Starting April 5, 2024, Philippine Airlines (PAL) is set to increase its service between Manila and Toronto, adding a third weekly nonstop frequency. This 50% capacity boost is a response to the growing demand for travel between Canada’s East Coast and the Philippines. For travelers, this means more options and flexibility when planning trips between these two destinations.
Toronto holds a special place in PAL’s global network. As Canada’s largest city and home to over 350,000 ethnic Filipinos in Ontario province, Toronto is a key destination for PAL. The city serves as a gateway not just to Ontario but also to Quebec, the Maritimes, and other areas along the Eastern seaboard of Canada. PAL, the only airline offering nonstop flights between the Philippines and Canada, also serves Vancouver with daily flights from Manila. Additional Canadian cities like Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Calgary are accessible through PAL’s codeshare partner WestJet.
PAL operates the Toronto route with the Airbus A350-900, a new-generation long-range jetliner. It offers a comfortable tri-class layout accommodating 295 passengers, with 30 seats in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy, and 241 in Economy.
New Flight Schedule Details
Starting from April 5, 2024, the flight schedule for the Manila-Toronto-Manila route will be as follows:
- PR118 Manila – Toronto (Wed/Fri/Sun) Departs Manila at 04:35 PM Arrives in Toronto at 08:00 PM (same day).
- PR119 Toronto – Manila (Wed/Fri/Sun) Departs Toronto at 11:30 PM Arrives in Manila at 3:45 AM (+2 days).
Currently, PAL’s service operates twice weekly, departing every Wednesday and Sunday from both Manila and Toronto. These new timings are designed to offer seamless connections to PAL’s network in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, North Asia, and China.
Eric David Anderson, PAL’s Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the significance of the Canadian market in PAL’s network. “Our expansion of flights to Toronto highlights the importance of the Canadian market in the Philippine Airlines network. We want to make it easier for businesses to establish commercial relations, for Canadians to plan holiday trips to the Philippines, and for Filipino Canadians to visit their families back in the homeland. Canada is among the top ten sources of foreign tourists to the Philippines, with more than 180,000 Canadians visiting the Philippines during the first ten months of 2023. Additionally, the new frequencies will bolster connectivity between Southeast Asia and Canada via PAL’s Manila hub.”
Philippine Ambassador to Canada, Maria Andrelita Austria, also commented on the addition, highlighting its timely nature and the benefits it brings to the Filipino Canadian community and students. Khalil Lamrabet, Chief Commercial Officer of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, expressed excitement about the increased frequency, noting the reduced travel time compared to connecting itineraries.
The recent inclusion of the Philippines in Canada’s electronic travel authorization (eTA) program allows Philippine passport holders to travel to Canada visa-free, provided they hold a valid U.S. Visa or have been issued a Canadian tourist visa in the last 10 years. Canada’s open-border policy to more immigrants, workers, and students has contributed to the steady growth of the Filipino population in cities like Toronto and Vancouver.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
