Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is seeking expedited approval from the United States (US) Department of Transportation (DOT to launch nonstop flights between Manila and Chicago for the upcoming summer season.
In a regulatory filing, the airline, controlled by billionaire Lucio Tan, requested an exemption to operate the transpacific service starting in late March, coinciding with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) summer traffic schedule.
Under IATA, the summer period for airlines begins next month and concludes in October.
If approved, PAL said it will immediately begin offering tickets for the route.
The airline expects DOT approval for the proposed new route, noting that the Chicago service aligns with the Air Service Agreement between the Philippines and the US.
The agreement allows Philippine-based carriers to operate flights to Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Guam, Saipan, and “four additional points” to be selected by the Philippine government.
A diplomatic note issued in 2020 by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to the US Embassy in Manila cited Chicago as one of the four points.
Further, PAL said it holds a foreign air carrier permit that allows it to engage in “scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between the Philippines and certain points in the US.”
The airline added that the service is consistent with public interest, as it will provide a new travel option between the two countries, particularly in the Midwest, home to a large Filipino diaspora.
North America has been a growing market for PAL, with the airline most recently securing DOT approval to extend and expand its operations between Manila and Seattle.
PAL currently operates flights to eight destinations in the region: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, New York, Toronto, Honolulu, and Guam. Next month, the airline will add another route to its roster with the revival of its Saipan link.
PAL President Richard Nuttall previously said the airline would use its Airbus A350-1000s to expand to other destinations in the US, including Chicago.
PAL expects to receive five A350-1000s this year to capitalize on growing air travel demand, with each aircraft capable of accommodating 382 passengers.
Last year, PAL seized the top spot among local carriers serving international routes, carrying 6.51 million passengers, or nearly half of the total volume.
The carrier offers the widest international connectivity in the country, with 37 destinations across Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East.
