Insider Spotlight
Saipan, a US territory in the Northern Mariana Islands, becomes PAL’s seventh destination in the United States, alongside Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Guam, and Honolulu.
Why it matters
The comeback of the Saipan route underscores PAL’s strategy to expand its Pacific network while strengthening Manila’s position as a regional transit hub.
It also reopens a direct travel option for the Chamorro community and boosts links for tourists moving between Asia and North America.
The details
PAL will operate Manila–Saipan flights twice weekly, departing Wednesdays and Sundays at 7:45 p.m. and arriving at 1:45 a.m. the next day. Return flights leave Saipan on Mondays and Thursdays at 2:50 a.m. and land in Manila at 5:05 a.m. The schedule is designed for seamless onward connections across PAL’s domestic and international network.
To encourage early bookings, PAL is launching introductory fares starting at $249 one-way for economy and $389 for roundtrip. Business class fares begin at $669 one-way and $1,029 for roundtrip.
What they’re saying
“PAL is dedicated to expanding its global presence to meet the evolving needs of the market, across both passenger and cargo segments, while remaining steadfast in our commitment to delivering service excellence,” said PAL president Richard Nuttall.
Zoom out
The Saipan service complements PAL’s existing Pacific routes to Guam and Honolulu, as well as upcoming launches to Palau and Guam via Cebu.
These additions reinforce the airline’s bid to capture leisure travelers, including divers and beach holidaymakers, looking for easier access to Pacific Island destinations through Manila.
With Saipan back in its network, PAL continues revving up its recovery-era expansion, strengthening both tourism flows and its role as the Philippines’ primary long-haul gateway. — Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
