Philippine Airlines: European Expansion in 2014

Following the launch of new direct flights between Manila and London's Heathrow Airport, PAL President Ramon Ang has revealed that the airline is planning to add four more European destinations next year.

Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG

According to Ang, the new flights to London will be the first of many new non-stop flights to Europe that Philippine Airlines will operate utilising its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. "I hope that we could fly to five European destinations next year," said Ang.

Philippine Airlines has plans to serve a number of key European destinations including Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam but Ang says that Frankfurt will be next taking advantage of the city's status as a major railway hub. "Based on our study, we will first mount a direct flight to Frankfurt because after you land in that city, you can go anywhere in Europe by train, which is cheaper and preferred by Filipino workers," said Ang. "We hope to have that flight next year." He added that Philippine Airlines intends to win back the millions of overseas Filipino workers who used the services of PAL in the past. The expansion is designed to serve the more than half a million Filipinos currently residing in Europe.

Philippine Airlines was forced to abandon its European routes at the height of the Asian financial crisis some fifteen years ago. In addition to the London flights, Philippine Airlines is planning to launch Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt in 2014. "By next year, we will have another five direct flights to five European countries," Ang said.

Meanwhile, in preparation for its pending flights to Frankfurt and to cut travel time down on its existing London route, Philippine Airlines is attempting to obtain a permit to fly over Russian air space that would reduce travel time by two hours. "We will have to negotiate with Russia bilaterally," said Ang. "We hope to get an endorsement from the Russian Embassy in Manila." The permit and reduced travelling time would also enable PAL's London flight to depart at 9:00am rather than two hours earlier enabling more connecting passengers to use the flight. Ang explained that the earlier a flight must depart, the fewer connection opportunities will exist. 

Ang also indicated that the airline is considering plans to fly to Moscow in Russia to take advantage of the huge tourist market. "We are studying plans to fly to Moscow because I heard there is a big market there," said Ang. Philippine Airlines recently launched charter flights to Vladivostok in Russia.