Philippine Airlines CNS pullout

PHILIPPINE Airlines will commence direct flights between Manila and Auckland in Dec this year, with the move seeing the suspension of the carrier’s existing service via Cairns.

The switch will see a significant capacity boost into New Zealand, with PR to operate a 254-seat Airbus A340 wide-body on the new route rather than the existing A320 operation.

The non-stop MNL-AKL flight will operate thrice weekly, departing Auckland at 1230 local time and touching down in Manila at 0545 the same day.

While it’s good news for the New Zealand tourism industry, the move will coincide with the cessation of Philippine Airlines flights into Cairns from 06 Dec.

Passengers with confirmed tickets on the Cairns-Manila route may reroute via PR’s direct services to Darwin, Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney.

The 60% capacity increase into Auckland will also provide convenient onward connections to PAL’s domestic and international network, including to London, Asia, North America and the Middle East.

MEANWHILE Philippine Airlines has also rejigged its flights to the UK, bringing forward the introduction of Boeing 777 aircraft on the London Heathrow- Manila route by three months.

The larger planes will now commence operation on 17 Sep, freeing up the existing A340 for the new Auckland route.