PAL starts Saipan flights in June

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines (PAL) will start offering flights to Saipan from Manila on June 15.

In a statement yesterday, the flag carrier said the service between Manila and Saipan would be offered twice per week.

The new flights are on code share with low cost carrier unit PAL Express.

“Saipan is home to thousands of Filipinos. Opening this new route will provide our kababayans that much-needed link to their homeland. On top of that, business and leisure travelers from Saipan now have the opportunity to experience PAL’s brand of service that is uniquely Filipino,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime J. Bautista said.

Saipan, a US territory in the Pacific, is four hours away from Manila.

The territory is a popular tourist destination given its resorts, beaches and dive spots.

PAL’s flight to Saipan from Manila PR 1571, will be offered every Wednesday and Sunday at 9:20 p.m. The said flight will arrive in Saipan at 3:35 a.m. local time the following day.

PR1572 meanwhile, will leave Saipan every Thursday and Monday at 4:35 a.m. local time and be in Manila at 6:45 a.m.

Apart from Saipan, PAL announced earlier it will also start flying to Los Angeles, US from Cebu beginning March 15.

“The start of the new route coincides with the flag carrier’s 75th founding anniversary. It will be a thrice weekly service – every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday,” PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.

Earlier this month, PAL began flight services to new destinations such as Kuwait and Jeddah.

For next year, Bautista said PAL is looking to start flying to a new destination in Europe to add to London.

He said the carrier would need to acquire a new long-haul aircraft prior to the launch of flights to a new destination in Europe.

PAL expects to sign by February a purchase agreement worth about $1 billion for six long-haul aircraft.

The flag carrier is choosing between the Airbus 350 and Boeing 787 for its new long-haul aircraft to replace its Airbus 340s.

At present, PAL and PAL Express have more than 76 aircraft.