PAL to offer 122 weekly flights next month

Philippine Airlines (PAL) will further increase its domestic and international flights next month.

“PAL’s network will offer 122 weekly domestic and international flights by the start of August, with plans to progressively increase routes and flight frequencies as travel demand recovers,” PAL said in a statement.

In a phone message to BusinessWorld, PAL Spokesperson Cielo C. Villaluna said that “compared to June and July flights, the 122 weekly flights for August are just a few percentage points higher.”

She said the planned number of weekly flights next month represents 11% of PAL’s normal weekly frequency.

“From that percentage, we will increase the number of flights gradually as restrictions ease and travel demand improves. We are cautious and mindful of the elements that come into play: travel restrictions of domestic and international destinations and the overall demand for essential and nonessential travel,” Ms. Villaluna said.

PAL Holdings, Inc., the listed operator of the flag carrier, had its annual stockholders’ meeting on Thursday where the company confirmed a comprehensive loss of $183.1 million for the first quarter due the coronavirus pandemic.

“Cost control strategies include a delay in the delivery of new aircraft, the suspension of capital expenditures, adoption of a skeletal work force set up during the current crisis period, cuts in senior management salaries and cutback on non-essential expenses,” the company said in a statement.

Since 2017, PAL has lost a total of P17.6 billion.

PAL said it had operated 640 local and international cargo flights carrying crucial medical and food supplies since March.

“The airline also mounted 222 sweeper and repatriation flights that flew home stranded passengers from various countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania and North America,” it added.

PAL also said it restored in June and July some weekly commercial flights to the United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Southeast Asia, greater China and over 15 domestic destinations, along with occasional flights to Australia.

On Thursday, shares in PAL Holdings slipped 3.02% to close at P6.11 each. — Arjay L. Balinbin