PAL to launch non-stop Manila-Seattle flights on Oct. 2

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is expanding further its footprint in the United States as it is about to open a new route between Manila and Seattle in October.

At a press conference in Manila on Tuesday, PAL general counsel Carlo Luis Fernandez announced that the airline will launch non-stop Manila-Seattle-Manila flights beginning October 2, 2024.

For his part, PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng said the flag carrier has been looking into launching flights going to and from Seattle even before the pandemic.

Ng said launching direct flights between Manila and Seattle “will provide convenience to come home to the Philippines” for some “240,000 diaspora.”

The Manila-Seattle-Manila flights can also cater to US citizens who want to visit the country.

Ng also highlighted the corporate traffic coming from Seattle as “there are a lot of headquarters of big companies,” which can “stimulate economic growth in our country.”

Likewise, PAL vice president for network planning Christopher Gartner said Seattle is the largest unserved market in the US for the airline.

Gartner said there are over 90,000 passengers traveling per year from Manila to Seattle.

“We will get a fair share of that market,” Gartner said.

Starting October 2 this year, PAL’s Manila-Seattle-Manila services will initially operate three times weekly, every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with departures at 10:40 p.m. (local time) from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 and at 11:40 p.m. (local time) from Seattle Tacoma International Airport.

Seattle will be PAL’s sixth destination in the US and eighth destination in North America. 

The Philippine carrier already operates 46 weekly flights to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, New York, Toronto, Honolulu and Guam. 

The Philippine flag carrier will be deploying  Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for its Seattle services, with full-flat seats in Business Class and PAL’s hallmark inflight service featuring Filipino and Western meal specialties. 

PAL recently acquired an additional 777-300ER aircraft as a first step towards renewing its long-haul fleet.  

Nine brand new Airbus A350-1000s are slated to be delivered starting in the fourth quarter of 2025.

To promote the new Manila-Seattle service, PAL is offering a special introductory all-in roundtrip fare at $771 for Economy Class and $3,071 for Business Class.

The introductory fare is available until April 30, 2024 and for travel from October 2 to November 30, 2024 as well as from February 1, 2025 to March 22, 2025. —VAL, GMA Integrated News