PAL Express Dropping Manila-Dubai Flights
MANILA – PAL Express will stop its Manila-Dubai flights starting April as it focuses on domestic operations.
“We’re planning to take over Dubai flights from PAL Express maybe by April,” Jaime J. Bautista, Philippine Airlines (PAL) president said last week, adding that the airline owns the aircraft that PAL Express uses for its Manila-Dubai flights.
PAL Express operates five flights per week using Airbus A330-300.
Bautista said PAL Express would concentrate in domestic destinations, but other routes with business class will remain with PAL such as Cebu and Davao.
In August 2013, PAL transferred almost all its domestic flights to PAL Express, except those for Cebu and Davao.
PAL had said the transfer of domestic flights to PAL Express would optimize its existing fleet and resources while giving customers more choices in terms of destinations, flights, and schedules.
At present, PAL has a codeshare agreement with PAL Express from Manila to Bacolod, Basco, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cotobato, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Laoag, Legazpi, Masbate, Naga, Ozamis, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Surigao, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.
As of February, PALex had 13 A320-200, two A330-300 and four Q300/DHC8-300, while PAL has six
Boeing 777-300ER, six, A340-300, 13 A330-300, 10 A320-200 and 14 A3210231.
The combined aircraft of PAL and PALex stood at 73.