PAL flies to $2.4-B Las Vegas terminal

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines, a unit of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp., has started using the new $ 2.4 billion Terminal 3 in Las Vegas, Nevada allowing passengers to experience some of the airline industry’s latest technological advances.

PAL started using the new 1.9-milllion square-foot, three-story terminal building last June 28.

The Nevada terminal is now billed as the most comprehensive expansion in the history of the city’s McCarran International Airport.

PAL is the only Philippine carrier serving the Manila-Las Vegas route via Vancouver. The airline flies to the so-called “Entertainment Capital of World,” which draws 40 million visitors annually, four (4) times a week, utilizing the wide-body Airbus A340 aircraft.

Loyal PAL patrons, which include world boxing champ Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, can look forward to a world-class travel experience whenever they pass through Terminal 3.

The new terminal boasts of an array of dining and shopping options as well as free wireless Internet service and power outlets to recharge cellular phones and other hand-held devices.

McCarran airport’s Terminal 3 has 14 additional gates, including seven designated for international carriers. Each gate features self-boarding equipment. With the simple scan of a pre-printed boarding pass or mobile device, verified passengers can immediately board their flight without need of an airline attendant. It also offers self-service baggage tagging to participating carriers.

PAL is set to get P17 billion in fresh funds from its controlling shareholders in line with plans to expand operations and return to profitability. Its parent firm — PAL Holdings Inc. — approved a hike in its authorized capital to P23 billion from P20 billion.

The holding firm approved Trustmark Holdings Corp.’s subscription to P17 billion worth of PAL Holdings shares at P1 each, “a portion of which will be issued out of the current unissued capital stock and the balance out of the increase in the authorized capital stock of the corporation.”

PAL Holdings would use the money to acquire 85 billion shares of PAL for 20 centavos each for a total price of P17 billion.

SMC through San Miguel Equity Investments Inc. controls about 49 percent of Trustmark Holdings. Trustmark and affiliate Zuma Holdings own PAL Holdings and sister airline AirPhil Express.

SMC president Ramon Ang earlier announced that the flag carrier would puruse a $1-billion expansion program that would involve the acquisition of as much as a hundred new planes.