Bigger Boeing B777s to service PAL’s daily flights to London

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) remains bullish of its sole route to Europe, announcing it would deploy newer and higher capacity planes for its Manila to London operations before launching daily flights by December this year.

In a statement, PAL said flights between Manila and London would be served by its fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs starting Sept. 19 this year. The planes will replace the older and less-efficient Airbus A340s currently in service.

PAL said the B777 could also carry more passengers with its capacity of 370 business class and economy seats. It said the A340 has only 254 seats.

“As we carry out the brand promise to be a full service five-star carrier of the country and be a source of pride of Filipinos everywhere, we shall continue to enhance the total travel experience along the route,” PAL president and CEO Jaime Bautista said in the statement. He said the B777 offered better range and “operational capability.”

“The flag carrier will be on a par with other full service carriers along the route,” Bautista said.

By December 2017, PAL would increase frequencies between the two cities from four times weekly to daily flights to give passengers added travel flexibility, it noted. PAL resumed flights to London in 2013 following a 15-year break. —MIGUEL R. CAMUS