PAL opening new domestic routes

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines is increasing its presence in the domestic market, with several new routes slated to open in time for the busy summer vacation.

PAL, which launched  thrice weekly Clark to Davao flights Wednesday, will launch Clark to Coron and Clark to Puerto Princesa, both in Palawan, on March 26 this year.

The move follows the carrier’s operations from Clark to Caticlan (Boracay) and Incheon, South Korea.

The move was partly in response to the Duterte administration’s push to increase operations at the underutilized Clark International Airport in Pampanga province and cut congestion in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

PAL is taking steps to increase its share elsewhere in the Philippines. The strategy, launched over two years ago, has helped PAL gain domestic market share against its largest rival here, Cebu Pacific Air, think tank Capa-Center for Aviation said in a recent report.

According to PAL, it will also launch four new routes out of Cebu on March 26, 2017.

It said Cebu-Puerto Princesa flights will be four times a week; Cebu-General Santos three times a week; Cebu-Surigao three times a week, and Cebu-Coron daily.

Flights to Puerto Princesa and General Santos will use the 156-seater A320 aircraft. Flights to Surigao will use the 76-seater Q400 while those to Coron will use the Q300, it added.

“We are introducing new domestic routes to allow travelers to reach their desired destinations without the need to transit in Manila. Passengers will get to experience the unique PAL brand of service even on short flights,” PAL president Jaime J. Bautista said.

PAL noted that the new routes from Cebu would bring to 12 the total number of domestic points linked to Cebu, apart from Manila. Miguel R. Camus