MANILA – Philippine Airlines (PAL) will introduce a third weekly nonstop frequency on its Manila – Toronto route starting April 5, 2024.
The resulting 50% increase in capacity aims to meet growing travel demand to and from the Canadian East Coast region, as part of a long-term investment by the Philippine flag carrier in developing business and tourist travel flows between Canada and the Philippines.
With three weekly frequencies to choose from between Manila and Toronto, passengers gain added flexibility to structure their travel plans.
The expanded schedule highlights the importance of Toronto in PAL’s global network, as it is Canada’s largest city and home to the biggest Filipino community in Canada, estimated at over 350,000 ethnic Filipinos in Ontario province. Toronto is the gateway to Ontario, Quebec, the Maritime, and other areas in the Eastern seaboard of Canada.
PAL is the only airline offering nonstop flights between the Philippines and Canada, and also serves Vancouver with daily flights from its Manila hub. Other points across Canada such as Edmonton, Winnipeg and Calgary are served via PAL’s code share partner WestJet.
PAL operates the Toronto services with the new-generation Airbus A350-900, a long-range jetliner that accommodates 295 passengers across a tri-class layout with 30 passengers in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy, and 241 in Economy.
The Manila-Toronto-Manila routes will have the following schedule from April 5, 2024 onwards:
PR118 Manila – Toronto (Wed/Fri/Sun)
Departs Manila – 04:35 PM
Arrives in Toronto – 08:00 PM (same day).
PR119 Toronto – Manila (Wed/Fri/Sun)
Departs Toronto – 11:30 PM
Arrives in Manila – 3:45 AM (+2 days)
(PAL’s current twice-weekly service departs every Wednesday and Sunday from Manila and Toronto).
The early morning arrivals in Manila connect seamlessly to PAL’s network in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, North Asia, and China.
Eric David Anderson, PAL’s Chief Commercial Officer: “Our expansion of flights to Toronto highlights the importance of the Canadian market in the Philippine Airlines network. We want to make it easier for businesses to establish commercial relations, for Canadians to plan holiday trips to the Philippines, and for Filipino Canadians to visit their families back in the homeland. Canada is among the top ten sources of foreign tourists to the Philippines, with more than 180,000 Canadians visiting the Philippines during the first ten months of 2023. Additionally, the new frequencies will bolster connectivity between Southeast Asia and Canada via PAL’s Manila hub.”
Philippine Ambassador to Canada Maria Andrelita Austria said, “The additional flight comes at a most auspicious time. This will allow more opportunities for the over one million Filipino Canadians to visit home in a convenient manner. At the same time, this will also serve the growing number of Filipino international students coming to Canada, as well as the Filipino tourists who benefit from Canada’s electronic travel authorization. We congratulate Philippine Airlines for continuing to build more bridges between the Philippines and Canada.”
“We are thrilled that Philippine Airlines is increasing frequency between Toronto and Manila, a destination in very high demand,” said Khalil Lamrabet, Chief Commercial Officer, Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “With this additional flight, more passengers will be able to fly directly, reducing their total travel time by more than 25% compared to a connecting itinerary.”
Canada recently included the Philippines in the electronic travel authorization (eTA) program, allowing Philippine passport holders to travel to Canada visa-free provided they hold a valid U.S. Visa or have been issued a Canadian tourist visa in the last 10 years. Canada has recently opened its borders to more immigrants, workers, and students and has seen steady growth of Filipinos in both Toronto and Vancouver.
Photo: AIRBUS