CLARK FREEPORT – At least two international routes in the region will be mounted by Philippine Airlines (PAL) from the Clark International Airport (CIA) here within 2018.
This was according to newly-appointed PAL vice president for corporate communications Jose E.L. Perez de Tagle after the launching of four domestic routes at the CIA on Thursday.
“Definitely we’re planning to have more flights, international. Right now, we have the flight to Seoul, Incheon Airport which has a good performance. But within next year, we hope to add another one or two international routes within the region from Clark,” de Tagle said.
He revealed that PAL has no definite route yet but said they are studying Japan, Korea or China because those three countries have good market for inbound tourists. “Those three countries will be the priority,” he said.
In Japan, de Tagle said, PAL is servicing the ports of Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka from NAIA, “so if ever one of those ports,” he added.
The two international routes may be launched by middle of the year, he said, adding that 14 domestic routes are now in Clark and some are still in the pipeline. On Thursday, four new destinations – Bacolod, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro and Virac – have been added to PAL’s route network out of the airline’s hub at the CIA.
The inauguration of these new routes marks a significant investment by the flag carrier in the development of Clark airport as a major airline gateway. PAL’s Clark hub now provides passengers from central and northern Luzon direct access to a total of 13 domestic points as well as to Seoul, South Korea.
On December 15, PAL opened a four times weekly service to Ba- colod and daily fl ights to Tagbilaran in Bohol. PR859 (Clark-Bacolod) leaves CIA at 7 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
PR860 (Ba- colod-Clark) departs Bacolod at 8:45 a.m. PR2871 (Clark-Tag- bilaran) leaves Clark at 3 p.m. daily.
The Tagbilaran-Clark is operated in the morning, departing Bohol 6:40 a.m. landing at Clark 8 a.m.
On December 16, a three times weekly service to Cagayan de Oro (PR833) begins, leaving Clark every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6 a.m.
The return flight (PR834) departs 8:20 a.m. from Laguindingan International Airport serving Cagayan de Oro.
PAL is using the 199-seater Airbus A321 on the flights to Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro, and the 156-seater A320 to Tagbilaran.
On December 18, PAL launched three times weekly flights to Virac, capital of the island province of Catanduanes, leaving Clark Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 a.m.
The Bombardier Q400 is used on the Clark-Virac-Clark route.
On top of the four new routes, PAL flies to nine domestic destinations out of Clark: Basco, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, Masbate and Puerto Princesa.
Early next year, Naga will be added to the list.
De Tagle said the airline is evaluating the possibility of operating more new routes from Clark in due course.
PAL’s build-up of operations at Clark, as well as in Cebu, Davao and recently Tagbilaran, aims to significantly enhance travel convenience and connectivity for Philippine domestic travelers, while also serving to decongest the NAIA in Manila.
The PAL flights are expected to boost tourism and make it more attractive for foreign tourists to visit multiple destinations throughout the country.
PAL is adding new routes, expanding its fleet and innovating its products and services in its bid to become a certifi ed four-star airline by next year.
