0 Amsterdam and Paris by October 27

Rome by December 1

11 July 2013

Philippine Airlines (PAL) disclosed that it plans to launch daily flight to France and the Netherlands in October 27 with morning departures around 6-7 AM in Manila arriving at lunchtime in Paris and Amsterdam, and with return flights arriving around 6-8 AM the following day.

Amsterdam
Slot Coordination for Airports in the Netherlands (SCAN) confirmed PAL application beginning in 27 October 2013 for the IATA Winter 2013/14 season:

PR 720 - MNL - AMS Arr. 11.30  a/c 77W daily
PR 721 - AMS - MNL Dep.13.00  a/c 77W daily

Paris
France Airport Coordination (COHOR) also confirmed PAL application beginning in 27 October 2013 for the IATA Winter 2013/14 timetable:

PR 740 - MNL - CDG Arr. 13.00  a/c 77W daily
PR 741 - CDG - MNL Dep.14.40  a/c 77W daily

Rome
Meanwhile, Aeroporti di Roma, the airport operator of Rome Fiumicino Airport confirmed the application of PAL for landing slots in Rome's premiere airport beginning 1 December 2013 for the IATA Winter 2013/14 timetable:

PR 760 - MNL - FCO  Arr. 6.30  a/c 330 daily
PR 761 - FCO  - MNL Dep.9.00  a/c 330 daily

Frankfurt
Airport Coordination Germany (FLUKO) said that they already received slot application of Philippine Airlines out of Frankfurt-Main but has problems securing morning slot arrivals requested by the airline for the IATA Winter 2013/14 schedule. FLUKO said the airline wanted early morning slots. No schedule has yet been announced.

PAL President and COO Ramon S. Ang said yesterday that flights to Europe will resume as early as September or October this year.

"Seven times a week flights to London, seven times a week flights to Paris and other destinations," Ang said.

"Our flights will take you 12 to 13 hours one way compared to other airline flights that take 18 to 24 hours from Manila to Europe because you still have to wait for several hours in their hubs," Ang added.

PAL's ticket prices from Manila to London begins at $1,200 or about P52,000.

Felix Cruz, PAL Vice President Marketing Support, said that while the airline wanted to start flying Frankfurt first which is PAL's largest European operation in 1998, they encountered slotting problems similar to that of London Heathrow which prompted them to consider Paris, and Amsterdam.

Cruz said they also encountered slot problems in Amsterdam and Paris which gave them a midday slot instead of the preferred morning arrivals in Europe.

Cruz said that destinations to Europe, are still subject to regulatory approvals and airport slot applications. He said that some changes might come along the way as to which airport they will go first.

The airline intends to fly the route using mixed A330-300, A340-300 and B777-300ER aircraft. PAL recently acquired four A340's ex-Iberia planes and intends to add two more to the existing fleet for destinations in Europe. Another new B777's is scheduled for delivery in November 2013.

The European Union (EU) on Wednesday announced the partial lifting of the blacklist imposed on Philippine carriers in 2010, opening the way for the resumption of flights by Philippine Airlines (PAL) to Europe, effective July 12.