PAL to start servicing Clark-Catanduanes route

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is beefing up operations in Clark International Airport in Pampanga province.

The flag carrier said it would launch flights from Clark to Virac, Catanduanes starting Dec. 15, 2017.

“This latest pioneer route enables us to serve the flight needs of our ‘kababayans’ in the province of Catanduanes,” PAL president Jaime Bautista said in a statement yesterday.
“It will be our pleasure to serve the Clark-Virac route and provide them our trademark heartfelt service on this short hop. The new flights further expand our domestic route network and our hub at Clark International Airport giving travelers the flexibility to choose from our wide array of domestic services,” he added.

PAL noted that the Clark-Virac link was a “prime initiative” of Cesar Sarmiento, Catanduanes representative and chair of the house committee on transportation.

Sarmiento has been in dialogue with airline officials amidst calls for expanded air links to Virac, PAL added.

“As a company imbued with public interest, it is important to respond to the needs of the flying public, particularly the untapped markets. I am pleased with PAL’s positive response to my request for this much-needed service,” Sarmiento said in the same statement.

PAL will serve the route three times a week using its 76-seater Bombardier Q400.

PAL’s domestic hub operations in the Central Luzon Province of Pampanga serve the following routes: Clark–Basco, Clark-Busuanga, Clark-Caticlan, Clark-Cebu and Clark-Puerto Princesa. New domestic flights out of Clark this December will serve Bacolod, Cagayan, Davao and Tagbilaran.

From Clark, the flag carrier also serves Seoul (Incheon) four times per week.