Expansion of Philippine Airlines for Holiday Season
Philippine Airlines (PAL), the country’s national airline, is increasing flight schedules and capacity to meet the demand for international travel during the holiday season and provide a smoother and more flexible journey for passengers.
Enhancing its presence in the Philippines-Australia market, PAL will add more flights and use larger aircraft during the peak travel season. From mid-December 2025 to mid-January 2026, the airline will double its flights from Manila to Perth from three to six weekly services. At the same time, flights from Manila to Melbourne will increase from five per week to a daily service.
To support this growth, PAL will upgrade select Manila-Brisbane flights to its tri-class Airbus A330 widebody aircraft, replacing the Airbus A321neo. Flights to Perth will continue to be operated by the Airbus A321neo, while Melbourne will be served by the larger A330-300.
PAL President Richard Nuttall stated, “As the country’s flag carrier, we are committed to expanding our network to meet the high demand and connect travelers to more destinations during the holiday season. Our commitment also includes providing world-class service, genuine care, and showcasing the warmth of Filipino hospitality on every flight.
In addition to Australia, PAL is also increasing flight frequencies on key international routes. Starting October 26, 2025, the Manila-Da Nang route will operate daily until March 28, 2026, up from three times weekly. During the same period, flights from Manila to Busan will increase from seven to eleven per week.
The airline is also adding more flights to Japan this holiday season. Seasonal non-stop flights between Manila and Sapporo will resume, with thrice-weekly service from November 24 to March 27. Twelve additional roundtrip flights will be offered between Manila and Narita from December 18 to January 6, on top of the regular two daily flights. Similarly, twelve extra roundtrips will be available for the Manila-Osaka route from December 19 to January 7, in addition to the current two daily flights. On December 25, 27, and January 3, three more round trips will be added between Manila and Nagoya, on top of the daily service.
PAL is also expanding its operations in Cebu to cater to frequent fliers in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. An additional five roundtrips will be offered between Cebu and Osaka from December 25 to January 3, supplementing the 4x weekly flights. Four roundtrips will also be added to the Cebu-Narita route from December 28 to January 7, on top of the daily flight service.
Starting December 16, PAL will mount thrice-weekly nonstop flights between Cebu and Guam, demonstrating its commitment to expanding regional access and meeting the growing demand for convenient travel options between the Philippines and the U