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PAL’s powerful Boeing 777-300ER to fly soon

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) celebrated the delivery of its ninth Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range), while its 10th 777 plane is expected to follow in the coming days, bringing the carrier’s fleet count to 88.

The 777 is the world’s most successful twin-engine, long-haul airplane, which is equipped with the world’s most powerful commercial jet engine.

It and can seat up to 386 passengers in a three-class configuration with a maximum range of 7,825 nautical miles (14,490 kilometers) as per World Airline News website.

This move to build up its fleet and add new routes is in line with the carriers strides to become a certified four-star airline by 2018.

On Thursday, PAL announced as well the opening of its four new destinations, including Bacolod, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro, and Virac – out of the airline’s hub at Clark International Airport (CIA) in Pampanga.

The airline said it is investing, by way of the new routes, in the development of the CIA as a major airline gateway.

PAL’s Clark hub now provides passengers from central and northern Luzon direct access to a total of 13 domestic points, as well as to Seoul, South Korea.

PAL’s build-up of operations at Clark, as well as in Cebu, Davao, and recently Tagbilaran aimed to significantly enhance travel convenience and connectivity for Philippine domestic travelers, while also serving to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

Its new flights are expected to boost tourism and make it more attractive for foreign tourists to visit multiple destinations throughout the country.

On December 15, PAL opened a four-times-weekly service to Bacolod and daily flights to Tagbilaran in Bohol.

PR859 (Clark-Bacolod) leaves Clark International Airport at 7 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. PR860 (Bacolod-Clark) departs Bacolod at 8:45 a.m.

PR2871 (Clark-Tagbilaran) leaves Clark at 3 p.m. every day. The Tagbilaran-Clark is operated in the morning, departing Bohol at 6:40 a.m. and landing at Clark at 8 a.m.

On December 16, a three-times-weekly service to Cagayan de Oro (PR833) began, leaving Clark every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 6 a.m. The return flight (PR834) departs 8:20 a.m. from Laguindingan International Airport serving Cagayan de Oro.

PAL is using the 199-seater Airbus A321 on flights to Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro, and the 156-seater A320 to Tagbilaran.

On December 18, PAL will mount three-times-weekly flights to Virac, capital of the island province of Catanduanes, leaving Clark Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6 a.m.

The Bombardier Q400 will be used on the Clark-Virac-Clark route.

On top of the four new routes, PAL flies to nine domestic destinations out of Clark: Basco, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, Masbate and Puerto Princesa.

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