By Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA
MANILA — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday launched three new international routes — Hanoi, Phnom Penh and New Delhi — that would commence in summer of 2019.
During the launch, PAL president and chief executive officer Jaime Bautista said that by summer, PAL will have a total of 13 destination offerings in Asia, United States, Australia and Canada.
“PAL will be the first airline to establish direct link between the Cambodian capital and the Philippines,” he said.
The executive added that both Cambodia and Vietnam are emerging markets and economic centers.
According to Bautista, PAL targets to be the leader in bringing North American travelers to Cambodia, India and Vietnam via its Manila hub.
Meanwhile, he mentioned that flights between Manila and New Delhi would likely begin on April, depending on the approved final slots and regulatory clearances.
“(PAL is relaunching the New Delhi route) after five-year hiatus,” he said.
Bautista told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that PAL used to offer a New Delhi route from 2011-2013.
“Back then, we were using a big aircraft, and the market was not that big. So (PAL) lost a lot of money,” he explained.
Bautista continued that PAL has decided to relaunch the New Delhi route, now that it has the right aircraft.
PAL will be using the 199-seater Airbus A321neo.
Previously, PAL offered the Manila-New Delhi route, with most flights making stopovers in Bangkok.
The flag carrier will begin flights between Manila-Hanoi on March 31, Manila-Phnom Penh on April 1, and Manila-New Delhi on April.
