following an improvement in economic conditions. Two of the services were suspended in September following the downturn.

Bautista said the Manila-Melbourne-Brisbane-Manila services will start on March 10 if management goes ahead with the plan. Further route network talks are expected to take place soon with a decision likely before the end of the month.

“The flight to Brisbane have been on the management table for quite sometime but because we only have a few planes we can't easily expand.” Bautista added.