Philippine Airlines announced (25-Jan-2018) plans to commence three times weekly Manila-Brisbane service on 27-Mar-2018 and increase frequency to four times weekly, effective 01-May-2018. The airline will initially operate the service with 254 seat A340 equipment, before deploying A321neo equipment later in 1H2018. The duration of the nonstop service will be less than seven hours, compared to nine hours and 20 minutes for existing Manila-Darwin-Brisbane service. The carrier will temporarily suspend Darwin service, effective 25-Mar-2018, and stated: "A stand-alone Manila-Darwin service would be uneconomically sustainable. The airline will revisit this decision in the near future as market conditions improve". [more - original PR]
Philippine Airlines to commence nonstop Brisbane service, temporarily suspend Darwin service
28 January, 2018