Riyadh, Were Back!

PAL to fly Saudi beginning March 31 with a vengeance

Philippine Airlines will begin daily flights to Riyadh on March 31, followed by Jeddah in May 19, and Dammam in July 20

October 17, 2012

After almost two year hiatus, Philippine Airlines (PAL) will return to Saudi Arabia, but this time with brand new aircraft to boot and plenty of new planes to spare.

In a disclosure to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), PAL said that it will begin daily flights to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on March 31, followed by Jeddah in May 19, and Dammam on July 20, all in 2013.

The airline has said that it will be receiving 8 brand new Airbus A330-300 aircraft next year for Australia, and Middle East flights. Serving daily flights to the middle east require at least two aircraft for a given route.

PAL stopped its flight to Saudi Arabia in April 2, 2011 after the airline was allowed By Saudi Arabia's Transport Ministry to fly only three (3) specific aircraft registries, one particular Boeing 747 and two Airbus 330s.

The airline said restrictions on what plane PAL can use for the route have restrained its flexibility in operating the Manila-Riyadh service as they cannot operate other aircraft registries. This time PAL intends to register all eight A330's that will be delivered next year to service Saudi Arabia alone.

The flag carrier also notified CAB that it is continuing its code share relationships with partner airlines for destinations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in UAE, Manama in Bahrain, and Doha in Qatar.