Philippine Airlines
MILESTONES IN THE HISTORY OF PAL
February 1941
Philippine Airlines is founded by a group of businessmen led by Andres Soriano, one of the country's leading industrialists.
March 1941
PAL starts operations with a single Beech Model 18 aircraft making one flight daily between Manila and Baguio.
September 1941
Government invests in PAL, paving the way for the airline's nationalization.
February 1946
PAL resumes post-World War II operations with services to 15 domestic points. Its fleet consisted of five Douglas DC-3s.
July 1946
A chartered DC-4 ferries 40 American servicemen from Manila to Oakland, California, making PAL the first Asian airline to cross the Pacific.
December 1946
PAL starts regular service between Manila and San Francisco.
April 1953
PAL starts services to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Taipei using Convair 340s.
June 1962
PAL enters the jet age with the introduction of DC-8 jetliners.
January 1965
Government relinquishes control of PAL. Benigno Toda, Jr., board chairman since 1962, acquires majority stake in the airline.
May 1966
Twin-engine BAC1-11 services to Cebu, Bacolod and Davao commence.
July 1974
PAL advances into the widebody era with the acquisition of its first DC-10.
November 1977
Government reassumes control of PAL with the Government Service Insurance System holding majority shares.
July 1979
Boeing 727 trijet joins the PAL fleet.
December 1979
PAL's first super-widebody Boeing 747-200 arrives.
December 1979
The "Love Bus," PAL's first Airbus A300-B4, goes into service on a flight to Singapore.
November 1982
PAL commences flights to Paris from Manila via Zurich.
May 1987
PAL launches a massive modernization of its domestic operations. The Shorts SD360 turboprop joins the domestic fleet.
August 1988
PAL acquires the Fokker 50 turboprop.
August 1989
The Boeing 737-300 jet joins the PAL fleet.
January 1992
Government privatizes PAL. Local consortium PR Holdings acquires a 67% stake.
March 1993
Resolution of a representation issue with PR Holdings results in the election of former Secretary of Agriculture Carlos G. Dominguez as PAL president.
November 1993
PAL's first B747-400, carrying President Fidel V. Ramos home from a state visit to the US, touches down at Subic International Airport.
January 1995
Lucio C. Tan, majority stockholder of PR Holdings, becomes Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
May 1997
PAL's first A340-300 rolls out of the European manufacturer's facility in Toulouse, France.
October 1999
PAL consolidates its domestic and international operations in one hub for the first time in its history, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Centennial Terminal 2.
March 2000
PAL declares a net income of P44.2 million for the fiscal year 1999-2000, its first year under rehabilitation. The result snaps six straight years of massive net losses and produces one of the most dramatic turnarounds in Philippine business.
July 2000
PAL and Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) sign two landmark agreements transferring ownership of PAL's maintenance and engineering unit to LTP, while ensuring that the flag carrier's long-term maintenance needs remain attended to.
August 2000
PAL introduces an e-mail booking facility that allows passengers to request for booking with a 24-hour reply from its Reservations office.
March 2001
PAL reports a profit of P419 million at the end of fiscal year 2000-2001, its second year under rehabilitation. PAL was able to pump up revenues, ride out the upsurge in expenses and take advantage of efficiencies during a difficult year for the aviation industry. During the fiscal year, PAL resumed services to Sydney, Busan, Taipei and Jakarta, expanding its network to 16 points in nine countries.
April 2001
PAL launches an Internet booking service that allows customers to book a flight and buy tickets online, and receive instant confirmation.
Philippine Airlines returns to Canada after an absence of three years when it starts a direct service between Manila and Vancouver, British Columbia.
July 2001
PAL resumes flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam after a gap of three years.
October 2001
PAL starts regular operations to three new Asia Pacific destinations - Bangkok, Shanghai and Melbourne as part of its modest network expansion.
April 2002
The cargo product RHUSH (Rapid Handling of Urgent Shipments) was relaunched.
May 2002
PAL resumes service to Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
June 2002
PAL returns to Guam after a nine-year absence.
August 2002
The company's website, www.philippineairlines.com was relaunched, with an enhanced look and feel, easier navigation, and a host of other new innovative and user-friendly features using a new content management system. Simultaneously, the World Tracer or Online Baggage Tracing and Cargo Tracking was introduced. Finally, PAL unveiled its new frequent-flyer program (FFP), Mabuhay Miles, which integrates all of the airline's FFPs - PALsmiles, the Mabuhay Club and the Flying Sportsman, now called Sportsplus - under one brand.
November 2002
PAL hosts the 46th Assembly of Presidents of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines in Cebu. PAL president Avelino L. Zapanta chairs the conference.
March 2003
PAL registers a net income of P295 million for fiscal year 2002-2003.
May 2003
PAL launches Online Departure & Arrival facility giving PAL customers access to actual flight information.
June 2003
PAL introduces a new booking engine with a host of new features. Passengers may now check for available seats and fares online without having to login. The new booking engine is now able to accept bookings with infants and the multiple destination trip type involving a maximum of 4 cities and 6 flight destinations. Shortly after launching a new booking engine, PAL adds on to its worldwide network Okinawa, Japan adding up to a total of 27 international and 20 domestic destinations.
October 2003
PAL returns to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after a 5 - year absence.
December 2003
PAL adds fifth B747-400 to its young fleet of 30.
February 2004
PAL hosts biggest Interclub Golf Tournament in 57 years.
PAL extends its online booking services to its Japanese website, lifting sales via the internet a notch higher.
March 2004
PAL marks 63rd year with Las Vegas service launch.
