Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is adding new routes for its Clark International Airport hub in Pampanga.
PAL has either launched or is about to open new destinations to Bacolod, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro and Virac via Clark, which is gaining increasing attention given the Duterte administration’s strong push to relocate flights here and decongest Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“The inauguration of the new routes marks a significant investment by PAL in the development of Clark International Airport as a major airline gateway,” PAL said in its statement.
“PAL’s Clark hub now provides passengers from central and northern Luzon direct access to a total of 13 domestic points as well as to Seoul, South Korea,” It added.
On Friday, PAL opened flights from Clark to Bacolod, a four times per week service, and daily flights to Tagbilaran.
It will start today its Clark-to-Cagayan de Oro service, flying three times per week.
PAL said it was using the 199-seater Airbus A321 on the flights to Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro, and the 156-seater A320 to Tagbilaran.
Starting Dec. 18, PAL will mount three flights per week from Clark to Virac, the capital of the island province of Catanduanes. The Bombardier Q400 will be used on the Clark-Virac-Clark route, it said.
On top of the four new routes, PAL flies to nine domestic destinations out of Clark: Basco, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, Masbate and Puerto Princesa.
Early next year, Naga will be added to the list. PAL said it was evaluating the possibility of operating additional routes from Clark.
“PAL’s buildup of operations at Clark, as well as in Cebu, Davao and recently Tagbilaran, aims to significantly enhance travel convenience and connectivity for Philippine domestic travelers, while also serving to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila,” the airline noted.