DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Airlines (PAL) has announced it was certified as the only 4-star airline in the country by Skytrax, an international air transport rating organization.
PAL bagged the rating last February and joined the list of 40 world-class airlines around the world rated with 4-stars.
It is also the first Philippine-based carrier certified safe by the International Air Transport Association (LATA) under its IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Program.
The company gained the new ranking after instituting various innovations and expanding its fleet and route network within the two-year period.
The Skytrax 4-Star certification was a third-party affirmation of PALs innovation as a leading world-class airline.
With its current operation, PAL flies 43 international and 33 domestic destinations using their 85 aircraft with four main airport hubs: Manila (Ninoy Aquino), Cebu (Mactan), Clark and Davao. Its international route extends as far as New York to London covering the two-thirds of the world.
It will also further boost their operation with the scheduled arrival of 15 new aircraft within 2018, and six new aircraft in the year 2019.
PAL is now eyeing the 5- star airline company in the year 2020 with its goal of a new brand identity embodying warm and caring service from the Heart of the Filipino and showcase the country.
In a Media forum held at The Marco Polo Hotel, PAL’s President and Chief Operating Office Dr. Jaime J. Bautista said that the PAL’s service varies with the strong competition of market rate.
The competition plays a vital role in dealing the price of our service. We aspire to ultimately become a 5-star Global Airline, to be a source of pride to all Filipinos. said Bautista.
PAL’s aggressive transformation focused on satisfying the passengers at all point of travel, with its service philosophy Buong Pusong Alaga by a committed and dedicated workforce.
With the cancellation of flights going to Kalibo and Caticlan, both in Aklan due to the temporary closure of Boracay, PAL plans to divert tourism campaign to Visayas and Mindanao to promote other local tourism destinations.
Bautista said the impending closure of Boracay can serve as an opportunity to highlight different tourism spots aside from the world-famous white sand beaches of Boracay.
Last year, PAL served more or less one million domestic and international passengers to their Caticlan and Kalibo flights. The company expanded flights to a number of other provincial destination with the six month rehabilitation period to ensure the continued growth of the domestic tourism.
PAL has adjusted its operation in support of the government’s decision to temporarily close and limit access to Boracay for its urgent environmental rehabilitation of the island. (davaotoday.com)
