PAL relaunches business class service on Dubai flights

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is relaunching business class service in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the back of higher demand for premium leisure and corporate travel among locals and expatriates in the Middle East.

In an emailed statement Thursday, PAL said the daily business class service to Dubai will start on June 16 at an introductory rate of Dh2,850. Flights leave Dubai at 5:25 a.m. and arrive in Manila at 6:25 p.m.

“The UAE is home to more than 200 nationalities and more and more residents are looking at either vacationing or doing business travels in the Philippines. PAL’s re-launch of business class service is in response to the growing international holiday makers and corporate travelers in the Gulf region," PAL Senior Assistant Vice President and Regional Manager for Europe, Middle East, and Africa Genaro Velasquez said.

Velasquez added that Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Damman will also have business class flights in the next three months.

Citing data from the Department of Tourism, PAL said international visitors from the Middle East have seen a consistent upward trajectory, up 9.6 percent at 83,546 in 2015.

“Industry estimates show that outbound travel from the Middle East is growing 9 percent year-on year, and is slated to reach $165.3 billion by 2025, and Philippines can have a fair share of that pie," Velasquez said.

PAL cited President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent visit to the Gulf Cooperation Council, during which he secured over $925 million in possible new investments for the Philippines.

“On the basis of this development, we are anticipating a resulting increase of incoming business class traffic from Gulf countries,” Velasquez said.
 
PAL has been servicing the Middle East for 38 years since 1979 through flights in Bahrain and Dahran, Saudi Arabia. It first flew to Dubai in 1982. 

PAL flies to 30 domestic and 44 international destinations. — Ted Cordero/VDS, GMA News