6 January 2027
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| FLAG CARRIER Philippine Airlines (PAL) was named for the first time as the most punctual airline in the Asia-Pacific region for 2025, posting an on-time arrival rate of 83.12%, according to global aviation analytics firm Cirium. |
Philippine Airlines ranked as the most on-time airline in the Asia-Pacific for 2025
PAL Takes 1st 35k In SEA
20 December 2025
Philippine Airlines (PAL) newly acquired plane landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at exactly 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, making the Philippine flag carrier the first airline in Southeast Asia to operate Airbus’ newest-generation wide-body aircraft, the A350-1000(msn 758 F-WZFZ / RP-C3510), and the 10th airline in the world to operate the type.
The arrival followed a formal delivery ceremony in Toulouse, France, in December 12, 2025, led by PAL Holdings Inc. President Lucio Tan III, alongside senior executives including Board Adviser Kyle Tan, PAL President Richard Nuttall, and EVP and COO Carlos Luis Fernandez.
The aircraft is the first of nine A350-1000s ordered in 2023 as part of PAL’s long-term fleet expansion. Airbus, notably, has been PAL’s partner for more than four decades.
Designed primarily for PAL’s transpacific routes, the aircraft features a spacious tri-class cabin for up to 382 passengers: 42 in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy, and 316 in Economy, powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines—each delivering up to 97,000 pounds of thrust It cuts fuel burn and carbon emissions by up to 25 percent versus older-generation aircraft and is certified to operate on sustainable aviation fuel.
PAL becomes the first full service carrier to operate the A350-1000 in high density configuration.
UAE Expands ASA With PHI
16 November 2025
The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates has successfully concluded Air Consultation Talks held on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow 2025, granting the UAE seven (7) additional weekly flight entitlements, allowing UAE low cost carrier Fly Dubai to operate flights to Manila beginning next year.
The airtalks was headed by The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE represented by Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, while the
Philippine delegation was led by Undersecretary Jim C. Sydiongco of the
Department of Transportation.
Also in the talks were Executive Director Carmelo
L. Arcilla of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB); Philippine Ambassador
to the United Arab Emirates Alfonso A. Ver, Assistant Secretary Edgar B.
Badajos of the Department of Foreign Affairs; Assistant Secretary
Judilyn S. Quiachon of the Department of Tourism; and Atty. Florence P.
Daquioag-Bual of the Department of Labor and Employment.
Representatives
from CAAP, CAB, DOT, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Mactan–Cebu
International Airport Authority, and Luzon International Premiere
Airport Development also joined the discussions.
The Philippines previously granted 28 weekly flights, or about 22,700 weekly seats, between the Philippines capital airport and Dubai International airport from 2021 to 2025, and unlimited flights from Dubai to the Philippines major international airports. All flights were taken by Emirates Airlines.
The new flight entitlements shall become effective next year.
Air passenger volume to Dubai jumped by 21% in the first nine months, as international travelers surged by 40%, according to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).
Data from CAB showed that overall passenger volume grew by 21.2% to 44.09 million for the January-to-September period, prompting Emirates Airlines which owns 4/5 rights from Dubai to signed an interline agreement with Philippine flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to boost seats and connectivity for both airlines through the sharing of networks. Qatar Airways made similar arrangements with PAL to boost seats and connectivity.
Data from CAB showed that overall passenger volume grew by 21.2% to 44.09 million for the January-to-September period, prompting Emirates Airlines which owns 4/5 rights from Dubai to signed an interline agreement with Philippine flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to boost seats and connectivity for both airlines through the sharing of networks. Qatar Airways made similar arrangements with PAL to boost seats and connectivity.
During the discussions, UAE wanted increase of additional 14 flights but the Philippine delegation approved only 7 more flights until 2029.
The talks also covered broader issues related to bilateral air entitlements, operational coordination, and opportunities to streamline air transport arrangements in support of growing passenger and cargo demand.
Sunlight Flies Siquijor
15 December 2025
Boutique airline Sunlight Air flies inaugural flight from Cebu to Siquijor with ATR72-600 turboprop plane. The airline flies 2R875 four times a week every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday leaving Mactan at 10:20am arriving Siquijor at 11:10am, with return flight 2R876 leaving at 11:40pm arriving Cebu at 12:40pm. Sunlight Air also operates flights from Manila and Clark to and from Cebu and from there to Boracay, Siargao, Cagayan de Oro and Coron.
CEB Returns To RUH
10 December 2025
Philippine low cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) announced that it will be returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from March 1, 2026. The route shall be flown by Airbus A330-900 aircraft 4 times weekly every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday under the following proposed schedules:
5J740 MNL2250 – 0425+1RUH 339 x246
5J741 RUH0555 – 2045MNL 339 x357
CEB first flew to Riyadh in October 1, 2014 flying thrice a week and suspended the route on July 2017.
The airline also plans to fly to Dammam in Saudi Arabia thrice weekly after securing regulatory approvals from KSA authorities.
PAL To Fly Palau Next Year
5 December 2025
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced on Thursday that it would launch new flight services between Manila and Palau (Koror) starting 2026.
The airline will begin offering twice-weekly flights to Palau, an island nation in Micronesia, starting March 29 to be flown by newly refurbished 199-seater dual-class Airbus A321ceo aircraft.
Flights from Manila are scheduled every Wednesday and Sunday, departing at 10:15 p.m. and arriving in Palau (Koror) at 2 a.m. local time. Return flights from Palau (Koror) to Manila operate on Mondays and Thursdays, taking off at 3:10 a.m. local time and landing in Manila at 4:45 a.m.
Jetstar Lands In CEB
4 December 2025
Australia-based low cost carrier Jetstar Airways lands its inaugural flight to Mactan Cebu on Wednesday connecting Brisbane, Australia, and Cebu, Philippines — the first scheduled commercial route linking an Australian city to the Philippines second biggest City. The route will be served with A321LR aircraft departing thrice weekly until 16 May 2026.
From December to May, Flight JQ101 flies from Brisbane every Wednesday, Friday, Sunday with an additional flight on Saturdays from January 31 to March 28. It departs at 12:30pm and arrives in Cebu at 17:15pm. Flight JQ100 from Cebu returns to Brisbane on the same days, departing at 20:15pm.
Australia and the Philippines updated their bilateral air services arrangements in September, agreeing to double passenger capacity from 35 to 70 weekly services to major Australian cities by the fourth quarter of 2026.
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