PAL offers on sale another 1 million seats

Swamped with demand for its recent promo, flag carrier Philippine Airlines announced the extension of its anniversary seat sale by a week and another million seats on offer.

PAL said in a statement the sale marking its 78th anniversary would be extended until March 17.

What was previously its largest sale to date—two million seats on offer—was increased by 50 percent, it added.

“The record sale campaign signals the determination of the four-star rated flag carrier to woo more first time travelers as well as seasoned flyers to ‘fly the flag’ and enjoy PAL’s full-service travel experience,” PAL said in its statement.

The airline earlier said its full network of 30 domestic and over 40 international destinations would be covered as part of the promo.

The airline is entering the year with increasing aggressiveness. This is partly supported by the entry of a new investor, Japan’s ANA Holdings, which took a 9.5-percent stake in PAL Holdings. The $95-million deal closed on Feb. 28.

Fresh funds would help the carrier expand operations and benefit from the expertise of All Nippon Airways, Japan’s largest airline. PAL announced capital spending this year alone would amount to $650 million for the acquisition of six new planes.

Expanded operations and lower jet fuel prices would also help PAL return to profitability this 2019 after a two-year losing streak, PAL’s chair and CEO Lucio Tan had said.