Airline profile · Southeast Asia & Pacific

Philippine Airlines

PhilippinesFull-service carrierSince 1941

PRIATA code
PALICAO code

Philippine Airlines (IATA PR, ICAO PAL) is the Philippines' flag carrier and only full-service network airline, flying since 1941 from hubs in Manila and Cebu. It serves 29 domestic and 40 international destinations. In June 2026 it was invited to join oneworld as its 16th member, but it is not yet a full alliance member.

Founded
1941
First flight
1941-03-15
Headquarters
Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Country
Philippines
Main hubs
Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila (MNL) · Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB)
Airline type
Full-service carrier
Alliance
None
Loyalty
Mabuhay Miles
Parent
PAL Holdings, Inc.
Ownership
Owned by PAL Holdings, Inc., which is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange and led by the Lucio Tan group. Lucio C. Tan III is President and CEO of PAL Holdings.
Callsign
PHILIPPINE
Website
philippineairlines.com

How travel agents book Philippine Airlines

GDS distribution

No public GDS distribution agreement for Philippine Airlines was verified at time of writing.

NDC

No public NDC programme details verified at time of writing.

Direct channels

Direct bookings on philippineairlines.com and the PAL app.

Notes for travel agents

PAL is not yet a oneworld member: the June 2026 announcement was an invitation to join, so oneworld fares, lounge access and status benefits should not be promised until PAL's entry is completed.

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History of Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines flew its first service on 15 March 1941, when a Beechcraft Model 18 carried five passengers from Manila to Baguio, and it describes itself as Asia's first commercial airline. During the Second World War its aircraft were pressed into military service. Flights restarted on 14 February 1946 with five Douglas DC-3s, and in 1959 a new law made PAL the national flag carrier.

PAL flew its first international jet service, a DC-8 to San Francisco via Honolulu, in June 1962. The government privatised the airline in 1992, when PR Holdings bought a 67% stake, and Lucio Tan later became the majority owner. PAL Express, a sub-brand for secondary domestic routes, started flying in May 2008.

During the pandemic PAL filed for a voluntary Chapter 11 restructuring in the United States on 3 September 2021 and exited it on 31 December 2021. It ordered nine Airbus A350-1000s in 2023, and the first of them made PAL the type's first operator in Southeast Asia. On 6 June 2026 oneworld invited PAL to join the alliance.

Milestones

  1. 1941First flight on 15 March, Manila to Baguio with a Beechcraft Model 18.
  2. 1946Restarted operations on 14 February with five Douglas DC-3s.
  3. 1962Flew its first international jet service, a DC-8 to San Francisco via Honolulu.
  4. 1992Privatised when PR Holdings acquired 67% from the government in March.
  5. 2021Entered US Chapter 11 restructuring on 3 September and emerged on 31 December.
  6. 2023Ordered nine Airbus A350-1000s at the Paris Air Show on 20 June.
  7. 2026Invited on 6 June to join oneworld; ordered 15 Boeing 787-10s and nine more A350-1000s in July.

Fleet

Airbus A350-1000 Airbus A350-900 Boeing 777-300ER Airbus A330-300 Airbus A321neo Airbus A321ceo Airbus A320-200 De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400

Aircraft types in service as of 2026

PAL's international fleet is built around Airbus A350-1000s and A350-900s, Boeing 777-300ERs, A330-300s and A321neos, with A321ceos, A320s and Dash 8-400 turboprops on domestic routes, some of them under PAL Express. PAL received its fourth A350-1000 on 2 September 2026 from an order of nine. At the July 2026 Farnborough Airshow it ordered 15 Boeing 787-10s for delivery from 2031 to 2034 and nine more A350-1000s for 2034 to 2036, with options on ten more aircraft.

Network and hubs

PAL flies nonstop from its hubs in Manila and Cebu to 29 destinations in the Philippines and 40 in Asia, North America, Australia and the Middle East. Its A350-1000 operates daily between Manila and San Francisco.

PAL serves Dubai, Doha and Riyadh, which matter for overseas Filipino workers. Regional security conditions disrupted these routes in 2026: Doha resumed on 1 July 2026, while Riyadh flights PR654/655 were suspended until 29 November 2026. Agents should check current advisories before selling Gulf itineraries.

Philippine Airlines: frequently asked questions

What are Philippine Airlines' airline codes?

Philippine Airlines uses the IATA code PR and the ICAO code PAL, with the radio callsign PHILIPPINE. Its three-digit ticket prefix in the IATA airline register is 079, so PAL tickets begin with 079. Flights appear as PR followed by the number, for example PR654 to Riyadh.

Is Philippine Airlines in oneworld?

Not yet. On 6 June 2026 oneworld announced an invitation for Philippine Airlines to join the alliance as its 16th member. Until the airline formally completes its entry, oneworld benefits such as status recognition and lounge access across the alliance do not apply.

Does Philippine Airlines fly to the Middle East?

Yes. PAL serves Dubai, Doha and Riyadh from Manila. In 2026 these routes were disrupted by regional security conditions: Doha flights resumed on 1 July 2026, and Riyadh flights PR654 and PR655 were suspended until 29 November 2026. Check PAL's travel advisories before booking.

What aircraft does Philippine Airlines fly?

PAL's long-haul fleet includes Airbus A350-1000s, A350-900s and Boeing 777-300ERs, with A330-300s and A321neos on regional routes. Domestic flights use A321ceos, A320s and Dash 8-400 turboprops. It has 15 Boeing 787-10s and more A350-1000s on order.

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Book a meeting

Sources

  1. Philippine Airlines — The airline in a nutshell (history and milestones)
  2. Philippine Airlines — Airfleet
  3. Philippine Airlines — Philippine Airlines to join oneworld Alliance (6 June 2026)
  4. Philippine Airlines — Builds widebody fleet for its future (24 July 2026)
  5. Philippine Airlines — Riyadh flights PR654 and PR655 suspended
  6. Philippine Airlines — Resumption of Manila-Doha flights from 1 July 2026
  7. Philippine Airlines — News and events
  8. IATA — Airline members list
  9. FAA — JO 7340.2 Contractions, ICAO aircraft operator designators

Profile updated by the ReservationHub team. Airline details change: confirm schedules, fares and policies with the airline before booking. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.