| PHOTO: Official website of Philippine Airlines
MANILA -Ahead of an expected surge in travel during the holidays, Philippine Airlines (PAL) launched a platform where passengers can book not just their flights but also their accommodation, car rentals and other activities in order to make their travel experience more convenient.
The Lucio Tan-led airline, in a statement on Monday, said it introduced PAL Holidays in partnership with Expedia Group, a one-stop travel website. The new site is now available in the Philippines, US, Canada and Australia.
Through the platform, travelers can access over 900,000 hotels, which range from budget-friendly to luxury options.
The all-in-one travel website also provides packages at discounted rates through promotional deals and exclusive offers.
“By partnering with Expedia, we are confident that our customers will enjoy unparalleled access to a superior range of great offers for hotels, experiences and transport that can go together with the Philippine Airlines flights that they book,” PAL vice president for sales Bud Britanico said.
“PAL Holidays reflects our dedication to providing exceptional travel experiences, and we look forward to serving our customers in a more convenient and efficient way,” he added.
In the coming months, air travel is expected to pick up anew due to holiday spending.
READ: NAIA passenger volumes inch closer to prepandemic levels
The airline’s passenger volume rose by 89 percent to 7 million in the first half of the year as it booked an average passenger load factor of 81.6 percent. The number of operated flights climbed by 56 percent to 50,400 also during the period. As a result, passenger revenues were up 73 percent to P78.24 billion, driven by improving demand for both international and domestic routes.
To support operations, PAL recently reactivated a 199-seater A321ceo (current engine option), which is now being utilized for Kalibo-Seoul flights and Seoul-Manila flights.
READ: PAL buys 9 new Airbus planes
The flag carrier also inked a deal with Airbus to purchase nine A350-1000s, which will be used for long haul services from Manila to the East Coast of the United States and Canada.
PAL had said the supply chain issues currently disrupting aircraft maintenance could potentially impact jet availability but it was working with the service provider to address the matter. INQ