Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines (PAL; Spanish: Líneas Aéreas Filipinas) is the flag carrier of the Philippines. The airline was founded in 1941 and is the oldest operating commercial airline in Asia. Philippine Airlines launched its first flight on March 15, 1941, using a Beechcraft Model 18 aircraft from Manila to Baguio. After a brief suspension during World War II, the airline resumed operations in 1946 and became the first Asian airline to cross the Pacific, with a flight from Manila to Oakland, United States. PAL was designated as the country's flag carrier in the late 1940s and expanded rapidly in the decades that followed. In 1966, PAL was privatized when then-chairman Benigno Toda Jr. acquired a majority stake. However, in 1977, the airline was re-nationalized when the Government Service Insurance System obtained the majority of its shares. The airline underwent privatization again in 1992, when it was purchased by a group led by Antonio Cojuangco. Subsequent ownership changes occurred, with businessman Lucio Tan eventually becoming the majority stockholder in the mid-1990s. Over the years, PAL has undergone periods of expansion and restructuring, responding to economic downturns, fuel price volatility, and regional competition. The airline has implemented multiple modernization programs focused on fleet renewal, route expansion, and service upgrades. In February 2018, Skytrax recognized Philippine Airlines as a four-star airline. Philippine Airlines has accepted Oneworld's invitation to join the alliance in 2027. The airline's main flight operations are based at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila. It primarily operates international routes across Asia, North America, and Oceania, along with select domestic sectors—including Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, General Santos and Puerto Princesa—while the majority of domestic flights are operated by its subsidiary, PAL Express.