PAL returns to Bangkok Oct. 28

Philippine Airlines will begin a regular service between Manila and Bangkok on October 28, 2001, restoring an important regional route after a lapse of over three years.

PAL’s return to Bangkok kicks off a busy week for the flag carrier. Later that same day (Oct. 28), the airline will launch a service to Shanghai. On Oct. 30, PAL resumes flights to Melbourne, Australia.

The modest route expansion at a time of global contraction in the airline industry underscores PAL’s fundamental strength and commitment to its markets.

The addition of the three Asia-Pacific destinations enlarges the PAL international network to 20 points in 13 countries and territories.

The service to Bangkok will operate five times a week, with departures from Manila (PR 730) every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 a.m. Arrival at Don Muang International Airport is at 10:15 a.m.

The return service, PR 731, departs Bangkok on the same days at 11:40 a.m. and arrives in Manila at 4:00 p.m. Widebody Airbus A330-300 aircraft are deployed on the route.

Unlike other tourist routes, traffic on the Manila-Bangkok sector has seen steady, double-digit growth in recent years, powered by a boom in tourism and leisure travel on both sides.

The Thai capital has emerged as a popular destination for Filipino shoppers attracted by low-priced merchandise and affordable holiday packages. On the other hand, Thai nationals have rediscovered the Philippines and local universities host a large number of Thai enrollees.

PAL is also aiming to catch residual tourist flows from Europe to Bangkok, where the bulk of flights from the continent to the Far East terminates, and channel them to the Philippines. This will boost the Tourism Department’s campaign to pull in more European visitors.

Indeed, the resumption of service to Bangkok is an initial step in PAL’s planned return to Europe. The Thai capital was, for decades, an important stop in the flag carrier’s Manila-to-Europe flights.

PAL first flew to Bangkok on July 19, 1953 using a Convair 340. Over the years, the city blossomed from a mere technical service point into a major trunkline route served by daily flights until operational difficulties forced PAL to suspend services in June 1998.