PAL INKS CODE-SHARE PACT WITH BANGKOK AIRWAYS

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines strengthened its Thailand network through a code-share deal with Bangkok Airways.

The agreement will take effect Oct. 28 this year and will enable PAL passengers flying to Bangkok from Manila to connect seamlessly to Bangkok Airways’ flights to Chiang Mai via Suvarnabhumi Airport, PAL said in a statement on Friday. At the same time, Bangkok Airways’ passengers will be able to travel on Philippine Airlines’ flights between Bangkok and Manila.

Airways gives us a ‘winwin’ formula in terms of passenger comfort, convenience and satisfaction,” PAL president Jaime Bautista said.

Passengers on these code- share flights will be checked-in all the way to their final destination.

PAL said it intended to expand the partnership with Bangkok Airways to eventually include other destinations in Thailand.

“As PAL expands its presence across the globe, we aim to build new partnerships because by working together, we build new connections that will give our passengers more choices to enjoy exciting new travel experiences. We believe that our PAL customers will be delighted to discover the rich cultural heritage of our Asean neighbor Thailand, beyond the well-known sights of the capital city. Passengers of our partner airline will also get to experience our 4-Star global service brand,” Bautista said.

PAL and Bangkok Airways are among the select group of airlines to have earned the prestigious 4-Star certification by the international airline rating agency Skytrax. PAL won recognition as a full-service airline while Bangkok Airways did so as a “Boutique Airline” offering personalized service to niche regional markets in Thailand and South East Asia.

“The codeshare partnership with Philippine Airlines is a major milestone in the airlines’ network development strategy and a new footprint in the region,” Bangkok Airways president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth said in the statement.