PAL Heads to Da Nang, Challenges Cebu Pacific

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will challenge Cebu Pacific for Philippine demand in Da Nang flights, as it is scheduled to launch weekly flights to the Vietnamese city by July.

- — Elijah Felice Rosales

PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng yesterday said the airline is set to connect Manila and Da Nang on a thrice-weekly basis starting July 1.

PAL will deploy an Airbus A321 to serve the route, enabling it to carry up to 199 passengers per flight, with the aircraft divided into business class and economy cabin.

The airline, which has been flying to Vietnam since 1986, will mark its third expansion this year in the country. Recently, PAL has upgraded its Manila flights to Hanoi to a daily frequency, and the carrier is also launching Cebu services to Ho Chi Minh beginning May 2.