A major product upgrade for Philippine Airlines is set beginning December 6 with the non-stop flights to Auckland, New Zealand. PAL’s entry to New Zealand marks the first direct connection between the two countries and is expected to boost tourism traffic and trade to add to the number of Filipinos going to New Zealand that has increased to 29% on its latest count. On the other hand the Philippine tourism department recorded more than 28,000 inbound tourists from New Zealand last year.
The non-stop MNL – AKL service will operate via PR 218 thrice weekly – every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday – departing Manila at 11:15PM, and arriving Auckland at 2:05PM local time the following day. PR 219 leaves Auckland every Friday, Saturday and Tuesday at 12:30AM local time and touches down in Manila at 5:45AM.
This development makes PAL the only carrier to offer the quickest and most convenient flight option between Manila and Auckland. Travel time to Auckland will be reduced to 10 hours from the current 12 hours Manila-Auckland via Cairns route. The non-stop flight launch on December 6 coincides with the suspension of the Manila-Auckland via Cairns service. PAL will continue operating the Manila-Auckland via Cairns route until December 5, 2017.
PAL will be utilizing its twin-aisle dual class 254-seater A340s from its single-aisle 156-seater A320s thus increasing capacity by 60 percent
Passengers with confirmed tickets for Manila – Cairns vv., flights dated December 6, 2017 onwards may reroute to Manila – Darwin / Brisbane/Melbourne/ or Sydney and connect to Cairns via other airline and vice versa. Passengers with confirmed tickets for Cairns-Auckland vv., flights will be endorsed to other airlines.
Passengers with confirmed tickets for Manila-Auckland (via Cairns) dated December 6 onwards will be automatically accommodated on the non-stop flights. All affected passengers due to the suspension of the Manila – Auckland (via Cairns) service have the option to rebook on the dates of their choice or to refund their tickets.
Passengers arriving in Manila from Auckland can conveniently connect to PAL’s domestic and international network such as Manila-London, Asia, North America and the Middle East.
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