With initial advanced bookings at full capacity, Ng noted that subsequent flights have dropped to about 80 percent capacity—enough to stay profitable, but he believes there is still room to increase this figure.
“I’d be happy if it was 90 percent,” Ng told InsiderPH, adding that he was optimistic the route will thrive.
“It’s going to be profitable. It’s just starting,” he said. “We just have to go there and promote some more.”
Big picture
PAL is gearing for the launch of nonstop flights to Seattle, its eighth destination in the lucrative transpacific route.
The flag carrier, which used to have a monopoly on nonstop flights to the US, is facing increasing competition from other airlines amid fleet growth constraints.
Industry rivalry intensified in 2023 after United Airlines launched direct flights between Manila and San Francisco.
Ng said PAL could grow traffic by attracting more travelers from Seattle and other parts of the US to the Philippines.
“We want them to learn about this product because that also helps tourism here,” he said.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
