Líneas Aéreas Filipinas
Philippine Airlines (PAL; Spanish: Líneas Aéreas Filipinas) is the flag carrier of the Philippines. The airline was founded in 1941 and is the oldest operating commercial airline in Asia. Philippine Airlines launched its first flight on March 15, 1941, using a Beechcraft Model 18 aircraft from Manila to Baguio. After a brief suspension during World War II, the airline resumed operations in 1946 and became the first Asian airline to cross the Pacific, with a flight from Manila to Oakland, United States. PAL was designated as the country's flag carrier in the late 1940s and expanded rapidly in the decades that followed. In 1966, PAL was privatized when then-chairman Benigno Toda Jr. acquired a majority stake. However, in 1977, the airline was re-nationalized when the Government Service Insurance System obtained the majority of its shares. The airline underwent privatization again in 1992, when it was purchased by a group led by Antonio Cojuangco. Subsequent ownership changes occurred, with businessman Lucio Tan eventually becoming the majority stockholder in the mid-1990s. Over the years, PAL has undergone periods of expansion and restructuring, responding to economic downturns, fuel price volatility, and regional competition. The airline has implemented multiple modernization programs focused on fleet renewal, route expansion, and service upgrades.
Key facts
History
Philippine Airlines (PAL) was established on February 26, 1941, as Philippine Air Lines, following the acquisition of its operational franchise from the Philippine Aerial Taxi Company (PATCO) by a group of businessmen led by Andrés Soriano and Ramón J. Fernández in conjunction with freight operator Pappy Gunn.
Once among Asia's largest carriers, PAL was significantly impacted by the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Facing substantial financial losses, the airline undertook major restructuring measures: terminating services to Europe and the Middle East, suspending most domestic routes except those operating from Manila, reducing its fleet size, and laying off thousands of employees. In September 1998, PAL ceased operations temporarily and entered receivership. Operations resumed in October 1998, and over time, the airline reinstated many of its domestic and international routes. PAL successfully exited receivership in 2007 after implementing a rehabilitation plan approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Subsequently, the airline has undertaken several management restructurings aimed at reestablishing its position as a leading carrier in the Asia-Pacific region.
Its airports
Its main hubs
Airports that list it on their own website
These airports include this airline in the carrier list on their official website.
Other airports in its network
Route network according to OpenFlights (open route database). It may not reflect recent schedule changes.
Data from Wikidata (CC0) · summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Cite
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This page was last updated on October 7, 2026
APA
Vuelopedia. (2026, October 7). Líneas Aéreas Filipinas. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://vuelopedia.org/en/airline/philippine-airlines
MLA
“Líneas Aéreas Filipinas.” Vuelopedia, Fundación Poderia, 7 Oct. 2026, vuelopedia.org/en/airline/philippine-airlines. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Vuelopedia. “Líneas Aéreas Filipinas.” Fundación Poderia. Last modified October 7, 2026. https://vuelopedia.org/en/airline/philippine-airlines.
Harvard
Vuelopedia (2026) Líneas Aéreas Filipinas. Available at: https://vuelopedia.org/en/airline/philippine-airlines (Accessed: 16 October 2026).
BibTeX
@misc{vuelopedia_en_airline_philippine_airlines,
author = {{Vuelopedia}},
title = {{Líneas Aéreas Filipinas}},
publisher = {Fundación Poderia},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-10-07},
url = {https://vuelopedia.org/en/airline/philippine-airlines},
howpublished = {\url{https://vuelopedia.org/en/airline/philippine-airlines}},
urldate = {2026-10-16},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16}
}Wikipedia
{{cite web |url=https://vuelopedia.org/en/airline/philippine-airlines |title=Líneas Aéreas Filipinas |website=Vuelopedia |publisher=Fundación Poderia |date=2026-10-07 |access-date=2026-10-16 |language=en}}Types it operates · 87 aircraft · 12 models
Pick a model to see its aircraft.
