PAL flies back to Guam next month

Philippine Airlines renews an old historical bond while eyeing new markets when it reopens a regular service between Manila and the US Pacific territory of Guam on June 21, 2002.

"We are always keen to grow our markets in the regional arena and Guam, with its vibrant tourism-based economy, presents us a major opportunity to do so," said PAL president Avelino L. Zapanta.

"Our customers in Guam, especially the large Filipino community, have long clamored for our return. We are excited to be back and serve them."

The service will operate three times a week, with departures from Manila every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10 p.m. Arrival at Guam’s Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport is at 4:10 a.m. the following day.

The return flight departs Guam every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:40 a.m., arriving in Manila at 8:50 a.m.

PAL will field new-generation Airbus A320-200 aircraft, which seat 12 in Mabuhay (business) class and 138 in economy, on the four-hour-and-ten-minute journey.

About a quarter of Guam’s 155,000 residents are of Filipino origin, providing PAL with a natural base market. Visitor flows between the two points are on the rise, with Filipino leisure-seekers attracted by the territory’s status as the closest American outpost to the country.

On the other hand, an increasing number of Guamanians regularly visit the Philippines for pilgrimage, medical and educational purposes.

The strong Guam economy has also created a demand for skilled Filipino labor, particularly in the hotel, construction and medical services sectors, and bolstered two-way trade.

PAL first touched down on Guam 56 years ago, when a special flight carrying US soldiers home stopped there en route to Oakland, California. That epic July 31, 1946 flight made PAL the first Asian airline to cross the Pacific.

But regular service began only on March 8, 1991 with weekly DC-10 flights Operational difficulties halted the service in October 1993.

Guam becomes PAL’s fourth destination in the US (after Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu) and 21st overall.