PAL plans new routes to the United States and Europe next year

PAL plans new routes to the United States and Europe next year

TOULOUSE – Philippine Airlines, the country's national airline, could open new routes to Europe and the United States six new Airbus A350-900

PAL is acquiring six new A350s, some of which can be used for new routes. It also has the option of acquiring six more A350s – which could include the A350-1000 – from 2019 to 2020.

In Europe, the airline Lucio Tan is studying the possibility of taking the plane. for Paris and Rome. hopes to be able to take a tour of the growing tourist market between Manila and Europe and meet the ever-growing number of expatriate Filipino workers.

In the United States, PAL is also planning to open routes to Seattle and Chicago in the next 12 years. month.

The president and chief operating officer of PAL, Jaime Bautista, said that new roads in Europe would open one by one.

"It would depend on the slots," Bautista told The STAR

. targeting Filipinos abroad as well as Catholic pilgrims who want to visit the Vatican.

The Manila-Paris route, meanwhile, can accommodate Filipino travelers to Europe and the big French market, said Bautista.

But Bautista said that the company is still studying these two routes to Europe.

PAL Vice President for Strategic Planning, Angelito Alvarez, said the two new routes could be opened as early as next year, depending on the niches available in the targeted markets.

"We are looking at Paris and Rome, there is a market … It may be in 2019," Alvarez told The STAR.

Originally, PAL planned to open a Manila-Amsterdam connection, but there were no slots available.

They are also watching Brussels, he said.

Any additional road between Manila and Europe will be a useful addition to the PAL-Manila-UK connections.

New routes to the United States would also complement PAL flights to the United States, including Manila-New York and Manila-Los Angeles.

PAL accepted delivery of its first of six Airbus A350 orders as part of special ceremonies held here at the Airbus Delivery Center on Saturday.

Bautista said that the A350 is the new flagship of the airline's long-haul operations.

"I am proud and happy to welcome the Airbus A350 fleet into the PAL family. The aircraft is a game changer in the industry with their greater reach, less This aircraft uses state-of-the-art technology and top-notch design for improved operational performance and will be assigned to premium highways and will therefore meet the need for comfort. of convenience and efficiency, "he said, while Eric Schulz, Chief Operating Officer of Airbus, quotes" the strong partnership between Philippine Airlines and Airbus over the years ", highlighting "the brand new efficient design that incorporates the latest technologies improving operational performance by burning 25% less"

The range and efficiency of the A350 are the result of its brand new design and its advanced technology, starting with the engine evolved Rolls Royce Trent XWB from the plane. The A350 can fly up to 8,000 nautical miles or 14,800 kilometers and boasts of a quieter cabin up to four times less noise, making it the only one in the world. the quietest two-lane aircraft to date.

Four A350s are expected to be delivered this year and the other two are expected to be delivered mid-2019.

Philippine Airlines flights to the United States and Europe will benefit from a major boost, as the A350 will be deployed on the non-stop Manila-New York JFK and Manila lines -London Heathrow at the end of October 2018.