April 2004
Laoag becomes PAL's 21st domestic destination after suspending flights to this region for 6 years.
May 2004
PAL launches E-ticketing where passengers could book, pay and get a seat by phone or thru internet.
June 2004
E-ticketing expands to 3 more domestic destinations, namely, for flights between Manila and Davao, Puerto Princesa and Zamboanga. This service was initially available for flights between Manila and Cebu.
Boosting its e-services campaign, PAL launches its SMS Messaging facility where passengers are able to download departure and arrival information using their cellphones.
July 2004
Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Iloilo and Legaspi joins the list of ET eligible destinations in the PAL route network.
September 2004
Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver becomes the first batch of ET eligible destinations in the PAL international route network.
Philippine Airlines and Air Macau began a thrice-weekly code-share service between Manila and Macau, giving the Philippine flag carrier a commercial presence for the first time in the former Portuguese territory on China's southwestern coast.
November 2004
Honolulu becomes the 5th International destination covered by PAL's e-ticketing program.
December 2004
PAL takes delivery of two virtually brand-new aircraft, both Airbus A320s, as part of continuing drive to rejuvenate its existing fleet.
March 2005
PAL launches a long-awaited service to Nagoya giving the flag carrier its fifth gateway in Japan.
May 2005
Hong Kong becomes the 6th International destination covered by PAL's e-ticketing program.
July 2005
PAL and American Airlines launch interline e-ticketing on their interline arrangement, enabling each carrier to issue e-tickets on the other's flights.
September 2005
E-ticketing expands to 2 more international destinations, namely, for flights between Manila and Busan and Seoul in South Korea.
October 2005
Laoag joins the list of ET eligible destinations in the PAL route network.
November 2005
PAL starts a regular service between Manila and Beijing giving the flag carrier a direct link to People's Republic of China's capital city.
PAL and Continental Airlines jointly introduces electronic ticketing on their interline arrangement.
December 2005
In a deal valued at approximately USD840 million, PAL ordered nine brand-new A320 jets and options for five more A320s from Airbus.
January 2006
Guam joins the list of ET eligible international destinations in the PAL route network.
February 2006
Tacloban joins the list of domestic destinations covered by PAL's e-ticketing program.
April 2006
Kalibo and Roxas join the list of ET eligible domestic destinations in the PAL route network.
May 2006
Dipolog, Tagbilaran and Cotabato join the list of domestic destinations covered by PAL's e-ticketing program.
June 2006
PAL Domestic Flights now 100% ET-enabled with the successful cutover of Naga.
September 2006
PAL moves to an upgraded version of ONLINE BOOKING (BOOK & BUY). The new version allows purchase of ticket by a credit card holder for another person - third party charging for all online booking transactions.
PAL and Delta Airlines jointly introduces electronic ticketing on their interline arrangement.
October 2006
Sydney and Melbourne join the list of ET eligible international destinations in the PAL route network.
PAL and Northwest jointly introduces electronic ticketing on their interline arrangement.
November 2006
Successful conclusion of negotiations between Philippine Airlines (PR) and Air Canada and PR and Emirates and the activation of the Interline Electronic Ticketing Agreement.
December 2006
Successful conclusion of negotiations between Philippine Airlines and British Airways and and the activation of the IET Agreement.
February 2007
PAL and Air Philipines jointly introduces electronic ticketing.
Fukuoka and Okinawa join the list of routes that are ET-enabled.
May 2007
PAL has completed the implementation of electronic ticketing for all flights throughout its network.
June 2007
Philippine Airlines reports a net income of $140.3 million for its fiscal year ending March 31, 2007 - the largest annual profit in the airline's 66-year history. It was more than six times the previous fiscal year's profit of $22.8 million.
This was also PAL's third straight annual profit. Since entering receivership in June 1998, PAL has consistently posted an operating income for eight consecutive years and a net income in six of those eight years, key indicators that the flag carrier is on track to sustained profitability.
August 2007
During PAL's annual stockholders meeting, PAL president Jaime J. Bautista announces that the airline will exit receivership before the end of 2007. He said PAL was in the process of obtaining the necessary approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission for such a move. PAL entered receivership in June 1998 and in June 1999, the SEC approved a rehabilitation plan that has guided the airline's operations ever since.
PAL takes delivery of its eighth Airbus A320-family aircraft - taking it about halfway through an $840-million modernization program for its narrow-body fleet that began in September 2006. PAL has contracted for up to 20 brand-new A320-family jets, comprising nine firm orders, six leased units and five option aircraft.
November 2007
PAL is named "Airline Turnaround of the Year 2007" by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, a Sydney-based think-tank and aviation strategists, for "PAL's achievements in the industry" during the year.
PAL recently took delivery of its ninth Airbus A320-family aircraft, part of the 20 brand-new single-aisle jets PAL has ordered from the European aircraft manufacturer and airplane leasing companies.
August 2007
PAL improves internet booking and ticketing facility. Buyers who use the Internet to make purchases will find PAL's new Internet Booking and Ticketing facility the fastest way to make a booking, pay for the ticket and have the ticket issued. Initially available for purely domestic itineraries, PAL's Online Booking now displays lowest fares available over a range of seven days making online shopping for cheapest fares a lot faster and easier.
May 2008
PAL Express - the low fares brand of Philippine Airlines, launches out of Manila and Cebu, using a fleet of three Bombardier Q300 and six Q400 that fly to 22 inter-island routes.
PAL starts a regular service between Manila and Macau.
PAL's own internet booking engine started offering Calendar Shopping/Pricing for international itineraries. The internet booking engine is available on the websites of Philippine Airlines, philippineairlines.com and palexpressair.com.
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