PAL to restart Clark-Batanes flights in July

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Monday announced the reintroduction of its flights between Clark and Basco, Batanes starting July this year, with the carrier seeking to reopen more routes from Clark moving forward.

In an advisory, PAL said flights from Clark to Basco under PR2688 will operate four times a week, departing the Clark International Airport at 11 a.m. and arriving in Basco at 12:35 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday starting July 2, 2024.

Return flights will be on the same days under PR2689, leaving Basco at 1 p.m. and touching down in Clark at 2:35 p.m.

“Convenient connectivity is essential for travelers who wish to experience our island-destinations. We will endeavor to reopen more routes out of Clark as we continue to grow our network from Central Luzon,” PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng said.

“We appreciate the support of Clark LIPAD (Luzon International Premiere Airport Development) as we expand our Clark operations,” he added, referring to the operator of the Clark International Airport.

At present, PAL flies out of Clark with daily flights to Cebu, thrice weekly flights to Caticlan (Boracay), and four times weekly to Busuanga (Coron).

PAL Holdings Inc., which operates Philippine Airlines, posted a 92% growth in its 2023 bottom line to $379 million from $197 million in the previous year, which it attributed to growth in operations and passenger traffic both internationally and domestically.

Ng in January said the company is set to ink a temporary lease agreement for two wide-body aircraft this year, following the double-digit growth in passengers.—AOL, GMA Integrated News