Philippine Airlines: With flying colors
There’s no place like home, and indeed, whether or not its slogan said it first, Philippine Airlines has always felt like my “home in the sky,” especially after a long time away from home, and in skies away from home.
When my husband is watching a Manny Pacquiao bout and a PAL jet with the colors of the Philippine flag on its tail is shown soaring as Lupang Hinirang is being played, I choke up. Isn’t that what “flying colors” literally mean?
Indeed, as PAL Holdings president and COO Dr. Lucio Tan III said at the flag carrier’s 85th anniversary earlier this year, quoting his grandfather PAL chairman Lucio C. Tan, “Like the Philippine flag, we will continue to stand tall and strong as the national carrier and premier airline of the Philippines.”
“Philippine Airlines is the Philippines, and the Philippines is Philippine Airlines.”
The quote emphasizes the deep, intertwining connection between the nation and its flag carrier. As the country’s first commercial airline, PAL is viewed as a lasting symbol and reflection of the Philippines’ growth and status on the global stage.
During a recent dinner with Philippine STAR executives led by president and CEO Miguel G. Belmonte, PAL executive vice president/COO Atty. Carlos Luis “Carlu” Fernandez said, “I tell applicants to PAL that working here is like public service—but in a private capacity. You’re serving the flag and the Filipino people.”
Indeed, even before setting foot on a Philippine airport, a visitor, if flying PAL, already starts forming impressions and making memories about the Philippines on board the plane. This responsibility and honor is not lost on Atty. Carlu.
“We take very seriously our on-time performance, for one, as we add another Airbus A350-1000 to our fleet, ” he said. We had our dinner as the second of a total of nine A350-1000s was getting ready to take off from the Airbus plant in Toulouse, to land on Philippine soil the following day.
At the start of this year, Philippine Airlines was recognized as Asia-Pacific’s Most Punctual Airline for 2025, achieving an on-time performance of 83.12%, as reported by Cirium, the leading global aviation data and analytics company.
Another important announcement will be made today.
In 2022, PAL was not even among Cirium’s top 10 airlines for on-time performance in Asia-Pacific. In 2023, it rose to eighth place. In 2024, it moved up further to seventh. And in 2025, it reached the top.
I flew to Puerto Princesa in Palawan last week. My flight was scheduled to take off from Manila at 11.30 a.m. and land in Puerto at 12:50 p.m.
Whaddayaknow, we were buckled up ahead of schedule and landed in Puerto at 12:17 pm, over 30 minutes ahead of schedule. Same with the flight back to Manila. When I checked in 45 minutes before the flight (I had no check-in baggage and I was told by friends the queue is shorter in Puerto), it was the final call for boarding already.
“Now, passengers make an effort to be on time or way ahead of time because they know the airline is on time, so everyone benefits,” said Atty. Carlu.
So guys, next time, tell your sundo to be early if you’re taking PAL.
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The recent touchdown of PAL’s second Airbus A350-1000 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport marked another major milestone in the flag carrier’s continuing fleet modernization program.
The aircraft followed the delivery of PAL’s first A350-1000 in December 2025 and forms part of the airline’s order for nine Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. Philippine Airlines remains the first and only carrier in Southeast Asia to operate the Airbus A350-1000.
“As demand for international travel continues to grow, this second Airbus A350-1000 will play an important role in enhancing our long-haul operations and elevating the overall passenger experience while supporting the long-term modernization of Philippine Airlines,” said Philippine Airlines president Richard Nuttall.
More partnerships are being forged. PAL and Qantas Airways have expanded their frequent flyer partnership, allowing members of their respective loyalty programs to redeem points across both airline networks.
Under the agreement, Mabuhay Miles and Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now redeem their points across both airlines’ networks.
PAL and Qatar Airways have also expanded their strategic partnership by enhancing connectivity between both airline networks. Starting last June 1, PAL placed its (PR) code on Qatar Airways flights from Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao to Doha and beyond, and connected to over 20 major European cities, including Paris, Rome, and Frankfurt via Hamad International Airport.
Qatar Airways will place its (QR) code on Philippine Airlines’ domestic flights, enabling travelers arriving in Manila and Cebu to enjoy seamless connectivity to popular leisure destinations, including Caticlan (Boracay) and Puerto Princesa.
Complementing the codeshare expansion, Qatar Airways’ loyalty program, Privilege Club, has partnered with Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles to extend loyalty benefits to members of both programs.
Philippine Airlines will also resume its seasonal nonstop flights between Manila and Sapporo for the winter 2026 travel season.
Operating three times weekly between Nov. 23, 2026 and March 26, 2027, the nonstop service to New Chitose Airport eliminates the need for multiple connections, significantly reducing travel time and allowing travelers to arrive in time to maximize their day.
With flying colors, indeed.
