Philippine Airlines​

Pioneering in end-to-end airline operations that constitute an industry of its own, Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL) lives on with its original name and the national colors, shining through for almost eight decades. PAL stemmed from the Philippine Aerial Taxi Company established in 1931 by co-founder Andres Soriano, who shut it down in 1939 and replaced it with Philippine Air Lines two years later. Braving the imminence of war, PAL had its inaugural flight with only five passengers from Makati to Baguio on March 15, 1941.

A private entity for much of its existence, PAL was brought under government ownership in the 1970s and 1980s, reverting to private hands in the early 1990s. Today, PAL is the only privately-owned major flag carrier in Southeast Asia. Its Chairman and CEO, Dr. Lucio C. Tan, is PAL’s longest-serving chief executive.

Through the years, designated as the “national flag carrier” by R.A. 2232, PAL has been recognized to play a central role in boosting the growth of the Philippine economy and the emergence of a nationwide tourism industry.

Today, PAL is the Philippines’ largest international airline and the only full-service Filipino air carrier offering Business Class, Premium Economy and Regular Economy services. Its growing fleet, one of the world’s youngest, consists of modern high-technology aircraft such as the Boeing 777 along with the Airbus A350 and A330 for long-haul routes and the A320/A321 family for regional and domestic routes.

PAL’s network now stretches across the world. The flag carrier operates from four hub airports (Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao) in the Philippines to an inclusive total of 25 domestic destinations and 28 points in Asia, Australia/Oceania, the Middle East, Europe and North America. PAL operates the country’s only direct air links to mainland U.S.A., Hawaii, Canada, New Zealand and Western Europe, Japan and Australia.