Water-cannon salute for PAL’s last Boeing 747 flight at NAIA

A water-cannon salute awaits the final Boeing 747 flight of flag carrier Philippine Airlines once it arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 on Monday.

State-run Philippines News Agency reported the final Boeing 747-400—the flagship aircraft used by PAL for 35 years since 1979—will arrive from San Francisco.

The B747 had been used as flagship aircraft in long-haul routes to North America, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East for 35 years.

The PNA report said the Manila International Airport Authority indicated the water-cannon salute will be held at NAIA-2's ramp area.

PAL thus joins other carriers such as Eva Airways and Cathay Pacific in retiring the venerable aircraft.

It is now replacing the 747s with the newer and more fuel-efficient Boeing 777.

The flagship carrier started retiring its remaining 747 aircraft after the United States Federal Aviation Administration restored Category 1 status to the Philippines.

Last May 12, PAL transferred the flagship aircraft title from the B747 to the B777 at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

PAL presently has six Boeing 777 aircraft in its fleet, which currently has daily flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and select flights to Vancouver and Toronto. — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News