In October 2022, Capt. Stanley Ng, the President and COO of Philippine Airlines, mentioned his aim to restore flights to London, Auckland, and Sapporo during a Management Association of the Philippines event. This announcement excited us, as PAL was the only airline that offered a direct Manila-to-Europe connection via London. However, the likelihood of PAL bringing back flights to London depends on several factors.
Capt. Ng remains optimistic that PAL will continue to exceed its revenue targets, as it has in the past few months. He is determined to restore London flights, but only if the targets are met, and there are enough aircraft available for these long-haul routes.
The need for more planes
Currently, PAL does not have enough planes to launch more long-haul routes. However, the airline recently reacquired one of its tri-class Airbus A330s, which it will use for regional and Oceania flights. Before the pandemic, PAL used its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 for its services to Manila and London. The airline still operates both aircraft, but only two A350-900s remain in the fleet after four were leased to Lufthansa. The A350s are heavily used for flights to the United States.
Capt. Ng acknowledged the need for new planes to fly more routes and improve the customer experience. He stated, “Some of our planes are getting a little bit old in terms of aesthetic, but in terms of engines and safety, it’s perfect, but of course, people right now are more demanding of the seats.”
PAL is currently devising short-term and long-term plans to achieve its goals, especially with regards to its fleet. However, the current priority is to restore flights to key destinations, such as Chinese destinations like Beijing and Shanghai. PAL is also returning to Perth, Australia, beginning in March.,
The likelihood of PAL bringing back London flights
There is a likelihood that PAL will bring back London flights, especially if Capt. Ng’s goals are met. However, certain conditions must be met, such as the number of planes needed in the fleet. If PAL does not have enough planes, it may have to resort to using fifth freedom rights via Bangkok utilizing tri-class A330-300 or short-term leasing more widebody planes, such as the 777-300ER.
Capt. Ng has been very aggressive in revitalizing PAL, and his plans will undoubtedly be realized one day. While it may take some time to get new planes and bring back London flights, we can hope that PAL will accomplish its goals in the future.
Let’s just hope and wish for the best.
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