Philippine Airlines to fly A320 to BNE, MEL & DRW

[Andrew P]

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is adding Darwin and re-introduces Brisbane to its growing international network starting December 10 with four flights per week using Airbus 320 aircraft, reports from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) bared yesterday.

PR flight 221 leaves Manila at 22:30 every Monday and Friday arriving Darwin at 04:30 the following day, with departures at 05:30 for Brisbane every Saturday and Tuesday arriving 10:00. For days Sunday and Wednesday PR 221 leaves Manila at 21:10 arriving Darwin at 03:10 with departure at 4:10 for Melbourne every Monday and Thursday arriving at 10:00.

The return flight PR222 will leave 11:00 from Brisbane arriving Darwin 15:30 with departure at 16:30, and Melbourne arriving Darwin at 16:50 leaving 17:50 for Manila arriving 22:30 and 23:55 the same day, respectively.

"The flights to Darwin will proceed to Melbourne and Brisbane" according to CAB Hearing Examiners Division Chief Ma. Elben S. L. Moro.

PAL currently flies Manila-Sydney every Monday,Wednesday,Friday, and Sunday and Manila-Melbourne route every Tuesday,Thursday, and Saturday respectively using Boeing 777-300ER planes.

The four additional routes will be serviced by Airbus A320 aircraft which doesn't have the range to fly Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane direct from Manila but can reach Darwin for technical stop onwards to those destination.

The flag carrier is also working on a twice a week service to New Zealand via Australia starting next year.

(flights not yet programmed n PAL Website)

[Jarden S]

Is there an official announcement?
A route to NZ would be an interesting idea where would the stop be CNS maybe?

[Jarden S]

From looking at the Philippine airlines website on the drop down menu there is no Darwin or Brisbane listed as destinations so maybe they got cold feet and decided not to go ahead with these flights.

[Phillippe M]

I was thinking the same thing, as you said nothing on their website at all.

[lloyd fox]

Most likely delayed .Their original press release re Darwin stated flights would start early next year.

[Andrew P]

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December 10, 2012

Cruz also confirmed that they are deferring flights to Darwin scheduled this month due to internal and regulatory problems. Instead, they hope to launch the flight by first quarter of next year after regulatory approvals.

[JamesL]

Government on early holidays this year?

[Andrew P]

proposed timetable now posted

Manila – Darwin – Brisbane
eff 01JUN13 NEW 3 weekly service
PR221 MNL2205 – 0400+1DRW0500+1 – 0920+1BNE 320 136
PR222 BNE1010 – 1400DRW1500 – 1800MNL 320 247

Brisbane is service resumption, where PR last operated service in July 1998

Manila – Darwin – Perth
eff 01JUN13 NEW 4 weekly service
PR219 MNL2225 – 0420+1DRW0520+1 – 0750+1PER 320 x136
PR220 PER0850 – 1400DRW1500 – 1800MNL 320 x247

looks likley it will now start

[Brandon Giacomin]

Originally Posted by Andrew P

proposed timetable now posted

Manila – Darwin – Brisbane
eff 01JUN13 NEW 3 weekly service
PR221 MNL2205 – 0400+1DRW0500+1 – 0920+1BNE 320 136
PR222 BNE1010 – 1400DRW1500 – 1800MNL 320 247

Brisbane is service resumption, where PR last operated service in July 1998

They resumed flights to Brisbane back in March 2010, two flights per week MNL-MEL-BNE-MNL, however it didn't last long.

[LukeMcConville]

Confirmed via Phillipine Airline's PDF timetable :
http://www1.philippineairlines.com/f...f01March13.pdf