Philippine Airlines said Monday it would expand international and domestic flights next month in anticipation of a tourist and business travel revival.

 

In a statement, the company said it is banking on ramped up vaccinations in the Philippines which, in turn, could help improve travel and economic conditions nationwide. 

 

By late October 2021, PAL plans to increase flights to San Francisco, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Guam, Singapore, Dubai, Doha, Nagoya and Fukuoka while continuing special flights to Auckland, Vietnam and points in Australia. 

 

More flights to Honolulu and Taipei will come online by the last week of November 2021. 

 

 The airline’s winter season schedule also includes regular flights to New York JFK, Seoul, Saudi Arabia, Vancouver, Toronto and other Asian destinations. 

 

 On domestic routes, the flag carrier is set to add flight frequencies to Iloilo, Legazpi, Butuan, Puerto Princesa, Bacolod, Dumaguete and Roxas City. 

 

PAL’s Cebu hub will see additional frequencies between Cebu and Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Butuan and Davao. 

 "As travel restrictions ease, we are progressively increasing flights on high-density routes and operating special commercial and repatriation flights to build passenger traffic,” says PAL Chief Strategy and Planning Officer Dexter Lee. 

 

“While demand may not come back to pre-pandemic levels until 2024, we will implement a fleet and network plan that will maintain Philippine Airlines as a market leader in the international and domestic sectors," Lee added.

 

PAL has steadily built up operations in recent months, now averaging 27% of the pre-pandemic flights on 70% of its route network. 

 

The company earlier this month filed for bankruptcy in the US to pursue a creditor-backed restructuring to help the airline recover from the pandemic's fallout.