Philippine Airlines to launch Laoag flights

Philippine Airlines is to start a regular service between Manila and Laoag on April 1, 2004, boosting air access and capacity to northern Philippines while restoring an old historical link.

The service operates four times weekly, with both morning and afternoon departures. Flight PR 226 departs Manila every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m., reaching Laoag at 10:25 a.m. The return flight, PR 227, departs Laoag at 11:15 a.m. and arrives in Manila at 12:05 p.m.

Flight PR 228 departs Manila every Friday and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. and arrives in Laoag at 5:25 p.m. The return flight, PR 229, leaves Laoag at 6:15 p.m. and is back in Manila at 7:05 p.m.

The afternoon service is tailored to connect with PAL's Honolulu-to-Manila flights (PR 101) which arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 2:30 p.m. A significant portion of Hawaii's ethnic Filipino population hails from the northern Ilocos region.

PAL will utilize Airbus A320-200 jets, which offer a bi-class service on the 50-minute flight. The new-generation aircraft seats 12 in Mabuhay (business) class and 138 in economy.

This is a major upgrade from current air services on the Laoag route, which are limited to either cramped, propeller-driven planes or aging, monoclass jets.

Apart from serving the Hawaiian-Ilocano market, the service is also designed to cater to the growing leisure market bound for the scenic Ilocos region - an untapped area for international tourism.

The region is famed for its well-preserved 16th century Spanish colonial architecture, unspoiled coastline and rugged mountainous interior.

Laoag, capital of Ilocos Norte province, is the regional center of commerce, education and political administration, and hosts the area's only international airport.

PAL returns to Laoag after an absence of six years. The city welcomed its first PAL flight in February 1946, becoming one of the flag carrier's pioneer destinations.

Over the next half century, Laoag evolved into a key station in the PAL network as the airline developed the city into its main hub in northern Philippines. Flights were suspended in June 1998 due to financial and operational difficulties.

Laoag becomes PAL's 19th domestic destination and 43rd overall. The resumption of service comes on the heels of PAL's launch of a new route to Las Vegas, Nevada via Vancouver, Canada last March 16.