Departing at 10:40 p.m., the flag carrier opened the first-ever direct route to the US Pacific Northwest.
The inaugural flight, PR 124, left Manila for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, with the 12-hour journey operating three times weekly on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
“Today, through these nonstop Manila-Seattle-Manila flights, Philippine Airlines is proud to take the latest big investment in its long-term strategy of building stronger connections to the vast United States travel market,” said PAL president and chief operating officer Capt. Stanley K. Ng.
Ribbon cutting at T1
PAL celebrated the pioneering flight with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, which was attended by airline executives led by PAL Holdings president Lucio Tan III, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, and Angelito Alvarez, general manager of the newly privatized NAIA.
“This Seattle service solidifies PAL’s foothold on the non-stop trans-Pacific market, the staple route of Filipinos eager to spend the holidays in the Philippines,” Bautista said.
“The Department of Transportation expresses its stamp of approval on this latest network expansion as part of the air travel industry’s aggressive recovery efforts,” he added.
Auspicious month
“October is a particularly auspicious time for this launch, as that is the month that we celebrate Filipino American History Month in the United States – to recognize the history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans,” said Carlson.
“This connection will undoubtedly open new doors for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, fostering deeper relationships and mutual growth between our two nations. As we celebrate this remarkable achievement, I extend my deepest appreciation to everyone at Philippine Airlines for their tireless efforts and dedication,” Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said.
PAL targets other US routes with Alaska Airlines tie-up
PAL also extended its interline partnership with Seattle-based Alaska Airlines, providing passengers with seamless connections to major US cities such as Chicago, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Houston, Portland, and Anchorage.