Another milestone for Philippine Airlines (PAL) as the first-ever direct flight from Manila touched down at Perth Airport last March 27. This exciting development now allows travelers to fly directly between Perth and Manila in just seven hours on a thrice-weekly scheduled service, operating every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Say goodbye to those lengthy layovers and flight connections, as this new service saves passengers four to six hours of travel time compared to other airline routes that require a stopover in a third country.
The pioneering flight, PR 223, was led by PAL President and COO Captain Stanley K. Ng, an experienced Airbus A321 pilot who previously served as the airline’s operations chief. He was joined by a crew of three pilots and six flight attendants. Captain Ng expressed his enthusiasm for this new route, stating, “This new route expands Philippine Airlines’ footprint in Australia, making PAL the largest airline operator offering the most routes from the Philippines to this very important region of the world.”
Captain Ng continued, “We are thrilled to welcome Western Australians aboard our flights for the shortest hop to the island wonders of the Philippines, where friendly people, spectacular beaches, natural treasures, a rich history, and great shopping opportunities are waiting to be discovered.”
Piloting the maiden flight to Perth, Captain Ng added, “It is a great privilege to lead the maiden flight to Perth as pilot in command. This milestone journey celebrates the continuing recovery of our airline from the challenges of the pandemic. The flight symbolizes PAL’s determination to grow its network and conquer new markets.”
Onboard the inaugural flight was the Australian ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency Hae Kyong Yu PSM, who expressed her excitement about the new direct service. She said, “I am excited about this direct flight from Manila to my hometown of Perth. Visiting this beautiful city has never been more convenient. You’ll be able to enjoy great food and wine, spectacular beaches and landscapes, and gorgeous weather.”
Additionally, the nonstop flights to Manila offer easy connections to Cebu, Davao, and other Philippine business and resort destinations. Travelers from Perth can also fly onward via nonstop PAL flights to the U.S. West Coast, Japan, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
The aircraft used for the Perth service is a long-range Airbus A321neo, which accommodates 12 passengers in luxurious full-flat Business Class seats and 156 Economy Class passengers. The spacious A321neo cabin features personal inflight entertainment (IFE) screens in each seat, and wi-fi will be available onboard.
Philippine Airlines will collaborate with Western Australia’s tourism authorities to promote Perth-bound travelers from the Philippines, North America, and other Asian countries. These travelers can look forward to a wealth of unique adventure and business opportunities in Western Australia.
With this latest addition to PAL’s network, Perth now joins Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, further strengthening the growing trade relations and tourism activities between the two countries. Employing its modern fleet of Airbus A330 and A321neo aircraft, PAL offers a total of 21 weekly direct flights between Australia and Manila, including daily flights from Sydney, five weekly flights from Melbourne, and six weekly flights from Brisbane.
As the oldest operating airline in Asia, Philippine Airlines celebrated its 82nd year in service on March 15, 2023. Known for its warm and hospitable personal service, the airline is undergoing a long-term transformation process, introducing various product innovations and service enhancements to further upgrade the overall experience for its passengers.
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